News and Press Releases

Recon Optical appoints new Vice President/General Manager

Barrington, IL, May 2008: John Halenda, President and Chief Operating Officer of Bourns, Inc., has announced the appointment of Richard Zacaroli as Vice President and General Manager of Recon Optical, to succeed J. Michael (Mike) Johnson who retired as President and Chief Executive Officer on April 18, 2008. Prior to this appointment, Zacaroli served as Vice President of Operations for Recon Optical.

Zacaroli received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Wichita State University. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. In 1977, Zacaroli joined Honeywell's Electro-Optics Division in Lexington, Massachusetts where he held management positions in Cost Accounting, Finance and Budgets, and Strategic Planning, and authored several studies of the U.S. aerospace industry. Zacaroli joined Recon Optical in 1984 as Manager of Strategic Planning and Development. Over the years he has held assignments including Director of Programs, responsible for several of the Company’s contracts in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim; Director of Business Development for Europe and the Middle East; and Vice President of Corporate Services, overseeing the Company’s Business Services and Quality Assurance organizations. In January, Zacaroli was appointed Vice President of Operations. He has served as an Officer and Secretary of the Corporation since 2005.

In his new capacity as Vice President/General Manager for Recon Optical, Zacaroli will lead the company down new paths by capitalizing on the Company’s strengths to maintain its position in the marketplace as a leading supplier of integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems and services.

Recon Optical, in continuous operation since 1922, is based in Barrington, Illinois, USA. The company is a global leader in the design, development, production and integration of advanced digital reconnaissance cameras and systems for the visible and infrared spectra; stabilized, remotely controlled weapon systems; multispectral optics and windows; chemical detection scanners; and sighting systems. Recon Optical currently supports products in more than 30 countries worldwide.

Recon Optical Awarded Contract for Dual Spectral Band Reconnaissance Systems

Barrington. IL, November 19, 2007: The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) awarded Recon Optical a contract to supply its CA-295 high-altitude, dual spectral band, digital reconnaissance camera for installation in a RTAF aircraft. The contract also includes a digital display system, field service engineering and logistics support.

The CA-295 digital reconnaissance system is based upon Recon Optical’s patented framing technology operating simultaneously in both the visible and infrared spectral bands. Recon Optical’s digital framing technology allows any aircraft to capture imagery during high-speed tactical maneuvers in a framing format, providing high fidelity intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) data previously not available from tactical platforms.

“Recon Optical and the RTAF have been partners for many years. The reconnaissance systems ROI has provided to the RTAF over the past 30 years have performed well, and have provided high-quality ISR capabilities to help preserve the security of the country of Thailand and its people.” said Roy England, Recon Optical’s Director for International Business Development. “World events dictate a much higher level of protection, making this new, cutting-edge capability vital to Thailand’s security. We are proud of this partnership, and are looking forward to our continued relationship with the RTAF.”

Recon Optical, in continuous operation since 1922, is based in Barrington, Illinois, USA. The company is a global leader in the design, development, integration and production of advanced digital reconnaissance cameras and systems for the visible and infrared spectra; stabilized, remotely controlled weapon systems; multispectral optics and windows; stabilized chemical detection scanners; and sighting systems. Recon Optical currently supports products in over 30 countries worldwide.

EOS Awards Recon Optical Contract for Stabilized Remotely Operated Weapon Systems

Barrington. IL, July 9, 2007: On June 28, 2007, Electro Optic Systems, Limited (EOS) of Australia awarded Recon Optical a $2.2M production contract to supply 17 RAVEN^TM R-400 stabilized weapon mounts for integration on the Bushmaster infantry mobility vehicle. The lead systems integrator and prime contractor is ADI/THALES Australia for the Australian Government's Project Bushranger. The end user is the Royal Netherlands Army for use in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The contract, which also includes training and spare parts, was a result of the RAVEN^TM passing rigorous testing in the Netherlands. Recon Optical provides the stabilized mount, and EOS provides the critical fire control and sensor components that enhance the accuracy and provide remote operation of the weapon system. Together, Recon Optical and EOS have spent years developing and refining their patented RAVEN^TM technologies.

With its stabilized remote operation, the RAVEN^TM protects our Soldiers by enabling gunners to operate safely from within their vehicle's ballistic armor. The Soldier is no longer exposed to hostile fire, inclement weather, or other hazardous conditions normally associated with operating a pintle-mounted weapon system. The system’s stabilization and fire control system greatly increase the accuracy of the installed weapons while on the move or stationary. RAVEN^TM ’s capabilities multiply force effectiveness, lower collateral damage potential, and minimize logistics resupply requirements in demanding urban warfare environments.

RAVEN^TM accommodates a variety of small caliber (5.56-mm and 7.62-mm) machineguns, the M2 .50-cal heavy machinegun and Mk-19 40-mm grenade machinegun, and mounts to the roof of almost any armored or un-armored combat or logistics support vehicle. The U.S. Army type classified the RAVEN^TM R-400 as the M101 Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS), and through a series of urgent material requirements (UMR), over 560 units have been contracted to EOS and Recon Optical for use in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“We are proud that an important NATO coalition partner in the war on terror, the Royal Netherlands Army, has chosen the EOS and Recon Optical RAVEN^TM to meet their needs for a stabilized, remotely operated weapon system,” said Dennis Healy, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Recon Optical's Force Protection Technologies business unit. “The CROWS systems currently deployed in Iraq are getting high marks from the Soldiers using them. The system increases battlefield survivability by allowing the Soldier to effectively employ their weapons from the relative safety of their vehicles’ armor. They have been able to engage the enemy in situations that would be impossible without the CROWS’ accuracy, and first-hand field reports suggest that the system’s thermal capabilities enhance the Soldiers’ ability to identify Improvised Explosive Devices.”

Recon Optical, based in Barrington, Illinois, USA, is a global leader in the design, development, integration and production of stabilized weapon systems; advanced digital reconnaissance cameras; multi-spectral optics and windows; and sighting systems. EOS, based in Griffith Australia, recently built production facilities for RAVEN^TM fire control and sensor components in Tucson, Arizona.

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