Tuesday, March 30, 2010

DTN News: U.S. Hopes To Give Pakistan Drones Within A Year

Defense News: DTN News: U.S. Hopes To Give Pakistan Drones Within A Year
Source: DTN News / Reuters By Phil Stewart
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - March 30, 2010: The Pentagon aims to deliver a fleet of surveillance drones to Pakistan within a year, but weaponised versions of the unmanned aircraft are still off-limits, a U.S. military official said on Monday.
U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates announced plans in January to provide Islamabad with what aides said at the time were 12 Shadow drones, aiming to boost its ability to track insurgents.
But a senior U.S. military official, briefing reporters at the Pentagon on the condition of anonymity, said Islamabad was still weighing whether Shadow drones were the model of unmanned aircraft best suited to its needs.
"We looked at Shadows. We looked at Scan Eagles and other tactical UAVs that are out and about and what we want to do is try to find out" which model is best, the official said, referring to drones as unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs.
Shadows are manufactured by AAI Corporation, a unit of Textron Systems, while Scan Eagles are manufactured by Boeing Co.
Islamabad has also pressed for weaponised drones, like the ones the CIA is covertly using in Pakistan to track and kill al Qaeda and Taliban insurgents.
The official, asked about that request, said general U.S. policy was not to export weaponised capabilities of any drone aircraft. Washington has been reluctant to share sensitive technology so far.
The number of surveillance drones that the United States would eventually provide to Pakistan depends on the cost of the model selected, the official said.
"A key factor will be how quickly we can get the capabilities to them," the official said.
Pressed on timing, the official said: "I would like to think that we would get them there within a year."
Pakistan is already using some non-U.S., imported drone technology and has modified a C-130 military transport aircraft to allow some surveillance activities, the official said.
Drones have proven to be a crucial technological advantage for the U.S. military in Afghanistan and Iraq, allowing it to remotely track militants and giving commanders battleground imagery in real time.
Gates told a Senate hearing last week it was in the U.S. interest to try to help close allies get drone technology, despite limitations on exports imposed by an international pact, known as the Missile Technology Control Regime.
The MTCR is a pact among at least 34 countries aimed at curbing the spread of unmanned delivery systems that could be used for weapons of mass destruction.

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 29, 2010

Defense News: DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 29, 2010
Source: U.S. DoD issued March 29, 2010
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - March 30, 2010: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued March 29, 2010 are undermentioned;
CONTRACTS
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

~Philips Medical Systems, Andover, Mass., is being awarded a maximum $77,172,660 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for patient monitoring systems, subsystems, accessories, consumables, spare/repair parts, and training. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There were originally 17 proposals solicited with nine responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is exercising the first option year. The date of performance completion is March 29, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM2D1-09-D-8349).
~Hitachi Medical Systems America, Inc., Twinsburg, Ohio, is being awarded a maximum $12,000,000 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for radiology systems, components, upgrades, accessories, and installation. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. The original proposal was Web solicited with 48 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is exercising the fourth option year. The date of performance completion is March 29, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM2D1-09-D-8331).
NAVY
~L-3 Services, Inc., Mount Laurel, N.J., is being awarded a $38,997,853 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for integrated systems engineering support services in support of C4ISR and C2. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to an estimated $268,986,110. Work will be performed in Charleston, S.C. (40 percent); Norfolk, Va. (40 percent); San Diego (10 percent); and Washington, D.C. (10 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the Commerce Business Daily’s Federal Business Opportunities Web site and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center E-Commerce Central Web site, with seven offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity (N65236-04-D-6842).
~Raytheon Technical Services Co., LLC, Customized Engineering and Depot Support, Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded a $32,398,357 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract to provide engineering and manufacturing development of a non-pyrotechnic multi-purpose bomb rack for carriage and release of weapons and stores employed on BRU-33, BRU-41, BRU-42, and BRU-55 bomb rack. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Ind., and is expected to be completed in September 2014. Contract funds in the amount of $5,168,598 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals, with three proposals received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-10-C-0048).
~ADS, Inc.*, Virginia Beach, Va., is being awarded a $21,320,000 firm-fixed-price delivery order against General Services Administration (GSA) schedule contract (GS-07F-5965P) for the procurement and delivery of back up iron sights (BUIS) P/N: 25650-1. The BUIS is a single flip-up rear sight for use with the M4 carbine and M16 rifle. It is designed to occupy space behind the eyepiece of a day scope and has the capability of flipping up for use in the event of a primary sight failure. Work will be performed in Virginia Beach, Va., and is expected to be completed March 2015. Delivery order funds in the amount of $21,300,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This delivery order was competitively procured with quotes solicited via the GSA e-Buy Web site, with five offers received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity for delivery order M67854-10-F-1063.
~Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Sunnyvale, Calif., is being awarded a $17,709,161 cost-plus-fixed fee contract for a follow-on contract for the United Kingdom technical services in support of the TRIDENT Strategic Weapons System. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, Calif. (70.69 percent); Cape Canaveral, Fla. (12.54 percent); St. Marys, Ga. (2.58 percent); Bremerton, Wash. (0.81 percent); and other locations inside and outside the United States (13.38 percent). Work is expected to be completed March 31, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. Strategic Systems Programs, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (N00030-10-C-0026).
~ArmorWorks Enterprise, LLC*, Chandler, Ariz. (N62583-10-D-0323);
~Southern California Gold Products, Inc.*, Oxnard, Calif. (N62583-10-D-0346); and
~American Defense Systems, Inc.*, Hicksville, N.Y. (N62583-10-D-0347), are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price multiple award contract for up-armoring solutions of civil engineer support equipment for the Naval Facilities Expeditionary Logistics Center. The base year and each of the four option years have a not-to-exceed amount of $10,000,000. The maximum dollar value for all three contracts combined shall not exceed $50,000,000. The work to be performed includes all labor, materials, and services necessary to design, engineer, fabricate, integrate armor systems and sub-systems, and testing requirements. The contractor is responsible for shipping and transportation of all the equipment identified within each individual task order. Work will be performed at various contractor sites within the continental United States. The contract ordering period will be for a base year plus up to four option years, with an expected completion date of April 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online Web site as a small business set-aside under the North American Industry Classification System 336992. There were seven proposals received as a result of this solicitation. These contractors will compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Specialty Center Acquisitions, Port Hueneme, Calif., is the contracting activity.
~Lockheed Martin Corp., Maritime Systems and Sensors, Manassas, Va., is being awarded a $9,517,017 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification under previously awarded contract (N00024-04-C-6207). The modification is for the fiscal 2010 tactical local area network effort to support work to procure production for the Virginia Class submarine combat control three-bay structurally integrated enclosure. This option is to be used for shipsets seven through ten. Work will be performed in Manassas, Va., and is expected to be completed December of 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.
ARMY
~WRS Infrastructure & Environment, Inc., Tampa, Fla., was awarded on Mar. 22 a $30,224,400 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of westbank and vicinity, New Orleans, Louisiana hurricane storm damage risk reduction systems Lake Cataouatche, western tie-in WBV 72: east-west levee St. Charles Parish. Work is to be performed in St. Charles Parish, La., with an estimated completion date of Aug. 13, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with four bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-10-C-0062).
~Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Andover, Mass., was awarded on Mar. 23 a $20,476,695 firm-fixed-price contract to provide technical assistance in support of Foreign Military Sales case. Work is to be performed in Andover, Mass., with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Missile Logistics Division, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-08-C-0301).
~HX5, LLC, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was awarded on March 25 an $18,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is for research and development, science & engineering and related logistical and administrative support services for all engineering reach and development center laboratories and other local Corps entities. Work is to be performed in with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2014. Bids were solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities Web site with four bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ERDC Contracting Office, Vicksburg, Miss., is the contracting activity (W912HZ-09-D-0001).
~Raytheon Co., IDS, Huntsville, Ala., was awarded on March 25 a $12,985,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Plug-and-Fight (P&F) A-Kit design definition to develop an integrated set of components/platform end item preliminary engineering change proposals for the development of IAMD P&F A-kits that integrate government furnished equipment IAMD B-Kits. Work is to be performed in Huntsville, Ala., with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. AMCOM Contracting Center, Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-10-C-0267).
~Walbridge, Detroit, Mich., was awarded on March 23 a $11,485,000 firm-fixed-price construction contract for a training support center at Fort Riley, Kansas. Work is to be performed in Fort Riley, Kan., with an estimated completion date of July 29, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with four bids received. U.S. Corps of Engineers, CECT-NWK-M, Kansas City, Mo., is the contracting activity (W912HN-09-D-0023).
~Evergreen Helicopter, Inc., McMinnville, Ore., was awarded on March 23 a $10,015,620 firm-fixed-price contract for helicopter support and services for U.S. Army Hawaii, islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Work is to be performed in the islands of Oahu (40 percent) and Hawaii (60 percent) with an estimated completion date of March 23. Twenty-five bids were solicited with two bids received. Regional Contracting Office, Hawaii Fort Shafter, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (W912CN-08-D-0013).
~Lockheed Martin Corp., Owego, N.Y., was awarded on March 23 a $9,420,975 firm-fixed-price contract for an award undefinitized contractual action modification for the update and completion of the integrated logistics support effort for the light armored vehicle command and control variant upgrade program. Work is to be performed in Owego, N.Y., with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. TACOM LCMC, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-05-C-0383).
~Honeywell Technology Solutions, Inc., Columbia, Md., was awarded on March 23 a $7,990,190 time-and-material contract for service contract of Sustainment of the Mobile Parts Hospital (MPH) in Southwest Asia. The MPH is a self-contained, self-sustaining mobile manufacturing system that efficiently fabricates standards and unique parts at or near the point of need to enhance soldier readiness. Work is to be performed in Sterling Heights, Mich. (16.6 percent), and Southwest Asia (83.4 percent), with an estimated completion date of March 22, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. TACOM Rock Island, CCTA-AR-FB, Rock Island., Ill., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-10-C-0279).
~Caesar Rodney School District, Camden, Del., was awarded on March 25 a $7,803,955 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract modification is to exercise option period one for comprehensive education program, grades K-12, servicing eligible dependent children of Department of Defense personnel residing on Dover Air Force Base. Work is to be performed in Camden, Del., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2011. Bids were solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities Web site with one bid received. Department of Defense Education Activity, DDESS, Peachtree City, Ga., is the contracting activity (HEVAS6-09-C-0001).
~Trumbull Corp. and Brayman Construction Corp., JV, Pittsburg, Pa., was awarded on March 24 a $7,317,340 firm-fixed-price contract. The Pittsburg district is modifying the Charleroi River wall contract for producing and delivering concrete that meets the requirements of the Charleroi River wall contract for construction of another feature of the Charleroi locks and dam project. The work will be concurrent with construction of the river wall and extend beyond completion of construction of Charleroi River wall to completion of concrete placement of the upper and lower guard walls. This work includes continued operation and maintenance of the concrete batch plant and concrete conveyor system, and continuing environmental compliance measurements and environment control representative for the batch plant after completion of construction of Charleroi River. Work is to be performed in Charleroi locks and dam, Belle Vernon, Pa., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with three bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineer District, Pittsburg, Pa., is the contracting activity (W911WN-04-C-0003).
~Cares Environment Services, Brooklyn Park, Minn., was awarded on March 23 a $7,296,790 firm-fixed-price contract for Birdland Park levee system improvement project, Des Moines River. Work is to be performed in Polk City, Iowa, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 2, 2012. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with eight bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W912EK-10-C-0067).
~Vet Industrial, Inc., Bremerton, Wash., was awarded on March 24 a $7,219,300 firm-fixed-price construction contract. This contract is for the design and construction of approximately 16,900 square feet of additions to the existing fiscal 2008 Medical Dental Clinic. Work is to be performed in Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2011. Bids were solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities Web site with three bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, Seattle, Wash., is the contracting activity (W912DW-10-C-0007).
~Alliant Ammunition and Powder Co., LLC, Radford, Va., was awarded on March 22 a $6,935,880 firm-fixed-price contract for 718,000 propulseur d’appoint a poudre (PAP) 7993 granular propellant. PAP is a single-base granular propellant used in the M231 and M232 modular artillery charge system. Work is to be performed in Radford, Va., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2012. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with three bids received. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Contracting Center, CCRC-AR, Rock Island., Ill., is the contracting activity (W52P1J-09-G-0002).

FLIR Systems Announces $13.5 Million Order From Naval Surface Warfare Center



Defense News: PORTLAND, OR--(Marketwire - 03/29/10) - FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLIR - News) announced today that it has received a $13.5 million order from Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division for its BRITE Star® II multi-sensor target designation systems. The order was pursuant to a previously announced $125.3 million, five year requirements contract (Contract No. N00164-08-D-JQ40). The units delivered under this order will be used by the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy for various missions.

Work on this order will be performed at FLIR's facilities in Wilsonville, OR. Deliveries are expected to begin and conclude in 2011.

"This new order under the existing contract further demonstrates FLIR's position as a leading, world-class supplier of sophisticated, EO/IR laser designation systems," said Earl R. Lewis, President and CEO of FLIR Systems, Inc. "We are pleased the Navy and Marine Corps have selected FLIR products for these critical missions."

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements in this release by Earl R. Lewis, and the other statements in this release about the order described above, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including the following: the ability to manufacture and deliver the systems referenced in this release, changes in demand for the Company's products, product mix, the timing of deliveries under the order discussed above, the impact of competitive products and pricing, constraints on supplies of critical components, excess or shortage of production capacity, the ability of the Company to manufacture and ship products in the time period required, actual purchases under agreements, the Company's continuing compliance with US export control laws and regulations, the timely receipt of export licenses for international shipments, the continuing eligibility of the Company to act as a federal contractor, and other risks discussed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports. In addition, such statements could be affected by general industry and market conditions and growth rates, and general domestic and international economic conditions. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release, or for changes made to this document by wire services or Internet service providers.

About FLIR Systems
FLIR Systems, Inc. is a world leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of thermal imaging and stabilized camera systems for a wide variety of thermography and imaging applications including condition monitoring, research and development, manufacturing process control, airborne observation and broadcast, search and rescue, drug interdiction, surveillance and reconnaissance, navigation safety, border and maritime patrol, environmental monitoring and ground-based security. Visit the Company's web site at www.FLIR.com.

Contact:

SAIC Awarded Contract by Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific



Company to Provide Technical and Engineering Support Services for Security, Surveillance and Unmanned Systems

Defense News: MCLEAN, Va., March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) [NYSE: SAI] today announced it has been awarded a contract by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSC Pacific) to provide technical and engineering support services for security, surveillance, and unmanned systems. This single-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity five-year contract valued at $47.6 million includes three, one-year award terms and has a potential value of more than $63 million, if all award terms are exercised. Work will be performed in San Diego.

SSC Pacific is responsible for developing technology and capabilities that enable Navy and joint services decision makers to manage information essential to successful military operations. Under this contract, SAIC will provide technical and engineering services, algorithm development, material analysis, data processing, prototype fabrication and limited production, and program management to support SSC Pacific's unmanned systems; security systems; airspace control; maritime surveillance systems; anti-terrorist force protection surveillance systems; and command, control, communications, computers and intelligence systems.

"SSC Pacific has a critical mission and the systems the SAIC team will support play a vital role fulfilling it," said Tom Baybrook, SAIC senior vice president and business unit general manager. "We look forward to providing tailored solutions for their security, surveillance, and unmanned systems needs."

About SAIC

SAIC is a FORTUNE 500® scientific, engineering, and technology applications company that uses its deep domain knowledge to solve problems of vital importance to the nation and the world, in national security, energy and the environment, critical infrastructure, and health. The company's approximately 45,000 employees serve customers in the U.S. Department of Defense, the intelligence community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, other U.S. Government civil agencies and selected commercial markets. Headquartered in McLean, Va., SAIC had annual revenues of $10.1 billion for its fiscal year ended January 31, 2009. For more information, visit www.saic.com. SAIC: From Science to Solutions®

Statements in this announcement, other than historical data and information, constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be very different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in SAIC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended January 31, 2009, and other such filings that SAIC makes with the SEC from time to time. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.

Contact:

Melissa Koskovich

Laura Luke


(703) 676-6762

(703) 676-6533


Melissa.l.koskovich@saic.com

laura.luke@saic.com

Titan Wheel Corporation Receives Supplier Award


Defense News: QUINCY, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Titan Wheel Corporation, a subsidiary of Titan International, Inc., was recognized as a top-performing supplier by Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc.

Titan Wheel produces off-highway wheels and rims for Spartan Motors, who supplies defense contractor BAE Systems with Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) tactical vehicles. Spartan recognized the top four percent of its more than 300 suppliers for the award. It commends exceptional performance criteria related to quality, delivery, customer support and competitiveness.

“Titan appreciates this recognition from Spartan,” said Ron Schildt, president of Titan Wheel. “We are proud to manufacture products that support the United States and our troops.”

Titan International, Inc. (NYSE: TWI - News), a holding company, owns subsidiaries that supply wheels, tires and assemblies for off-highway equipment used in agricultural, earthmoving/construction and consumer (including all terrain vehicles) applications. For more information, visit www.titan-intl.com.

Contact:

Titan International, Inc.
Courtney Leeser
Communications Coordinator
(217) 221-4489

International Wire Announces Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2009 Results


International Wire Group

Defense News: CAMDEN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--International Wire Group, Inc. (Pink Sheets: ITWG - News) today announced its results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009. Fourth quarter 2009 results were significantly greater than 2008 levels. Despite the improved fourth quarter results, operating income and net income for the full year ended December 31, 2009 decreased from 2008 levels.

Net debt (total debt less cash) was $69.3 million as of December 31, 2009, which represents a decrease of $11.1 million from December 31, 2008, primarily as the result of cash flow from operations. Availability under the Company’s revolving credit facility was $83.4 million as of December 31, 2009.

Fourth Quarter Results:

Net sales for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 were $131.0 million, an increase of 3.4%, or $4.3 million, compared to $126.7 million for the same period in 2008. This increase was primarily due to a significant increase in copper prices, a decreased level of tolled copper, higher customer pricing/mix, and the impact of a weaker U.S. dollar versus the euro. These factors were partially offset by lower sales volume. Tolled copper is the processing of customer-owned copper and is excluded from net sales and cost of sales. Excluding the effects of higher copper prices and a decreased level of tolled copper, net sales decreased $20.2 million, or 15.9%. This decrease resulted from $22.3 million of lower sales volume, partially offset by $0.5 million of higher customer pricing/mix and $1.6 million of currency impact in the Europe segment. Total pounds sold for the fourth quarter of 2009 declined by 19.6% compared to the fourth quarter of 2008.

Operating income for the three months ended December 31, 2009 was $5.5 million compared to an operating loss of $10.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008, an increase of $15.5 million. This increase was due to plant operating efficiencies, lower selling and administrative expenses, a LIFO liquidation impact in 2009 and the absence in 2009 of: the LIFO cost of sales impact of rapidly declining copper prices, the impact of the acquired Global Wire inventories on the Company’s existing LIFO inventories, and increased scrap losses from declining metals prices. These increases were partially offset by lower sales volume and an impairment charge related to the closing of two plants.

Net income of $0.8 million, or $0.08 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2009 increased by $9.5 million, or $0.95 per basic share and $0.93 per diluted share, compared to the prior year period, due primarily to higher operating income partially offset by a higher effective income tax rate in 2009.

“Sales demand was weak in our major markets for most of the year due to global recessionary pressures, but demand in the aerospace, automotive and European markets improved in the fourth quarter. We continued to realize the benefits of our many cost reduction initiatives,” said Rodney D. Kent, Chief Executive Officer of International Wire Group, Inc.

Full Year Results:

Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2009 were $449.5 million, a decrease of $286.9 million, or 39.0%, from 2008 levels of $736.4 million. Sales decreased primarily due to lower copper prices, decreased sales volume, lower customer pricing/mix, and an unfavorable foreign currency effect. These factors were partially offset by a decreased level of tolled copper. Excluding the effects of lower copper prices and a decreased level of tolled copper business, net sales decreased $212.3 million, or 28.8%. This decrease was primarily due to $201.7 million of lower sales volume, $6.0 million of lower customer pricing/mix and $4.6 million of unfavorable currency effects in the Europe segment. Total pounds sold for the year ended December 31, 2009 declined by 29.6% compared to the year ended December 31, 2008.

Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $16.6 million, compared to $22.1 million in 2008, a decrease of $5.5 million or 24.9%. This decrease was primarily due to lower sales volume and an impairment charge in 2009 related to the closing of two plants, partially offset by plant operating efficiencies, lower selling and administrative expenses, a LIFO liquidation impact in 2009 and the absence in 2009 of: the LIFO cost of sales impact of rapidly declining copper prices, the impact of the acquired Global Wire inventories on the Company’s existing LIFO inventories, and increased scrap losses from declining metals prices.

Net income was $4.4 million, or $0.44 per basic and diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $6.5 million, or $0.66 per basic share and $0.64 per diluted share, in 2008. The decline of $2.1 million, or 32.3%, in 2009 was the result of lower operating income, partially offset by reduced interest expense.

Rodney D. Kent concluded: “We decreased our cost structure through plant consolidations, adjustments to headcount, effective plant operations and lower administrative expenses, but we have maintained the ability to respond if sales demand improves in 2010. We are pleased with our strong balance sheet and liquidity position coming out of the difficult economic climate in 2009.”

About International Wire Group, Inc.

International Wire Group, Inc. is a manufacturer and marketer of wire products, including bare, silver-plated, nickel-plated and tin-plated copper wire, for other wire suppliers, distributors and original equipment manufacturers or “OEMs.” Its products include a broad spectrum of copper wire configurations and gauges with a variety of electrical and conductive characteristics and are utilized by a wide variety of customers primarily in the aerospace, appliance, automotive, electronics/data communications, industrial/energy and medical device industries. The Company manufactures and distributes its products at 17 facilities located in the United States, Belgium, France and Italy.

Forward-Looking Information is Subject to Risk and Uncertainty

Certain statements in this release may constitute “forward-looking” statements. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “pro forma,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” or the negative of any thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy or intentions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. As a result, these statements speak only as of the date they were made and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Many important factors could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in our operating results and customer orders, unexpected decreases in demand or increases in inventory levels, changes in the price of copper, tin, nickel and silver, the failure of our acquisitions and expansion plans to perform as expected, the competitive environment, our reliance on our significant customers, lack of long-term contracts, substantial dependence on business outside of the U.S. and risks associated with our international operations, limitations due to our indebtedness, loss of key employees or the deterioration in our relationship with employees, litigation, claims, liability from environmental laws and regulations and other factors. For additional information regarding risk factors, see the discussion in our Consolidated Financial Information as of December 31, 2009 available at http://itwg.client.shareholder.com.

ITWG-G

AOptix Technologies InSight 2 Meter Iris Recognition System Selected for Microsoft's Global Security Operations Center


New Partnership Adopts Effortless Technology Solution for Secure Area Access Control

Defense News: CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AOptix Technologies, Inc., (AOptix) (www.aoptix.com), a leading developer of advanced iris biometrics products and long-distance wireless optical communications solutions, today announced a strategic partnership for iris biometric security with the Microsoft Global Security Operations Center (GSOC) in Redmond, Washington. Integration of the AOptix InSight™ iris recognition system brings state-of-the art iris identification to Microsoft, their customers and partners.

Working at a nominal distance of 2 meters, the InSight system fully automates biometric image acquisition and provides consistent verification of a subject’s identity in just 2 seconds. The system employs innovative adaptive optics technology that automatically finds the subject’s face and eyes within a very large capture volume, making subject participation effortless. This increased recognition space allows for varying personnel needs such as multiple heights ranging from ADA wheelchairs to an excess of seven feet.

AOptix InSight 2 meter iris recognition system (Photo: Business Wire).  View Multimedia Gallery

AOptix InSight 2 meter iris recognition system (Photo: Business Wire). View Multimedia Gallery

“To meet 21st Century security threats, we must forge strategic long-term partnerships with industry leaders such as AOptix,” said Brian Tuskan, senior director of operations, technology, investigations at Microsoft Global Security. ”AOptix, a key Microsoft partner, is helping set a new standard for advanced iris biometrics with products such as the InSight device, which will bring enhanced security to our Global Security Operations Center in Redmond, Washington.”

“Our innovative technology approach compliments Microsoft’s commitment to offer a suite of leading edge security solutions,” said Dean Senner, chairman, president and CEO of AOptix Technologies. “We are delighted to be in partnership with Microsoft to bring comprehensive iris recognition to the unique and powerful security capabilities that Microsoft has put together.”

AOptix foresees strong growth in biometrics enabled access control solutions in the near future. Data centers and security operations are two notable high risk facilities types addressable by this partnership.

About the company

AOptix Technologies is a privately funded company founded in 2000. With core technology expertise in the application of advanced adaptive optics, they develop free space optical communications and iris biometrics based identification solutions for both government and commercial markets. For additional information, please see www.aoptix.com.

About the Microsoft Global Security Operations Center (GSOC) Technology Solution

Microsoft maintains three world-class, 24/7 operations centers around the globe to monitor, communicate and coordinate responses for more than 700 Microsoft sites worldwide. The centers, located in the US, the UK and India, highly leverage “out-of-the-box” solutions such as Microsoft Office SharePoint Server, InfoPath, Communicator and Bing Maps. These work in conjunction with Microsoft Certified Partner solutions to reduce costs and improve operational effectiveness around the world. The GSOC technology solution set is currently available for global deployment.

http://www.microsoft.com/industry/publicsector/government/csa/global_security_operations_center.aspx

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6229346〈=en

MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6229346

Contact:

AOptix Technologies, Inc.,
Brian Rhea, 408-558-3318 or 408-234-1496
Director, Corporate Communications
brhea@aoptix.com