SAN DIEGO, Sept. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider, announced today that Micro Systems, Inc., a part of its Unmanned Systems Division (USD), in partnership with Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Royal Truck and Equipment, and Colas Ltd, has deployed the World’s First autonomous vehicle approved and supporting live roadway operation in Colorado (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-GkbFXq3Ts). The Autonomous Impact Protection Vehicle (AIPV), also known as the Autonomous Truck Mounted Attenuator (ATMA), is a first-of-its kind work zone vehicle designed to advance safety for roadway maintenance crews. Customarily positioned behind road construction crews in order to protect workers from the traveling public, the AIPV/ATMA increases work zone safety by removing the driver from a truck actually designed as a mobile crash barrier.

“Just in the last four years, there have been 26 incidents where a member of the traveling public struck a CDOT impact protection vehicle — that’s almost seven per year,” said Shailen Bhatt, CDOT Executive Director. “This is a dangerously high number when you consider that in some instances, a CDOT employee is sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle that was hit. By using self-driving technology, we’re able to take the driver out of harm’s way while still effectively shielding roadside workers. Our partnership with Kratos proves that technology can take transportation safety to a new level and forever improve the way we work."

The autonomous technology was originally developed by Kratos to support Robotic and Autonomous System (RAS) objectives for the US Army and has been leveraged into this non-military commercial application. The system incorporates a Leader/Follower configuration utilizing a vehicle automation retrofit kit that enables the unmanned AIPV/ATMA to follow a human-driven leader vehicle mimicking position, speed, and heading. Retrofitting the vehicles with the Kratos automation kit allows the customer to use their existing fleet of vehicles providing a highly cost effective solution. In addition to the Colorado deployment of the AIPV/ATMA, Kratos has systems currently undergoing trials in the UK with Colas Ltd. According to the Federal Highway Administration, in work zones in 2015, there was a crash every 5.4 minutes, 70 crash-related injuries every day, and 12 crash-related fatalities every week, which makes the AIPV/ATMA a potentially game-changing solution for improving safety and efficiency in the work zone. 

Kevin Ferguson, Sr. VP of Kratos’ Micro Systems, Inc., said, "Kratos is focused on rapidly designing, demonstrating, and fielding the highest performance unmanned systems in the world, and we are very proud to be working with this important customer on this next generation roadway construction system."

About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) develops transformative, affordable technology for the Department of Defense and commercial customers. Kratos is changing the way breakthrough technology for these industries is brought to market through proactive research and a streamlined development process. Kratos specializes in unmanned systems, satellite communications, cyber security/warfare, microwave electronics, missile defense, training and combat systems. For more information go to www.kratosdefense.com.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Kratos and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Kratos undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although Kratos believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Kratos in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Kratos for the year ended December 25, 2016, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the SEC by Kratos.

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