Applied Signal Technology is a provider of advanced intelligence, surveillance

Surveillance

Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...

 and reconnaissance

Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....

 (ISR) products, systems, and services, established in 1984 in Sunnyvale, California

Sunnyvale, California

Sunnyvale is a city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. It is one of the major cities that make up the Silicon Valley located in the San Francisco Bay Area...

. Its 2009 revenue was $202.6 million with a profit of $22.9 million. Its current President and CEO is William B. Van Vleet III. AST serves the defense, intelligence, homeland security, and select commercial markets.

Its products are used to scan and filter cell phone, ship-to-shore, microwave, and military transmissions and evaluate them for relevant information.

In December 2010, AST agreed to be acquired by military contractor Raytheon

Raytheon

Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...

for $490 million.