TIAX Awarded Navy Contract to Develop Intelligence Gathering Sensors; TIAX to Provide Naval Array Test Support Center with Heading Sensors for Submarines and Surface Ships.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19, 2003

TIAX a leading product and technology development and consulting firm, announced today that it has been awarded a $750,000 contract to provide the Navy with magnetic fluxgate heading sensors. The heading sensors are a component of towed sonar arrays used by submarines and surface ships to detect water-borne, man-made objects.

Tom Fowler, a scientist at TIAX, invented the towed array fluxgate heading sensor, which is now the base technology used in most of the world's military towed arrays. TIAX is the only provider of these sensors, which the Navy has been using on its vessels since the early 1990s.

The heading sensor is a critical component of the "towed sonar array" system, which is comprised of approximately two kilometers of cable towed behind submarines and surface ships. The heading sensors are located inside the cables and have the ability to improve the precision with which the sonar instrumentation determines the location of water-borne objects by indicating where the towed array is relative to the target object.

"Since the initial development of the towed array in 1973, we have been able to further refine the device so that it is even smaller, more accurate, and therefore better able to detect objects," said Fowler. "We consider it a privilege at TIAX to have the opportunity to work with our partners in the Navy on the development of technologies and systems such as the heading sensors that help safeguard both our military personnel and ultimately the general public."

TIAX is the former Technology & Innovation division of Arthur D. Little, Inc. and works with clients in a wide cross-section of industries on the development and implementation of new technologies and products. One area that TIAX continues to focus on is its work with U.S. Government agencies and commercial organizations to develop both military field systems technologies and homeland security technologies.

Examples of TIAX's success in the area of government services include:

-- Development of a non-toxic foam-based decontamination system effective on both toxic chemical and biological agents. A patent has been filed on the technology and commercialization is currently in progress.

-- The design of a high-output, hot refueling cart for the U.S. Air Force that can be used to refuel aircraft in remote locations.

-- Creation of a Modular Aircraft Support System, ground-support equipment for maintaining U.S. Air Force combat aircraft.

-- Development of the Transportable Blood Transshipment Center, a frozen blood storage and transshipment facility for use by the U.S. Air Force during wartime.

About TIAX

TIAX (www.tiax.biz) is a premier technology, product development, and technology-based consulting firm operating at the intersection of business and technology. Our scientists, engineers, and industry experts improve people's lives by helping commercial and government clients transform ideas into products and problems into solutions. Formerly Arthur D. Little's Technology & Innovation business, TIAX builds upon a rich, century-old heritage of breakthrough innovation. TIAX is ISO 9001 registered and has more than 50 research and development laboratories.