Argon ST, Inc. (NASDAQ:STST), a major systems engineering, development, and services provider of full-service C5ISR (command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) systems to a diverse group of defense and intelligence customers, was granted the contract for Phase 2A of the Robust Surface Navigation (RSN) program with options for Phase 2B and 2C from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Strategic Technology Office.
The Phase 2A base contract is valued at approximately $6.5 million, and was awarded subsequent to the successful completion of Phase 1 of the RSN initiative. Argon was originally selected in 2008 by DARPA to research and develop new algorithms for avoiding multi-path signal errors and signal blockage caused by urban canyons and other confined spaces. Improvements made by Argon during Phase 1 and following demonstrations to be made during Phase 2B will grant US military access to GPS-enabled navigation in areas previously inaccessible to GPS signals.
Kerry Rowe, President and COO of Argon ST stated, “In today’s technology-laden combat arenas the importance of developing alternate technologies to GPS for precision positioning and navigation has never been more critical.†He added, “We are committed to helping solve the fundamental problem of navigation and geo-location in GPS-denied or -degraded areas, especially in the difficult environments inside buildings and in urban canyons.â€
He added that a primary objective for Argon was to maintain momentum on key programs with consistent excellence of execution and to leverage that excellence into expanded roles in future contracts. He continued, “This award is indicative of the progress we have seen so far this year on this front. We are very proud that DARPA, the central research and development office for the U.S. Department of Defense, continues to rely on Argon for such an important capability.â€
Argon ST will be supported by Honeywell Laboratories, Minneapolis, MN; Ticom Geomatics, Austin, TX; and The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, in a supporting software and engineering services capacity in conjunction with this contract.
