SAN DIEGO, May 9, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq:KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider, announced today that it is one of two companies that has been selected by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) for a Phase 1 development of the MQ-1C Gray Eagle® Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Composite Maintenance System Trainer (CMST) Program. For Phase 1, Kratos will develop the architecture and preliminary design for the suite of maintenance training systems and common support items for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle CMST.
The GA-ASI MQ-1C Gray Eagle is a Medium Altitude Endurance UAS currently in the final stages of System Design and Development (SDD) for the U.S. Army and is currently deployed in Afghanistan. This platform is used for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) and attacking enemy positions without detection. It is capable of operating for 24 hours at altitudes up to 29,000 feet with an operating range of 1,200 kilometers while carrying a payload of 800 pounds.
"As the Department of Defense moves toward more UAS-focused missions, the need for trained maintenance professionals for these vehicles to ensure the highest level of mission success will continue to grow," said Jose Diaz, Vice President of Kratos Simulation and Training Systems. "Kratos is an industry leader in design and production of advanced maintenance training systems for a variety of military aviation platforms, including the UH-60M Black Hawk and CH-47F Chinook helicopters, and we will apply our many years of broad expertise to this emerging market."
About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq:KTOS) is a specialized National Security technology business providing mission critical products, services and solutions for United States National Security priorities. Kratos' core capabilities are sophisticated engineering, manufacturing and system integration offerings for National Security platforms and programs. Kratos' areas of expertise include Command, Control, Communications, Computing, Combat Systems, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR), satellite communication systems, unmanned systems, cyber warfare, cyber security, information assurance, critical infrastructure security and weapons systems sustainment. Kratos has primarily an engineering and technical oriented work force of approximately 4,100, many of whom hold an active National Security clearance, including Secret, Top Secret and higher. The vast majority of Kratos' work is performed on a military base, in a secure facility or at a critical infrastructure location. Kratos' primary end customers are United States Federal Government agencies, including the Department of Defense, classified agencies, intelligence agencies and Homeland Security related agencies. News and information are available at http://www.kratosdefense.com/">www.KratosDefense.com.
The Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3519
Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Kratos and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty, including risks related to general economic conditions and cutbacks in government spending. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Kratos undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Kratos in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Kratos for the year ended December 25, 2011, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the SEC by Kratos.