UIC buys UAV assets

subsidiary,

has acquired

and Aerosonde North America in stock purchase transactions worth $6.5 million. Additional monies will be paid upon the achievement of certain milestones.

AAI is considered a premier US designer, manufacturer, and systems integrator of tactical unmanned aircraft systems, ground control station technologies, and other innovative unmanned system capabilities.

Aerosonde is a Victoria, Australia-based manufacturer and developer of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems with civil and military customers in Australia, Asia, and North America.

Aerosonde North America operates the Aerosonde UAV in support of R&D and weather forecasting requirements of US- based customers, including the US Air Force, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and NASA.

"The acquisition of Aerosonde is a perfect fit for our blueprint of strategically expanding our unmanned aircraft systems capabilities to meet the growing and diversified requirements of military, homeland security, and civilian markets," said Steven E. Reid, AAI's vice president of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

"Aerosonde's unique capabilities fit very nicely with our own unmanned aircraft technologies as we have recently offered a candidate to meet the U.S. Marine Corps requirements for a Tier II tactical unmanned aircraft system in support of regimental and expeditionary unit operations," Reid added.

The acquisition of Aerosonde is not expected to have any significant short-term financial impact on UIC.