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| Wilson announces $4.3 Million Contracts for Alb.-based ATA |
April 07, 2006 |
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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. |
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