This development in covert hypnosis technology underscores the urgent need for debate and controls on all such anti-personnel weapons-capable technologies, instead of the stone silence all governments have maintained to this date.

Date sent:        Wed, 12 Apr 2000 07:37:24 -0700
To:               investor@atcsd.com
From:             Wendy Ravenel 
Subject:          ATCO Press Release 4/12/00 (1 of 2)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION ANNOUNCES LICENSE WITH THOMSON MULTIMEDIA

NAVSEA Contract

Mr. Brosnan then announced that the PMS 400 division of NAVSEA has awarded
a $218,000 research and development contract to the company and General
Dynamics Bath Iron Works to test ATC's patented HyperSonic(TM) Sound
technology (HSS(TM)) on board a U.S. Navy Aegis Destroyer under
construction at Bath Iron Works. Among its many applications,  HSS
technology enables ship-to-ship communications without breaking radio
silence.  HSS can also target selected individuals in a group or in a noisy
environment and deliver audio to that person.  Bath Iron Works, a General
Dynamics Company, supplies technology and shipbuilding services to the U.S.
Navy. General Dynamics employs 43,000 people worldwide and has annualized
sales of approximately $10 billion.

Elwood G. Norris, Founder of the company, demonstrated voice and music
content with exceptional clarity and bandwidth through the latest,
proprietary HSS emitter and modulator technologies to shareholders at the
meeting in Escondido, California. 

Patents

Mr. Brosnan announced that as of the date of the meeting, the company had
been granted nine (9) patents on HSS and has another nine (9) patents
pending. Additionally, the company has eight (8) patents pending on its SFT
technology and two (2) patents pending on its MFW(TM) subwoofer technology.

NAVSEA AWARDS $218,000 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT TO BATH IRON WORKS
AND AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION FOR TEST APPLICATION OF HYPERSONIC(TM)
SOUND TECHNOLOGY

(SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - April 12, 2000) - The PMS 400 division of NAVSEA
has awarded a $218,000 research and development contract to General
Dynamics Bath Iron Works and American Technology Corporation (NASDAQ: ATCO)
to test HyperSonic Sound Technology on board a U.S. Navy Aegis Destroyer
under construction at Bath Iron Works. 

HyperSonic Sound Technology, under development in the laboratories of
American Technology Corporation in San Diego, California, is a
revolutionary sound reproduction system. The most important quality of
HSS(TM) is the ability to direct or focus sound into a tight beam, similar
to the beam of light from a flashlight. No other audio reproduction device
available today provides this powerful feature. Not since the development
of the "cone" loudspeaker more than 75 years ago has any technology
provided such significant departure from conventional speakers and such a
remarkable approach to the reproduction of sound.

About Bath Iron Works

Bath Iron Works of Bath, Maine, a leader in surface combatant design and
construction, employs 7,600 people.  It is a subsidiary of General Dynamics
(NYSE:GD), headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia.  General Dynamics has
leading market positions in shipbuilding and marine systems, land and
amphibious combat systems, information systems, and business aviation.  The
company employs 43,000 people worldwide and has annualized sales of
approximately $10 billion.  More information about General Dynamics can be
found on the worldwide web at www.generaldynamics.com.

CONTACTS:   

ATC:  Robert Putnam or Wendy Ravenel, (858) 679-3168, robert@atcsd.com 
or wendy@atcsd.com

Bath Iron Works:  Susan Pierter, (207) 442-1149, susan.pierter@biw.com

_____________________________________________________
Wendy Ravenel                      
Shareholder Relations/Public Relations

American Technology Corp.
13114 Evening Creek Drive South
San Diego, CA 92128
(858) 679-2114 PHONE
(858) 679-0545 FAX
Note new area code (858) as of June 1999
http://www.atcsd.com
investor@atcsd.com