SAN DIEGO, March 10, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq:KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider, announced today that its Kratos Integral Systems International (Kratos ISI) business unit has been awarded a contract by NewSat Limited (ASX:NWT) (OTCQX:NWTLY) to provide the satellite command and control system for the Jabiru-1 satellite. Jabiru-1, Australia's first commercial Ka-band satellite, is currently under construction and scheduled to be launched in 2015. Jabiru-1 is a Lockheed Martin A2100 satellite that will be used to provide coverage over South East Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
The Jabiru-1 ground system program will be based upon Kratos' EPOCH IPS satellite fleet management system, the industry's leading command and control system. EPOCH IPS is used by more than 70% of commercial satellite operators, as well as civilian and defense agencies around the globe. EPOCH IPS supports more than half of all LM A2100 commercial satellite programs.
"Kratos' deep experience with LM A2100 satellites was a significant factor in our decision to select EPOCH IPS," said David Ball, Chief Technology Officer for NewSat. "Jabiru-1 is Australia's first commercial Ka-band satellite and NewSat's first satellite. Kratos' ability to operate satellites from all major manufacturers is very important to NewSat as we grow the Jabiru fleet."
EPOCH IPS is an all-in-one fleet management system with the ability to simultaneously control multiple satellites from different manufacturers from a single consolidated system. As a result, EPOCH IPS presents a more efficient and economical alternative to costly stove-piped satellite command and control practices.
"The EPOCH IPS system will provide NewSat a full complement of satellite command and control capabilities to ensure safe and efficient operations for Jabiru-1, and the system will scale to meet the needs of the Jabiru fleet in the future," said James Kramer, Senior Vice President at Kratos ISI. "We appreciate the trust that NewSat has shown in Kratos ISI and the EPOCH IPS product."
For 30 years, Kratos ISI has been the leading provider of satellite control systems, supporting approximately 300 missions with successful installations of its EPOCH IPS system on five continents. Kratos ISI offers turnkey ground segments solutions encompassing C2, RF/IF equipment, satellite and terrestrial communications signal monitoring systems, equipment and network management and payload management solutions. Commercial clients include AsiaSat, Asia Broadcast Satellite, Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT), Chunghwa Telecom, EchoStar, Hellas Sat, Indovision, Intelsat, KT Corporation, NewSat, PT Telkom, SatMex, SES, SingTel/Optus, SKY Perfect JSAT, Thaicom, and Telesat. Government clients include the National Space Organization (NSPO) of Taiwan, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT) of México, NASA, the U.S. Air Force and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). For more information, visit www.Kratos-ISI.com.
About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq:KTOS) is a specialized National Security technology Company providing mission critical products, services and solutions for United States National Security. 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, electronic warfare, unmanned systems, missile defense, cyber warfare, cybersecurity, information assurance, and critical infrastructure security. Kratos has primarily an engineering and technically oriented work force of approximately 3,850. 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 National Security related agencies. News and information are available at www.KratosDefense.com.
About NewSat
NewSat is Australia's largest pure-play satellite communications company, delivering internet, voice, data and video communications via satellite. With award winning and unique-to-Australia teleport infrastructure, NewSat has a reputation as the partner of choice for enterprise and government customers around the world. Today, NewSat provides secure and reliable connectivity to 75% of the globe. NewSat will be expanding its satellite capabilities with the Jabiru Satellite Program. Set to launch Australia's first commercial Ka-band satellite, Jabiru-1 will provide high-powered, flexible capacity over the MENA and Jabiru-2, launching in 2014, will deliver highly targeted coverage across Australasia. For more information, please visit www.newsat.com.
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 product failure, general economic conditions and cutbacks in 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 30, 2012, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the SEC by Kratos.