RIDGEFIELD, Conn., Dec. 16, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Markland Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:MRKL), a defense and homeland security company transforming advanced laboratory technology into real-world products, has shipped the first 127 units of a next-generation tank weapons training system, marking the product line's evolution from development to the field deployment phase. Robert Tarini, Chairman and CEO of Markland, made the announcement.
The $1.95 million order, from EOIR Technologies Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Markland, comprised units of the company's Safety Evaluation Range Training System (SERTS). The systems provide Army weapons training instructors with audio and video feeds of targeting, firing and other activities by soldiers inside armored fighting vehicles.
EOIR's SERTS systems are being installed in M1 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, two of the Army's primary fleets of armored fighting vehicles. The proprietary products are the first in-vehicle systems developed for armored military vehicles. The systems transmit video and audio of the activities inside the exercise vehicle to the range tower for exercise monitoring, recording, and instant post exercise review.
SERTS is remotely controllable from the tower to include switching four camera outputs among six camera inputs. The cameras collect real-time video and audio from inside the crew cabin, as well as video fed by the vehicles' infrared targeting systems.
"We are particularly proud to announce that our SERTS systems have progressed from the research and development phase into real-world deployment, where they can realize their value for our increasingly high-tech military. The SERTS products provide breakthrough capabilities to help the Army's battle training operators to evaluate the performance of in-tank combat drills, and to interact virtually in a highly effective manner with the student gunners," said Mr. Tarini. "Because instructors can see exactly what the trainee gunners see through the gun sights -- in addition to the multiple audio and video streams of activity inside the vehicles -- the instructors can obtain a unique, interactive understanding of the progress and actions of the student soldiers."
The first generation of SERTS is used for training, but in future the proprietary technology may also serve as a sort of black box, similar to those in airplanes. The SERTS systems can be installed to automatically record video and audio data for after-action combat analysis and improvements. The Army has deployed approximately 8,300 Abrams tanks and 6,700 Bradleys around the world, representing a significant market for SERTS.
"The SERTS product line is an example of Markland's business model of bringing cutting-edge technology to the military and homeland security industry," said Mr. Tarini. "We believe our strategy of identifying important technology will continue to make us an important provider of products and services for the military and homeland defense industries."
Markland recently announced receiving $3.2 million in new orders from the Army's most advanced technology development laboratory, the Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD). The orders came under a five-year omnibus contract with the Army that has a potential value of approximately $406 million.
About Markland Technologies
Markland Technologies, Inc. is committed to setting next-generation standards in defense and security through the provision of innovative emerging technologies and expert services. The Company is engaged in the identification of advanced technologies currently under development in laboratories, universities and in private industry, and in the transformation of those technologies into next-generation products. Markland's solutions support military, law enforcement and homeland security personnel to protect the nation's citizens, borders and critical infrastructure assets from the threat of terrorism and other dangers. Through strategic development, Markland focuses on the creation of dual-use technology and products with applications in both the defense market and civilian homeland security and law enforcement fields. The Company is a Board Member of the Homeland Security Industries Association, and is a featured Company on HomelandDefenseStocks.com; additional details can be viewed at http://www.homelanddefensestocks.com/Companies/MarklandTech. For more information about the Company and its products, please visit the Markland home page at http://www.marklandtech.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Investors are cautioned that certain statements contained in this document as well as some statements in periodic press releases and some oral statements of Markland Technologies officials during presentations about Markland Technologies, are ``forward-looking'' statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the ``Act''). Forward-looking statements include statements which are predictive in nature, which depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, which include words such as ``expects,'' ``anticipates,'' ``intends,'' ``plans,'' ``believes,'' ``estimates,'' or similar expressions. In addition, any statements concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible future actions, which may be provided by management, are also forward-looking statements as defined by the Act. Some of the factors that could significantly impact the forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to: a reduction in order rates from the Army's Night Vision and Electronic Surveillance Directorate, difficulties integrating our acquisition of EOIR, insufficient cash flow to continue to fund the development and marketing of the Company's products and technology; a rejection of the Company's products and technologies by the marketplace, and; disputes as to the Company's intellectual property rights. Forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and projections about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about Markland Technologies, its products, economic and market factors and the industries in which Markland Technologies does business, among other things. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and Markland Technologies has no specific intention to update these statements. More detailed information about those factors is contained in Markland Technologies filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The ECON Investor Relations Inc. logo is available at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=350
More information on Homeland Security issues, including news releases, events and experts available for comment, can be found on the Homeland Security Newsline at http://www.primezone.com/hs
Markland Technologies, Inc is a featured Company on HomelandDefenseStocks.com, a service for which Markland compensates the provider.
For full details, click here: www.homelanddefensestocks.com/Companies/MarklandTech/NewsReleases.asp
Markland Technologies http://www.marklandtech.com or ECON Corporate Services Dawn Van Zant, 866-730-1151 dvanzant@investorideas.com or Trevor Ruehs truehs@investorideas.com or Trilogy Capital Partners Investor Relations: Paul Karon, 800-592-6067