Sonex to Convert UAV Gasoline Engine to Heavy Fuel Use for NRL
1 February 1999
Sonex to Convert UAV Gasoline Engine to Heavy Fuel Use for NRL; is Granted U.S. Patent for Its Heavy Fuel Technology
ANNAPOLIS, Md.--Feb. 1, 1999--SONEX RESEARCH, INC. (OTC Bulletin Board Symbol "SONX") announced that it has been awarded a six-month contract for nearly $100,000 by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) to modify a small, lightweight, two-cycle, spark-ignited (SI) gasoline engine to start and operate on standard military fuels (also referred to as "heavy fuels").The Company also said it was granted a new U.S. Patent for its proprietary Sonex Combustion System (SCS) starting system and modified engine design for SI diesel fueled piston engine starting and operation.
Sonex said the military uses small SI gasoline engines in a variety of applications, including remotely piloted operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) that conduct short-range tactical reconnaissance while operating virtually unseen and unheard, taking pictures of battlefields and enemy positions and relaying them back to base.
UAV systems are becoming a more critical part of the Navy's concept of operations and will continue to grow in field deployments.
NRL is investigating various existing technologies involving UAV propulsion systems. The Navy is supportive of UAV technology and the integration of UAV's into shipboard operations. Present UAV systems operate on gasoline; however, because of safety and logistics concerns associated with gasoline, the use of gasoline aboard ship and in the motor pool is being phased out.
UAV's will be required to operate on less volatile, widely available heavy fuels (JP-5, JP-8, and diesel) used by jet aircraft and most military vehicles. In addition, a supply of jet propulsion fuel is readily available onboard ships supporting fixed wing or rotary aircraft, and as such the UAV would not be hindered in its operations by the amount or type of fuel available.
In 1998 Sonex successfully demonstrated its heavy fuel technology to the United States Marine Corps (USMC) for use in their Dragondrone UAV, which led to an order from the USMC to convert forty gasoline engines used in the Dragondrone UAV to heavy fuel operation.
The USMC is now deploying tactical UAV's aboard ship for the first time, as the Dragondrone UAV's with Sonex heavy fuel engines are in service in several locations around the world.
Sonex Research, Inc., a leader in the field of combustion technology, has its ULTRA CLEAN BURNTM technology protected by numerous patents issued and pending worldwide.
The Company is pursuing licensing agreements for the marketing, manufacture and sale of diesel truck engine pistons incorporating its patented technology for the reduction of emissions in vehicular direct injected turbocharged diesel engines, and has conducted demonstration and development programs with some of the world's largest diesel engine manufacturers.
Other SCS designs are being used to convert small two-cycle gasoline engines to heavy fuel use for military and commercial applications.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement may contain information in the form of "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995 (the "Act").
In order to obtain the benefits of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Act for any such forward-looking statements, the Company wishes to caution investors and prospective investors about significant factors which, among other things, have in some cases affected the Company's actual results and are in the future likely to affect the Company's actual results and cause them to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements.
Investors and prospective investors should read this announcement in conjunction with the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-KSB and Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB.
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