Ball Aerospace to Develop New Laser Spot Tracker
December 13 2004 - 5:01PM
PR Newswire (US)
Ball Aerospace to Develop New Laser Spot Tracker BOULDER, Colo.,
Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. has
received a contract from the U.S. Air Force, Warner Robins Air
Logistics Center to develop a new sensor for the A-10 Warthog
aircraft which provides close air support of ground forces. Under
the contract, Ball Aerospace will design and demonstrate a laser
spot tracker to determine the position of received laser energy.
The new laser detector and tracker should provide significant
improvements by reducing target acquisition time, increasing target
acquisition area, and enhancing tracking and reliability. This
advanced technology can also be used for other applications like
three-dimensional Light Detection & Ranging (LIDAR). "The rapid
acquisition Pave Penny sensor is designed to add significant
tactical capability and considerable reliability to the A-10," said
Mike Cerneck, Vice President and General Manager Defense
Operations, Ball Aerospace. The contract began in September and is
scheduled for 27 months. Ball Corporation is a supplier of
high-quality metal and plastic packaging products and innovative
packaging solutions to the beverage and food industries. The
company also owns Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., which
develops sensors, spacecraft, systems and components for government
and commercial markets. Ball employs 13,100 people worldwide and
reported 2003 sales of $4.9 billion. Forward-Looking Statements The
information in this news release contains "forward-looking"
statements and other statements concerning future events and
financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates,"
"estimates," and variations of such words and similar expressions
are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
which could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied. The company undertakes no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key
risks and uncertainties are summarized in the company's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, especially in Exhibit
99.2 in the most recent Form 10-K. These filings are available at
the company's website and at http://www.sec.gov/. Factors that
might affect the packaging segments of the company include
fluctuation in consumer and customer demand; competitive packaging
material availability, pricing and substitution; changes in climate
and weather; fruit, vegetable and fishing yields; industry
productive capacity and competitive activity; lack of productivity
improvement or production cost reductions; the German mandatory
deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; availability and cost
of raw materials, such as resin, steel and aluminum, and the
ability to pass on to customers changes in these costs; changes in
major customer contracts or the loss of a major customer;
international business risks, such as foreign exchange rates and
tax rates; and the effect of LIFO accounting on earnings. Factors
that might affect the aerospace segment include: funding,
authorization and availability of government contracts and the
nature and continuation of those contracts; and technical
uncertainty associated with segment contracts. Factors that could
affect the company as a whole include those listed plus: successful
and unsuccessful acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures and
associated integration activities; regulatory action or laws
including environmental and workplace safety; goodwill impairment;
antitrust and other litigation; strikes; boycotts; increases in
various employee benefits and labor costs; rates of return
projected and earned on assets of the company's defined benefit
retirement plans; reduced cash flow; and interest rates affecting
our debt. DATASOURCE: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
CONTACT: Jennifer Meyer, +1-303-533-4213, or Sarah Hoyt,
+1-303-533-4945, both of Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.,
Web site: http://www.ballaerospace.com/
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