FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:
April 7, 2006
Contact: Jerome N. “Jerry” Harris
Director of
Strategic Marketing
Applied Technology Associates
1300 Britt St SE
Albuquerque, NM 87123 USA
Phone: (505) 767-1235
E-mail:
jharris@aptec.com
Wilson
announces $4.3 Million Contracts for Alb.-based ATA
Company
works with Directed Energy and Laser Communications Systems
Albuquerque, NM –
Congresswoman Heather Wilson
today announced that Applied Technology Associates (ATA), a New Mexico
technology company, has recently been awarded three Phase 2 SBIR contracts
from Missile Defense Agency, two technology development contracts under a
BAA (Broad Area Announcement) from the High Energy Laser Joint Technology
Office (HEL-JTO), a Phase 1 SBIR from AFRL, and a Phase 1 SBIR from NASA.
These
contracts will allow ATA to develop critical new technologies in the areas
of higher performance, and stabilized fast steering mirrors for directed
energy and laser communications systems, and to develop new inertial sensor,
gyroscope and auto-correcting Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) technologies
that are key to future defense, satellite and surveillance systems. The new
inertial sensors and IMU’s also offer the promise for higher performance
with lower power and size for guidance, navigation and control systems for
both space and non-space applications. The Phase 1 SBIR from AFRL will allow
ATA to develop ultra-stable jitter-free platforms for laser communications
from space, aircraft or ground vehicles. The new hybrid MHD sensor
technology for NASA will enable stabilized pointing and tracking for free
space laser communications with the precision and accuracy required for
reliable interplanetary communications systems. Long line-of-sight laser
communications are key to high speed transmission of data for future space
missions as well as for next generation military communications systems.
“New
Mexico
is on the leading edge of research in many areas,” said
Wilson.
“Defense and space systems are key to both
America’s
future security and our role as a technology leader in communications and
space exploration. While the initial development contracts have critical
roles in both areas, the ultimate result will be improved commercial
products with volume applications and future jobs for
New
Mexico.”
“ATA’s
inertial sensor products have been the enabling technology that allows us to
exceed the performance of any other products in our defined markets of
precision sensing, measurement and control,” said Tony Tenorio, President
and
CEO
of ATA. “These new development contracts enable ATA’s drive into new sensor
markets while supporting our current customers with the highest performance
components and subsystems available. Our team continues to create
technologies that allow us to exceed the requirements of future defense and
aerospace systems, and we look forward to the future.”
ATA is a
locally owned
New
Mexico
high technology company located in the Sandia Science and
Technology
Park.
The company celebrated it’s 30th anniversary in 2005, and is a leading
supplier of precision inertial sensors, optical inertial reference units and
controls for aerospace and satellite systems. ATA’s testing division offers
technical analysis and qualification test services for aerospace and
commercial products. The company also supplied scientists to support ARFL
Directed Energy and Space Vehicle Directorates, and through its joint
venture company ATAMIR provides Program Management for the Army’s Big Crow
program. ATA has been a member of the New Mexico Flying 40 companies the
past 5 years, was named the SBA Prime Contractor of the Year in 2004 and the
New Mexico Innovator of the Year in 2005.
For more ATA information, contact Jerry Harris at
505-767-1200
or e-mail:
jharris@aptec.com
|
30 years 
