ManTech's OP-V, which was successfully deployed during Hurricane Katrina and was one of the star performers of the Strong Angel III disaster response exercise, is an ideal mobile communications platform that law enforcement officials can use in emergencies, natural disasters and any contingency operation. It can be deployed by land, air or sea with instant satellite connectivity that allows broadband Everything-over-Internet Protocol (EoIP) services worldwide.

The OP-V provides interoperability between disparate UHF, VHF, analog and digital radios. It can also be used for security surveillance when it is equipped with optional, iMove, Inc. 360-degree-capable imagery technology.

Strong Angel III, which was held in August, was a collaborative demonstration of civil and military cooperation and communications capabilities put together by a partnership of private companies, government agencies, humanitarian and relief agencies and universities. Hosted by San Diego State University, Strong Angel III was the third in a series of exercises designed to explore better ways to coordinate disaster response. The mock scenario was a worldwide viral pandemic that stretched emergency response efforts toward the breaking point. Feedback from officials at the exercise regarding the ManTech OP-V performance was very positive.

Lois McCoy, the President of the National Institute for Urban Search and Rescue, one of the nongovernmental agencies which led Strong Angel III said, "ManTech played an essential role in increasing the performance of first responders and their managers. ManTech's OP-V mobile communications system was the first system up and remained available as required throughout the exercise."

Other feedback from officials regarding the performance of ManTech's OP-V during Strong Angel III:

-- "ManTech was commandeered to ensure linkage to a videoconference for leadership in Washington, D.C. (including Joint Chiefs of Staff) because they are the ones we can trust right now." U.S. Navy Commander Pete Griffiths, military liaison from the Secretary of Defense to Strong Angel III.

-- "ManTech's capacity equals their ability and willingness to accomplish missions. They are technically competent to perform in an unstructured environment, and their staff was outstanding in technical and interpersonal skills." Dr. Dave Warner, Director of Shadowlite, a Strong Angel III support operation.

The OP-V is an ideal platform for integrating and supporting advanced surveillance and situational awareness technologies. With its In-Q-tel portfolio company partner, iMove(r), Inc. fixed and mobile visual surveillance solutions can capture and transmit geo-referenced 360-degree immersive imagery or seamless panoramic imagery to maintain situational awareness or for force and critical asset protection. iMove's leading-edge security surveillance technologies are in use by the U.S. Navy, Department of Homeland Security, other government organizations and commercial customers.

"The OP-V, which is fully integrated with commercial-off-the-shelf components, is a total on-the-move communications package for law enforcement, first response teams, mobile emergency operations centers and military missions," said Eugene C. Renzi, ManTech Senior Executive Vice President and President of ManTech Defense Systems Group. "It gives the law enforcement community reliable communications and critical interoperable command and control capabilities and can provide rapid, reliable situational awareness and surveillance capabilities when deployed with iMove's Geoview 3000 geospatial intelligence system."

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