COLUMBIA, Md., Jan. 16 -- Essex Corp., a developer of optoelectronic processors for signal processing applications, has been awarded a $3.7 million follow-on task order from the US Department of Defense, Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to deliver an optoelectronic radar processor by late 2003. The task was issued through the company's contract with the Naval Air Systems Command. The work to be performed includes finishing the design, fabricating a prototype, testing at MIT/Lincoln Labs and test planning for a field demonstration using the Alcor range radar system. The additional funds bring this program total to nearly $6 million since May 2002. The system is an ultrawide bandwidth pulse processor that enables increased radar resolution and threat assessment. Essex said it has several advantages compared to all-digital solutions, including elimination of wideband analog-to-digital converters and significant computational software; simultaneous use of advanced waveforms that mitigate the effectiveness of countermeasures; high dynamic range imagery; reduced hardware costs; and capability for in-flight reprogrammability. For more information, visit: www.essexcorp.com