Insitu Awarded Small Tactical Unmanned Air System/Tier II Contract

Insitu Inc. today announced it has been awarded the Small Tactical Unmanned Air System (STUAS)/Tier II contract from Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) for its Integrator unmanned aircraft system (UAS).

In partnership with The Boeing Company, Harris Corporation, Corsair Engineering and Black Ram Engineering Services, Insitu will begin the 24-month engineering, manufacturing and development phase to build and test its Integrator UAS satisfying STUAS/Tier II system requirements.

Under the contract, Integrator will support two operational assessments. The first will determine if an early operational capability option will be exercised leading to the fielding of up to five systems in fiscal 2011. The second will support low-rate initial production of two systems, one each for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. Initial operating capability is expected in fourth quarter fiscal 2013. Integrator is then expected to move to full-rate production of up to 56 systems.

“I’m looking forward to fielding the capabilities of STUAS to our forward deployed forces,” said Capt. JR Brown, PMA-263 Program Manager. “This critical system will greatly increase their intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities in theater.”

Integrator provides battlefield commanders with 24/7, real-time, actionable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) products via Hood Technologies’ electro-optic and infrared sensor package. High-resolution imagery is transmitted through an encrypted line-of-sight digital data link provided by L-3 Communication Systems-West. Harris Corporation will provide the next generation communications relay payload to support secure ground communications.

“We are extremely honored to be awarded this contract and we look forward to partnering with NAVAIR PMA-263,” said Insitu Vice President of Emerging Programs and STUAS/Tier II Program Manager Bill Clark. “Integrator provides unsurpassed growth capability for expanding into new and future missions. With the award of this contract, Integrator will continue the Insitu legacy of supporting our troops in harm’s way.”

The field-proven Insitu ScanEagle UAS has served the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps since 2004 and will continue supporting U.S. and allied forces as customer needs require.

“ScanEagle has played a vital role in protecting our warfighters by providing them with the ISR products they need,” said Director of Unmanned Airborne Systems for Boeing Vic Sweberg. “We see the STUAS contract as a big step forward as Boeing expands its presence in the UAS market.”

Insitu Inc., located in Bingen, Wash., is a wholly-owned independent subsidiary of The Boeing Company. Insitu designs, develops and manufactures UAS and provides associated services for commercial and military applications. With a small footprint and expeditionary focus for both land and sea operations, the company’s family of UAS solutions serves the needs of the global defense community. To date, these systems have accumulated more than 340,000 combat flight hours and 41,500 sorties. For more information, visit www.insitu.com.

Insitu’s ScanEagle Unmanned Aircraft System Selected by U.S. Air Force Academy to Train Cadets

Insitu Inc. has teamed with BOSH Global Services to train U.S. Air Force Academy cadets on the disciplines critical to planning and executing missions using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), specifically Insitu’s ScanEagle, from within the Air Forces’ Air Operations Center (AOC). The training is designed to familiarize academy cadets with UAS and to give them first-hand knowledge of how these systems can be integrated into Air Force Operations to support warfighters worldwide. “ScanEagle was chosen because it is a superior system that is extremely intuitive, giving cadets a hands-on learning experience almost from day one,” said U.S. Air Force Academy Lt. Col. David Latham. “This UAS is perfect for training at the academy because of its high-performance capacity at higher altitudes and extreme temperatures.” “The Air Force is training more cadets to become UAS pilots to keep pace with the worldwide demand for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. At a fraction of the cost of larger UAS platforms, the ScanEagle provides a cost-effective and efficient option for the Air Force to train cadets how to achieve their core competencies of information superiority, global attack and agile combat support,” said Vice President, Sustainment Operations and General Operations Mary Margaret Evans. Through the program, cadets get hands-on experience in the operation of UAS. They also receive instruction about intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, aerodynamics, mission planning, emergency procedures, visual observer duties and techniques and airmanship concepts. The basic UAS course lasts eight days. On the first instruction day, cadets get an overview and watch a demonstration of ScanEagle in flight. The rest of the training, offered by BOSH, involves in-class and actual flight operations instruction. Each student operates ScanEagle during six 40-minute training periods of actual flight. This year, three courses are offered: basic, advanced and instructor preparation. The instructor prep course was conducted in April when 24 upper-level cadets received instruction to help train lower-level cadets. In June, about 90 cadets are participating in the basic course. The advanced session will be offered in the fall. Insitu Inc., located in Bingen, Wash., is a wholly owned independent subsidiary of The Boeing Company. Insitu designs, develops and manufactures UAS and provides associated services for commercial and military applications. With a small footprint and expeditionary focus for both land and sea operations, the company’s family of UAS solutions is serving the needs of the global defense community. To date, these systems have accumulated more than 320,000 combat flight hours and 40,000 sorties. Visit www.insitu.com for more information. BOSH Global Services is an SBA-certified 8(a), veteran-owned company offering turnkey technical and operational support services. BOSH supports mission-critical unmanned systems, first responder communications networks, video distribution technology, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems. The company’s core competencies include command and control systems operations and support, mission planning, hands-on technical and operational training, 24x7 communications and network support, ISR data analysis, lifecycle management, and flight operations support. BOSH is ISO 9001:2008 registered. Visit www.boshgs.com for more information.

RFinity and Citizens Community Bank Partner to Expand Pilot to Offer Convenient Mobile Payment Capability at Local Rexburg Merchants

Idaho Falls-based technology company RFinity today launched the next phase of a pilot program providing a secure mobile payment option for residents in nearby Rexburg, Idaho, location of the first pilot. During this next phase, RFinity has secured a cooperative agreement with Rexburg’s Citizens Community Bank (CCB), where current and prospective account-holders of CCB may enroll in the program and then use their mobile devices to conduct transactions with participating merchants using RFinity’s secure near field communications (NFC) technology. The first phase of the pilot program was implemented on the Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYU-I) campus, where students and employees use the technology to make purchases at the University Store and other on-campus locations. Pilot participants appreciate the ease of use, security, and convenience of RFinity’s technology. RFinity recently added its 1,000th pilot participant at the BYU-I campus. “We are thrilled at the positive response we’ve received from the students at BYU-I for our technology. The success at BYU-I has allowed us to expand the pilot to include local merchants,” said interim RFinity CEO Steve McCown. “RFinity and its partnership with the Citizens Community Bank will enable a broader base of users to take advantage of this groundbreaking and advanced technology. We look forward to further expanding that base in the future.” With the launch of this second phase, program participants who have accounts at Citizens Community Bank in Rexburg can, once linked to the RFinity technology, use their mobile devices to make purchases at locations of merchants participating in the pilot. “We are very excited to be working with RFinity on this project. They have developed an innovative product that we are thrilled to offer our customers,” said Citizens Community Bank’s Rexburg Branch Manager, Karl Boehm. The technology works by attaching a unique, one-time-use encrypted code to each transaction, activated by the user entering a personal authorization code. This protects personal information from being intercepted or used for payment in case of theft or losing one’s phone, making payment more convenient and secure than credit or debit cards. CCB customers can establish a checking account payment link in a matter of minutes at the bank, allowing them to use RFinity with the mobile point-of-sale devices at participating merchant locations. Those interested in the added security and convenience of RFinity can visit the Rexburg branch of Citizens Community Bank to open an account or link their current membership to an RFinity account.

About RFinity With offices in Idaho Falls, Idaho; Rexburg, Idaho; and Wanchai, Hong Kong, RFinity offers an unparalleled, simple, elegant, and secure user experience. It is dedicated to delivering a highly secure mobile transaction platform to enable users to conduct business in completely new ways, while eliminating the security vulnerabilities of legacy transaction systems. RFinity’s dynamic and security cryptography allows you to use your mobile phone as a secure transaction device. Visit www.rfinity.com or find RFinity on Facebook for more information.

Insitu Signs Groundbreaking Agreement with FAA for Unmanned Aircraft Systems National Airspace Integration Research

Insitu Inc. signed a cooperative research development agreement (CRDA) yesterday with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), whereby Insitu will provide a ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system (UAS) and related support hardware and data. The FAA will conduct research needed to guide the development of recommendations for integrating unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace.

“The FAA has a well-equipped laboratory and resources at the technical center that will allow them to fully evaluate our Tier II system,” said Insitu Vice President, Commercial Business Development Paul McDuffee. “Through the CRDA, the FAA will have an opportunity to better understand UAS design, construction and functionality. It will also begin determining differences in how an air traffic controller manages an unmanned aircraft versus a manned aircraft by integrating the ScanEagle system with existing FAA air traffic control simulation capabilities.”

The research will be managed by the Research and Technology Development Office and conducted at the William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, NJ. As part of the agreement, Insitu will train FAA pilots and support staff to fly and maintain the system. Insitu will also supply documentation related to the ScanEagle UAS, including an open invitation for FAA personnel to visit Insitu to see first-hand how the company develops and manufactures its products.

ScanEagle has proven itself in military operations particularly in providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and has flown more than 320,000 hours performing such missions. However, the ScanEagle can have practical benefits in civil applications as well. For example, ScanEagle, with its 24-hour endurance capability, can be useful in search and rescue operations, for fire and flood monitoring and for guiding evacuation efforts during hazardous weather conditions, particularly when flying a manned aircraft would be too risky for the pilot or too expensive.

Insitu Inc., located in Bingen, Wash., is a wholly owned independent subsidiary of The Boeing Company. Insitu designs, develops and manufactures UAS and provides associated services for commercial and military applications. With a small footprint and expeditionary focus for both land and sea operations, the company’s family of UAS solutions is serving the needs of the global defense community. To date, these systems have accumulated more than 320,000 combat flight hours and 40,000 sorties. For more information, visit www.insitu.com.

Insitu ScanEagle Surpasses 17,000 Combat Flight Hours with Canadian Forces

BINGEN, Wash., June 2, 2010 – Insitu Inc.’s ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system (UAS) recently logged more than 17,000 combat flight hours and 1,700 sorties with the Canadian Forces, delivering the most advanced intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance (ISR) to meet the mission-critical needs of Canadian defence customers.

Insitu’s Canadian partner ING Engineering deploys field service representatives with extensive military backgrounds to provide cutting-edge ISR in support of Canadian defence efforts in Afghanistan and Canada. ScanEagle has been deployed with the Canadian Forces in theater since 2008 and it recently completed a successful maritime flight demonstration aboard Canadian naval vessel HMCS Glace Bay.

Insitu has experience operating in various environments and performing multiple missions, from anti-piracy and counter-terrorism missions to Arctic research and emergency response exercises. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in cooperation with The University of Alaska, used ScanEagle in the Bering Sea to monitor ice seal habitat preferences and sensitivity to climate change. ScanEagle’s capability of operating in cold-weather environments makes this versatile UAS an ideal solution for various Canadian defence, security and environmental needs, including remote cold-weather missions.

“We have a proven track record supporting Canadian operations overseas,” said Insitu Vice President of Sustainment Operations and General Manager Mary Margaret Evans. “And we look forward to continuing and expanding our relationship with Canadian Forces in the future.”

Insitu will showcase its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and continued readiness to support Canadian Forces this week at CANSEC, Canada’s largest defense and security trade show June 2 through 3 at booth 1111.

Insitu Inc., located in Bingen, Wash., is a wholly owned independent subsidiary of The Boeing Company. Insitu designs, develops and manufactures UAS and provides associated services for commercial and military applications. With a small footprint and expeditionary focus for both land and sea operations, the company’s family of UAS solutions is serving the needs of the global defense community. To date, these systems have accumulated more than 315,000 combat flight hours and 39,000 sorties. For more information, visit www.insitu.com.

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Contact: Jill Vacek
Insitu
509-493-6439
jill.vacek@insitu.com

Insitu Demonstrates ScanEagle Capabilities at Fort Rucker

BINGEN, Wash., May 13, 2010 – Insitu Inc., in coordination with the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, recently demonstrated its heavy fuel engine-configured ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to U.S. Army personnel at Fort Rucker, Ala. It was the first UAS demonstration at Fort Rucker in six years.

Insitu successfully demonstrated the interoperability between ScanEagle video with metadata and the U.S. Army’s One System Remote Video Terminal (OSRVT). The demonstration was conducted in conjunction with the Joint Systems Integration Laboratory (JSIL).

Insitu also showcased its digital video, encrypted data feed, enhancing situational awareness and surveillance of threats. Other technologies on display included a mid-wave infrared (MWIR) sensor that provides high-quality intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) data and imagery at night, as well as Insitu’s airborne target tracking system that displays stabilized video and remote video terminal functionality.

“We’re gratified by the strong interest in ScanEagle that we received from participants in the Fort Rucker demonstration. In our view, this unmanned system provides the Army with the optimal combat-proven ISR solutions it needs to protect warfighters on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Insitu Vice President of Business Development Alvin Jackson.

Insitu Inc., located in Bingen, Wash., is a wholly owned independent subsidiary of The Boeing Company. Insitu designs, develops and manufactures UAS and provides associated services for commercial and military applications. With a small footprint and expeditionary focus for both land and sea operations, the company’s family of UAS solutions is serving the needs of the global defense community. To date, these systems have accumulated more than 300,000 combat flight hours and 38,000 sorties. For more information, visit www.insitu.com.

RFinity Wins Contactless Intelligence’s Monkey Award For Trailblazing And Innovation

Idaho Falls, ID, May 4, 2010—RFinity, a technology company specializing in secure near field communication (NFC) mobile payment transactions, has received Contactless Intelligence’s (CI) prestigious Monkey Award for Trailblazing and Innovation. The Monkey Award recognizes exemplary companies that further the boundaries of contactless technology through product introduction or pilot programs. RFinity interim CEO, CTO Steven McCown received the award during CI’s Monkey Awards dinner April 29 following the Contactless Intelligence Fourth Annual Conference in London.

CI received a record number of entries this year from innovative companies from around the world including the United States, India, Finland, Austria, France, and the UK and narrowed the competition to 36 finalists in nine categories. Other award winners this year included Coca-Cola, VIVOtech-Citibank, Subway, and O2. Past winners include Yo! Sushi, Pret A Manger, EAT, Evening Standard, Carrefour, 02, RMV, and Payter.

The award recognized, in part, RFinity’s successful pilot program that began last fall at Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYU-I), where students are using RFinity-enabled cell phones to securely and conveniently make purchases at the campus bookstore. The pilot will soon be expanded to include more purchase sites and involve up to 5,000 participants.

“We are honored to be recognized for RFinity’s innovative technology that transforms mobile commerce by making it vastly more secure and convenient,” said McCown. “We are extremely pleased by the pilot’s success and the enthusiasm from participants who love having the convenience of making purchases with their cell phones and the peace of mind that comes from RFinity’s secure architecture.”

RFinity successfully attacked and solved the weaknesses of mobile commerce that employ security and transaction technologies adapted from the outdated magnetic strip credit card industry, from Near Field Communication (NFC) technologies designed for product tracking, and from mobile phone technologies that were never engineered for the level of security needed to conduct financial transactions.

RFinity solved these problems by creating technology that uses one-time codes and complex cryptographic signatures to assure that each transaction code can be used only once. Even if a transaction is intercepted, the code will be useless to attackers. The operating system, cryptographic engine and transaction devices are entirely contained on a microSD card that can quickly be inserted into a cell phone.

McCown anticipates that RFinity’s technology will push mobile-commerce into everyday use because it offers consumers convenience and the confidence that their personal information will remain secure and confidential.

“We also envision that RFinity mobile technology will be adapted for multiple applications enabling consumers to use their cell phones to check in and access hotel rooms, purchase tickets for sporting events and concerts, store and access personal medical information, or even verify identity,” said McCown.

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About RFinity With offices in Idaho Falls, Idaho; Rexburg, Idaho; and Wanchai, Hong Kong, RFinity offers an unparalleled, simple, elegant, and secure user experience. It is dedicated to delivering a highly secure mobile transaction platform to enable users to conduct business in completely new ways, while eliminating the security vulnerabilities of legacy transaction systems. RFinity’s dynamic and security cryptography allows you to use your mobile phone as a secure transaction device. Visit www.rfinity.com for more information.

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Insitu’s ScanEagle Unmanned Aircraft System Achieves 300,000 Combat Flight Hours

BINGEN, Wash., April 29, 2010 — Insitu Inc. announced today that its ScanEagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) recently exceeded 300,000 combat flight hours, making it a leader in Group 2, the small tactical class of UAS.

Insitu’s ScanEagle accounted for approximately 22 percent of the 550,000 hours that the U.S. Department of Defense estimated unmanned aircraft flew last year supporting combat missions for the U.S. armed services.

“Through these in-theater operations, we’ve proven the reliability of ScanEagle and consistently demonstrated that our systems are ready to execute any mission over land or sea. Our continual commitment to advance our technology contributes to this milestone, distinguishing Insitu within the UAS industry,” said Vice President of Emerging Programs Bill Clark.

Since ScanEagle’s first operational flight in 2002, Insitu has rapidly developed and delivered tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) solutions to better serve the warfighter. In response to requests for enhanced nighttime imagery, ScanEagle can be converted to NightEagle to include a cooled mid-wave infrared imager. Other aircraft configuration advancements include a heavy fuel engine for improved safety and ease of military supply chain logistics integration and a muffled engine for reduced acoustic signature. Upgrades to Insitu’s family of UAS include a mode C transponder for airspace deconfliction and an automatic identification system for maritime vessel identification. Most recently, Insitu introduced the NanoSAR payload, which penetrates adverse weather conditions, battlefield obscurants, camouflage and light foliage, allowing radar-enabled broad-area searches over land and sea.

Future deliveries to the warfighter will include digital video data encryption, single-channel ground-to-air radio relay and heavy fuel engine electronic fuel-injection. These advancements will enable ground forces to see real-time encrypted, secure video and metadata from Insitu UAS using small laptop devices. Additionally, ground forces will be able to relay voice and data with an extensive end-to-end reach. Engine performance will also improve, especially in extreme temperatures and at high altitudes.

“Serving warfighters over the past five years has helped us fine-tune our engineering, production and field services operations. The result has been increased agility and enhanced ability to deliver our systems rapidly anywhere in the world,” said Vice President of Sales and Marketing Alvin Jackson. “We’ve come to better understand the unique needs of the armed forces and we’re responding with advanced solutions to fulfill those requirements.”

To learn more about Insitu’s technologies visit Booth 217 at Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space Exposition at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md.

Insitu Inc., located in Bingen, Wash., is a wholly owned independent subsidiary of The Boeing Company. Insitu designs, develops and manufactures UAS and provides associated services for commercial and military applications. With a small footprint and expeditionary focus for land and sea operations, the company’s family of UAS solutions serves the needs of the global defense community. To date, these systems have accumulated more than 300,000 combat flight hours and 36,000 sorties. For more information, visit www.insitu.com.

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Contact: Jill Vacek Insitu 509-493-6439 jill.vacek@insitu.com

Embassy of Kazakhstan Launches 2010 Cultural Festival with Traditional Music, Food, Art

Festival to strengthen cultural ties between U.S., Kazakhstan

Washington, D.C. | April 15, 2010—The Embassy of Kazakhstan this week launched the 2010 Washington Kazakhstan Festival celebrating and sharing Kazakh culture with the American public through performances and exhibitions. On Wednesday, the Smithsonian Institution hosted the kick-off event featuring traditional Kazakh art, food, and music.

“We are thrilled for this opportunity to share a glimpse and taste of our culture with the American people,” said H.E. Erlan Idrissov, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to the United States. “No doubt we will see stronger relations between our two countries develop as a result.”

Distinguished guests attended the reception, including ambassadors, business leaders, and representatives from Chevron and the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian online exhibition Discover Kazakhstan: The Expeditions of Chokan Valikhanov, which highlights the life and work of one of Kazakhstan’s most revered explorers and ethnographers, was unveiled at the reception. Chevron is sponsoring the festival exhibition. The event also included displays of Kazakh art and artifacts, traditional food, and performances by three musical groups that will perform at other local venues this week.

The planned events and performances—lasting from April 15 to December 31, 2010—will showcase Kazakhstan and its rich heritage of music, science, art, and international influence. The festival activities begin with performances by the three Kazakh musical groups featured at the reception. The Student Jazz Band of the Kazakh National Academy of Music performs Thursday, April 15, at 8 p.m. at the National Building Museum. The Presidential Folk Orchestra of the Republic of Kazakhstan will also play Thursday, April 15, at 8 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Ulytau, the popular Kazakh folk-rock band, will perform at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium Saturday, April 17, at 6 p.m. All three events are open to the public.

“Bringing Kazakh culture to the United States is an integral part of strengthening the bonds between our two nations,” Idrissov added. “While Kazakhstan enjoys strong bilateral relations with the United States, we also want to develop relationships—on a person-to-person level—with the American people. Whether it be through the beauty of music or the intrigue of history, we hope all who take part in the events of the festival will open their minds and hearts to Kazakhstan and its people.”

For more information about the 2010 Washington Kazakhstan Festival, please visit www.kazakhembus.com.

Kazakh, U.S. Companies Sign Technology, Training Deals

Agreements facilitate bilateral economic goals, Kazakhstan’s industrial development and advanced U.S. technology acquisition objectives

Washington, D.C. | April 11, 2010—The Republic of Kazakhstan announced today that two Kazakh companies have successfully concluded deals with U.S.-based General Electric (GE) and Pilot Training College to acquire critical U.S. expertise, technology, and training. These business agreements support the bilateral economic objectives outlined by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and President Barack Obama, as well as Kazakhstan’s goals for accelerated industrial development through the acquisition of advanced U.S. technology and knowledge.

Kazakhstan’s National Railway Company signed an agreement with General Electric Transportation for the Commonwealth of Independent States Shunter Locomotive Program. Air Astana reached an agreement with Pilot Training College in Florida to train an additional 24 pilots by the end of 2010.

“These agreements reflect Kazakhstan’s ongoing commitment to the bilateral economic development objectives that President Nazarbayev and President Obama established and support,” said His Excellency Erlan Idrissov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United States.

Idrissov emphasized that the deals will support and create new American jobs and provide opportunities for Kazakh and U.S. companies to work together. Kazakhstan will benefit from access to advanced U.S. technology and training needed to assist and accelerate its industrial development and economic growth. Implementation of the technology agreements is expected to have a positive economic effect on the vast Commonwealth of Independent States market with nearly 280 million consumers.

“These agreements will deepen existing economic ties between Kazakhstan and the United States, while opening the door wide to future business opportunities and increased economic and trade cooperation between our countries,” said Idrissov.