U.S. Air Force awards Sensis contract to expand radar coverage for homeland.

Sensis Corporation has announced that it has been awarded a $5.9M contract by the U.S. Air Force for the installation of TDX-2000 Target Data Extractors. With the implementation of these high performance radar processors, the Air Force in conjunction with the FAA can leverage the country's existing interior analog radar systems to provide comprehensive surveillance of the interior Continental United States (CONUS) airspace.

In order to secure our domestic airspace from terrorist attacks, the role of the Air Force has expanded from monitoring the perimeter of the U.S. to also monitoring the interior. "The continental U.S. has an enormous number of radar systems--unfortunately, many of the older ones are not compatible with our air defense systems and the TDX-2000 ensures that compatibility," said Major Tony Burris, Chief CONUS Air Defense Communications. "Utilizing the TDX is a rapid and cost-efficient way to achieve the surveillance coverage now required."

To expand the radar coverage of CONUS airspace, Sensis and the Air Force will deploy 17 TDXs, transforming the analog signals from short-range radars into high quality digital target reports suitable for integration into the Air Force's command and control centers. The Air Force will receive TDX systems in a redundant configuration to ensure high availability of target reports. Additionally, the deployment--expected to be completed in September 2004--will provide the Air Force with contiguous CONUS air surveillance.

"Since our founding, Sensis has supported military organizations around the world with technology solutions to satisfy ever-changing surveillance needs," said Marc Viggiano, president of Sensis Corporation's Air Traffic Systems Division. "The Air Force has used our TDX system for many years to monitor the U.S. perimeter. We are pleased that when their mission changed, they again turned to Sensis to find a solution."

Since introducing its Target Data Extractor in 1994, Sensis has delivered over 75 TDXs for use by numerous government and military agencies around the world. The United States FAA, Air Force and Navy are Sensis' largest TDX customers, deploying TDXs for projects such as the Surveillance Tracking and Radar Program (STRAP). For STRAP, the Air Force and Navy utilize TDXs for various surveillance applications including aerostats, helium balloon-borne analog radar, to track potential drug-trafficking planes flying below traditional radar surveillance, as well as ground based radar applications, including short-range systems as planned for the current Homeland Security effort. Through STRAP, the U.S. Department of Defense supports federal agencies involved in the country's drug interdiction program.

Sensis Corporation provides sensors and information technology to the world's militaries, civil aviation authorities, airports and airlines. The company designs, manufactures and installs multilateration/ADS-B ground stations for air and surface surveillance, and sensor data interface equipment for integrating new and legacy surveillance and automation systems. Sensis Corporation's equipment is deployed around the world, including more than 130 multilateration/ADS-B sensors and 700 sensor data interface devices in 25 countries on 5 continents.

On November 25, 2002, President Bush signed the "Homeland Security Act of 2002" into law. The Act restructures and strengthens the executive branch of the Federal Government to better meet the threat to our homeland posed by terrorism. In establishing a new Department of Homeland Security, the Act for the first time creates a Federal department whose primary mission will be to help prevent, protect against, and respond to acts of terrorism on our soil.