Efficient Channel Coding is Awarded a Phase II SBIR Contract for Next Generation IFICS Research from the Missile Defense Agency.

Cleveland, Ohio – October 29, 2004 - Efficient Channel Coding (ECC) announced today that it has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to develop and test next generation technology for the In-Flight Interceptor Communication System (IFICS).

The IFICS is used to communicate critical status mid-course information between a missile interceptor “Kill Vehicle” and a ground control station. Communications must occur within a highly challenging communications environment that could potentially include both hostile jamming and multi-path fading produced by nuclear weapon effects in the ionosphere. MDA is actively exploring advanced communications technologies to maximize reliability and range of this communication link. As part of the Phase II research, ECC will develop a hardware test bed capable of implementing and evaluating possible next generation solutions.

“We are pleased to be partnering with MDA to research advanced solutions for the IFICS program”, said Dr. Mark Dale, Vice President of Business Development at ECC. “ECC’s Phase II research will support MDA’s efforts to improve the performance of the IFICS communication link, and enhance the nation’s future missile defense shield”.

The Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) group within MDA has successfully started deploying the current generation missile defense shield in Alaska. Aaron Corder, representing MDA/GMD on the IFICS program, noted: “The results of ECC’s Phase II research are expected to play an important role in the evaluation of potential next generation IFICS platforms. We look forward to working with ECC on this program”.

ECC provides real world digital communications solutions for some of the world’s most advanced networks. We design and deliver satellite communication systems, broadband communication ICs, and customized commercial and government solutions. Our technology innovations increase the efficiency of today’s most advanced satellite, wireless and wire-line communications systems. More information on ECC is available on the Internet at www.efficientchannelcoding.com.

The GMD system began deployments in September 2004, and is the United States’ first operational missile defense program capable of protecting all 50 states. GMD will detect and track long-range ballistic missiles in their boost phase, and destroy them during their midcourse phase, i.e. while the missiles are outside the atmosphere and at their highest trajectory. The Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency is currently installing six interceptor missiles at Fort Greely in Alaska, and four at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Over 20 interceptors are scheduled for deployment over the next two years.