ATCO American Technology (MM)

American Technology Corporation (ATC) (NASDAQ: ATCO), the innovator and distributor of the Long Range Acoustic Device(TM) (LRAD®) product line, announced today that the M/V Maersk Alabama deployed its complement of LRAD-X® acoustic hailing devices (AHDs) in concert with other defensive measures to successfully deter a pirate attack off the northeast coast of Somalia yesterday.

"Due to Maersk Alabama following maritime industry's best [anti-piracy] practices such as embarking security teams, the ship was able to prevent being successfully attacked by pirates," said Navy Vice Admiral William E. Gortney, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet. "This is a great example of how merchant mariners can take proactive action to prevent being attacked, and why we recommend that ships follow industry best practices if they're in high-risk areas."

Captain Richard Phillips called for LRADs as an element in a "...comprehensive, multi-faceted plan to combat..." international piracy during his May 5, 2009 testimony before a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing on piracy. Captain Phillips was taken hostage for five days after Somali pirates briefly seized the Maersk Alabama in an attack last April.

ATC's proprietary LRAD directed sound systems enable commercial maritime security and international naval forces to communicate clearly and determine the intent of potential piracy threats at distances in excess of 3,000 meters, providing time and distance to employ a measured response to a threat's actions. Through the use of focused multi-lingual voice commands and powerful deterrent tones, LRAD creates increased standoff and safety zones, supports conflict resolution, and potentially saves lives on both sides of the device.

LRADs are currently deployed in a variety of government, military and commercial applications around the world, including installations on international naval vessels, maritime shipping lines and luxury cruise ships.

"Beginning with the attack on the Seabourn Spirit four years ago this month, Somali pirates have become increasingly brazen in their attempts to seize ships, crew and cargo for ransom," said Tom Brown, president and CEO of American Technology. "With piracy attacks continuing to escalate, we believe LRAD is an essential part of an overall capability for maritime security and international naval forces in their fight against 21st century pirates."

About American Technology Corporation

American Technology Corporation is providing directed audio solutions that place clear, highly intelligible sound exactly where needed. ATC's Long Range Acoustic Device(TM) (LRAD®) and other directed sound technologies comprise the core of an expanding portfolio of products being used around the world in diverse applications including, global military deployments, maritime security, critical infrastructure and commercial security, border and port security, law enforcement and emergency responder communications, and wildlife preservation and control. For more information about ATC and its directed sound products, please visit the company's web site at www.atcsd.com.

Safe Harbor statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Except for historical information contained herein, the matters discussed are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. We base these statements on particular assumptions that we have made in light of our industry experience, the stage of product and market development as well as our perception of historical trends, current market conditions, current economic data, expected future developments and other factors that we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the performance of our management team, market acceptance of our directed sound technologies and products, entry of competitors, the possibility our intellectual property protections will not prevent others from marketing products similar to or competitive with our products, potential technical or manufacturing difficulties that could delay product deliveries or increase warranty costs, and other risks identified and discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on information and management's expectations as of the date hereof. Future results may differ materially from our current expectations. For more information regarding other potential risks and uncertainties, see the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008. American Technology Corporation disclaims any intent or obligation to update those forward-looking statements, except as otherwise specifically stated.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Putnam Media & Investor Relations (858) 676-0519 Email Contact