Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWPNS) -- Point Mugu entered into six new CRADAs, reports Dr. Mike Sullivan, director and ORTA at Point Mugu's Technology Development Projects Office. In two separate partnerships, one with Santa Maria Valley Economic Development Association (SMVEDC), and one with Thousand Oaks Environmental Business Cluster (TOEBC), NAWCWPNS will participate in technology transfer with companies, in particular small businesses, who request technologies through each organization's respective Technology Access Service. These CRADAs are similar to the ones formed last year with the Ventura County Business Incubator and the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. In each, NAWCWPNS is recognized as possessing leading-edge technical skills in specific areas with are critical to developing and maintaining a competitive world position in many U.S. corporations.

NAWCWPNS and ABATIS Inc. Santa Barbara, CA, will jointly test, demonstrate, and evaluate the application of radar technologies for the detection of concealed explosive devices and weapons, specifically using NAWCWPNS' Radar Cross Section (RCS) technology to detect inert explosive detonators that are commonly used in bombs. This joint effort has a direct commercial application for airport and aircraft security and is of great interest to the Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration.

The same Radar Cross Section (RCS) technology is the focus of a 3-way partnership with the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC), the company MICROCLEAN of Palmdale, CA, and NAWCWPNS. Point Mugu's Radar Reflectivity Laboratory will be used to determine the RCS of objects with and without an application of a coating produced by MICROCLEAN.

NAWCWPNS - Point Mugu, represented by its Air Intercept Systems Division (AISD), and TRW Inc. Redondo Beach, CA, represented by its Space and Electronics Group, are jointly pursuing the development of state-of-the-art new technologies in the field of radar technology, synthetic aperture imaging, and non-cooperative target identification (NCTI).

The offshore islands of San Nicolas and Santa Cruz, along with the Point Mugu, will be the test sites of an agreement between NAWCWPNS and Exports Specialists, Inc., Irvine, CA (ESI). The electronic pest repeller called Riddex/Pest-a-Cator, an environment- friendly alternative to harmful or hazardous chemicals, visits from the pest control services, and dangerous traps to set and empty, will be tested and evaluated by both CRADA partners at those sites where pests and rodents have been reported. The world won't need a "better mouse trap" if the Riddex/Pest-a-Cator performs as expected.

For more information please contact:

Dr. Michael Sullivan
(805) 989-9204; Fax: 989-3938
Email: op913d1@technet1.jcte.jcs.mil