BILLERICA, Mass., June 11, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Science and Engineering, Inc. ("AS&E") (Nasdaq:ASEI), a leading worldwide supplier of innovative X-ray detection solutions, announced the Company has been awarded a contract from Abu Dhabi Customs for two OmniView™ Gantry cargo and vehicle inspection systems with dual-energy for material discrimination and one Z Portal® cargo and vehicle screening system to protect the new Khalifa Port. Khalifa Port will become one of the largest ports in the world when all phases are completed.

"AS&E is proud to support Abu Dhabi Customs by providing cargo and vehicle security solutions that will aid the Khalifa Port in becoming one of the world's leading and preferred megaports," said Anthony R. Fabiano, AS&E's President and CEO of AS&E. "We have a long-standing association with Abu Dhabi Customs and actively support their goal to balance minimum restrictions on trade while providing maximum security by utilizing the best inspection technologies. We are committed to working side-by-side with Abu Dhabi Customs to meet their stringent security requirements to secure their ports and borders from smuggling, trade fraud, and other threats.

About Khalifa Port

The flagship Khalifa Port will enable Abu Dhabi's continued international economic growth, expanding access to global markets. Featuring the latest technology in port security, this will be the first semi-automated port in the region and one of the biggest ports in the world, handling an initial capacity of 2 million TEU container traffic and 12 million tons of general cargo annually. In order to help protect the Ras Ghanada coral reef, Khalifa Port is being built on a reclaimed port island1.

About OmniView™ Gantry Cargo & Vehicle Inspection System: High Penetration into Dense Cargo

The high-performance, high-energy OmniView Gantry cargo inspection system offers best-in-class X-ray imaging in a unique, efficient design. AS&E's technology features powerful 6.0 MeV high-energy transmission X-rays that penetrate up to 400 mm (15.7 inches) of steel. The system's dual-energy X-ray source offers the ability to discriminate organic, inorganic, metallic, and high-density materials.

About Z Portal® Cargo & Vehicle Inspection System: High-throughput, Drive-through Detection

AS&E's Z Portal system is a multi-view, drive-through inspection system capable of scanning cars, vans, trucks, and their cargo for concealed threats and contraband. The Z Portal system highlights organic contraband, such as explosives, drugs, stowaways, and alcohol. With its compact design, the Z Portal system is ideal for high-traffic locations with space constraints and a high-throughput requirement. The Z Portal system is safe for drivers, operators, cargo, and the environment and can be configured with up to three Z Backscatter imaging modules to provide a left, right, and top-down view of the vehicles under examination.

About AS&E

American Science and Engineering, Inc. (AS&E) is a leading worldwide supplier of innovative X-ray inspection systems. With over 50 years of experience in developing advanced X-ray security systems, the Company's product line utilizes a combination of technologies, including patented Z Backscatter technology, Radioactive Threat Detection (RTD), high energy transmission and dual energy transmission X-ray. These technologies offer superior X-ray threat detection for plastic explosives, plastic weapons, liquid explosives, dirty bombs and nuclear devices. AS&E's complete range of products include cargo inspection systems for port and border security, baggage screening systems for facility and aviation security, and personnel and passenger screening systems. AS&E® systems protect high-threat facilities and help combat terrorism, trade fraud, drug smuggling, weapon smuggling, illegal immigration, and people smuggling. AS&E customers include leading government agencies, border authorities, military bases, airports and corporations worldwide, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), UK Border Agency (UKBA), Hong Kong Customs, and Abu Dhabi Customs. For more information on AS&E products and technologies, please visit www.as-e.com.

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Safe Harbor Statement: The foregoing press release contains statements concerning AS&E's financial performance, markets and business operations that may be considered "forward-looking" under applicable securities laws.  AS&E wishes to caution readers of this press release that actual results might differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements contained herein include the following: significant reductions, delays or cancellations (in full or in part) in procurements of the Company's systems by the United States and other governments; disruption in the supply of any source component incorporated into AS&E's products; litigation seeking to restrict the use of intellectual property used by the Company; limitations under certain laws on the Company's ability to protect its own intellectual property; potential product liability claims against the Company; global political trends and events which affect public perception of the threat presented by drugs, explosives and other contraband; global economic developments and the ability of governments and private organizations to fund purchases of the Company's products to address such threats; the potential insufficiency of Company resources, including human resources, capital, plant and equipment and management systems, to accommodate any future growth; technical problems and other delays that could impact new product development and the Company's ability to adapt to changes in technology and customer requirements; competitive pressures; lengthy sales cycles both in United States government procurement and procurement abroad;  future delays in federal funding, the market price of the company's stock prevailing from time to time, the nature of other investment opportunities presented to the company from time to time, the company's cash flows from operations and market and general economic conditions. These and certain other factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected are detailed from time to time in AS&E's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which important factors are incorporated herein by reference. AS&E undertakes no obligation to update forward looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or changes in future operating results, financial condition or business over time. Readers are further advised to review the "Risk Factors" set forth in the Company's most recent Form 10-Q and Form 10-K, which further detail and supplement the factors described in this Safe Harbor Statement.  Among other disclosures, the Risk Factors disclose risks pertaining to that portion of the Company's business that is dependent on United States government contracting as well as international customers.

1 "Khalifa Port Set to Open This Year," Abu Dhabi World Ports, 29 February 2012, http://adpc.ae/en/news/media-center/press-releases/khalifa-port-set-to-open-this-year.html (accessed 20 March 2012).

CONTACT: Public Relations Contact:
         Dana Harris
         Red Javelin Communications, Inc.
         978-440-8392
         dana@redjavelin.com
         
         Laura Berman
         American Science and Engineering, Inc.
         978-262-8700
         lberman@as-e.com