National Security R&D

Novel Guidance Technology: Making Precision Munitions Affordable

Our forces in the field need a weapon that can deliver on target with exacting precision. Combining GPS and inertial navigation techniques, SAIC developed and built guidance and control systems, including aerodynamic appliqués that can be retrofitted to existing munitions to provide high precision strikes at a low cost, something our competitors have not been able to achieve.

Rounds on Target

SAIC's novel guidance technology will help put the round on the target and achieve precision control of an artillery shell. Artillery can direct fire to targets for which collateral damage must be minimized.

Ou novel guidance technology uses GPS and inertial navigation for in-flight location. With our gun-hardened projectile guidance electronics, accuracy is maintained regardless of range. Real-time control overcomes real-time changes in meteorological conditions.

Increased Operational Capability

Commanders in the field will have increased operational capability with SAIC's novel guidance technology. Accuracy means fewer rounds are needed to achieve the objective. Accuracy means more targets can be attacked.

Our engineers turn dumb munitions into smart ones. America's arsenal required modernization to meet the challenges of warfare in urban environments, complex terrain, under all weather conditions with increased efficiency and minimal collateral damage.

Reduced Logistics Needs

Fewer rounds needed to defeat the target will significantly reduce the logistics burden, or enable far more targets to be engaged with the current logistics capability.

SAIC's novel guidance technology is self-contained, and replaces today's fuze. Existing munition stockpiles can be equipped with novel guidance technology. Precise, continuous trajectory maneuver capability in cross-range and downrange transforms every round into a precision weapon.

MRAP: Integration and Sustainment for Warfighter Systems

SAIC plays a key role in supporting our client's task to prototype, integrate, and logistically support command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems for the more than 300 distinct variants of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, the Department of Defense's number one priority procurement program.

SAIC is managing a mature life-cycle and logistics support capability for the MRAP and is poised to do the same for similar tactical vehicle platforms. We are well-positioned to provide long-term sustainment for the radios, electronic warfare devices, intravehicle communication systems, and command and control systems on the already fielded vehicles.

• SAIC has integrated approximately 95 percent of the MRAP vehicles.
• We have developed and maintained the only configuration management tool for the multiple variants and configurations of the MRAP vehicles.
• We have the resources and intellectual capital on hand and available immediately to provide full life-cycle support.
• Our fielded vehicles have maintained a reported greater than 90 percent reliability rate once in theater.
• SAIC remains focused on providing top-quality engineering and C4ISR integration for the most complex combat-ready personnel carrier in military history.

Biometrics: Distinguishing Friends from Adversaries in the Real World

Biometrics technology provides organizations with a powerful tool that both denies anonymity to our adversaries and verifies the identity of our friends. SAIC is an industry leader in operational biometrics — putting the science of biometrics into the hands of military, government and nongovernmental users.

SAIC offers a broad range of expertise in all aspects of biometric solutions. Our expertise includes development of innovative biometric solutions, comprehensive testing and optimization programs, turnkey operational biometric solutions, and life-cycle support concepts that periodically refresh this fast-moving technology.

A Leader in Military Operational Biometrics

In modern conflicts, military forces are faced with adversaries that attempt to disguise their identity and operate undetected among the populace. SAIC developed and delivered the Biometrics Automated Toolset (BAT), a tri-modal (fingerprint, face, iris) mobile collection system and distributed biometric architecture for use by the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) currently has more than 3,500 BAT systems in operation, and the BAT database is approaching 1,200,000 enrollments. The BAT system has helped the DoD identify hundreds of high-value insurgents.

A distributed architecture rapidly and efficiently synchronizes and organizes information in Iraq and Afghanistan, while passing information to the United States for further analysis and fusion with other all-source intelligence information. SAIC assisted in the development of the BAT system, the deployment of servers and systems, training of military and other users, and provides operation and maintenance support on a worldwide basis. SAIC continues to improve the BAT's performance, with the recent development and fielding of a prototype voice recognition capability. The BAT system demonstrates our ability to provide portable in-field, collection and real-time biometric matching capability in austere conditions.

Biometric Technology for Homeland Security — Biometrics at Sea System

Illegal immigrants often try to disguise their true identity, to mask criminal records or terrorist connections. A proof-of-concept program in the Caribbean, called the Biometrics at Sea System (BASS), has given the U.S. Coast Guard the ability to identify immigrants attempting to enter the United States illegally, thanks to software integration savvy from SAIC. When a Coast Guard cutter intercepts a boat filled with illegal immigrants, each one is electronically fingerprinted and digitally photographed using a commercial, off-the-shelf handheld device. Of more than 500 immigrants intercepted in the first 3 months of the program, which began in November 2006, more than 20 percent were positive matches against the database, confirming that the persons are felons, prior deportees or prior violators of U.S. immigration laws. The system won the Coast Guard's 2007 Captain Niels P. Thomsen Innovation Award in the science or technology category, and the 2007 Government Computer News Gala Award for outstanding use of information technology in government.

Developing "Implementable" Biometric Technology

Since 2000, SAIC biometric research has produced technological advances that have transitioned to systems deployed by the users. Our highly educated and experienced research and development staff keeps SAIC at the leading edge of this quickly evolving discipline. We take a vendor-neutral approach, remaining knowledgeable on the full range of new and emerging capabilities. We test software and systems thoroughly and recommend the most capable and appropriate systems for each customer's specific application. We typically serve as the system integrator for projects, quickly providing tailored solutions using proven components to meet each customer's unique needs. As an example of our success, SAIC was selected to provide the U.S. Coast Guard with handheld fingerprint and photo biometric systems for their Transportation Worker Identification Credential™ pilot program in September 2008.

Introducing Biometric Voice Capabilities to the warfighter (the "Touchless" Biometric)

Through the Coordinate Operational Resources for Voice Exploitation Technology (CORVET) Joint Capability Technology Demonstration, SAIC is developing a collection, signal processing, and speaker identification (ID) capability for warfighters in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility. As the CORVET execution team lead, SAIC integrated a speaker ID software package with the SAIC-developed BAT. The modified BAT is capable of collecting high-fidelity biometric voice samples and integrates the voice data into the subject's digital dossier.

SAIC developed a comprehensive set of tactics, techniques and procedures and a concept of operations that led to the deployment of voice-modified BAT systems to two operational CENTCOM locations. Experts recognize the viability of this latest modality as a "touchless" biometric that presents new options to help defend against terrorist attacks. We continue to aggressively pursue additional strategic and tactical applications that will support the voice biometric modality.

SAIC's efforts culminated with the successful completion of a Limited Utility Assessment milestone conducted at the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) Detention Training Facility (IDTF), Camp Bullis, San Antonio, Texas, in September 2008.

A Pioneering in Distributed Technologies

SAIC pioneered technologies including distributed simulation for training and distributed test and evaluation. Today, our expertise ranges from traditional areas, such as training and analysis simulation, to emerging areas, such as simulation-based acquisition.

Leaders in Computer Generated Forces Technology

Currently, we lead the development of DoD's architecture and middleware for seamlessly integrating live-virtual-constructive simulation for experimentation, training, test and evaluation, and acquisition. In addition, we are the leaders in technology development for entity-based simulation, simulation interconnection, and next-generation entity-based Computer Generated Forces.

Simulated Environments Reduce Risks, Lowering Training Costs

Our simulated environment technology can reduce risks to personnel and lower training costs while helping emergency response personnel learn how to properly handle a variety of threats or simulated events.

SAIC's success in the field of simulation technology is not only helping to maintain superior U.S. troop readiness, but also helping to keep costs in line with budgets. As a result, other non-military organizations are turning to SAIC to use similar technology to train personnel as well. As an example, SAIC is providing simulated environments to train both first responders and Civil Support Teams (CST) throughout the U.S.

Using the Automated Exercise Assesment System (AEAS), emergency response personnel can experience the entire process that traditional training offers, but without the expense of in-the-field exercises.

In the AEAS simulated environment, leadership, first responders, and CST teams learn how to properly handle a variety of threats or simulated events including: weapons of mass destruction, nuclear, biological or chemical, and hazard or toxic material spills.

The simulated environment training offers realistic settings in a choice of several digital model cities. Each individual city is detailed with reality-based infrastructure components and also includes natural physical features like rivers and forested areas, as well as urban features such as road signs, fire hydrants, tunnels, bridges, building interiors and furniture. New cities and urban environments can rapidly be added to the system. Other variables that can be incorporated into the training are environmental conditions such as time of day, wind direction and speed, humidity and ground moisture. Even crowds, traffic congestion, and media can be added to enhance training effectiveness. Essentially, training scenarios are unlimited.

AEAS is designed to focus on training individuals or teams and a variety of specialty professions that will ensure that all domestic preparedness issues are addressed. The system supports METLs (Mission Essential Task Lists) and Battle Tasks in Medical Risk Management.

Transformational systems of systems rely on well-trained forces and well-designed software, both of which need to perform successfully when called up. Simulation software developed by SAIC promises to be the new "gold standard" in both areas: training and software design.

No Driver? No Problem.

One day, automatic or assisted driving may be a standard feature on your car, like automatic transmission is today. But on the battlefield, a vehicle that drives itself means a human being out of harm's way.

With the military seeking to integrate unmanned systems into future forces, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)'s Grand and Urban Challenge races provide a demanding environment for testing autonomous vehicles. In 2007 and 2004, SAIC participated in the races, which aim to test the limits of research and capabilities of autonomous vehicles.

Sting 1

For 2007, Sting 1, a stock Porsche Cayenne, was retrofitted for complete computer control of steering, throttle and brakes as well as secondary systems such as lights and windshield wipers. SAIC engineers used a modeling and simulation package to create a virtual model of the Sting 1 and virtual models of courses and environments. This permitted vehicle testing without risk of collision and no need for extra fuel, extra drivers, or extra vehicles.

In order to simulate the urban environment and crowd behaviors, SAIC adapted a commercial off-the-shelf software package used in the high-end gaming and film industries to simulate crowd behaviors and urban traffic environments. That meant the software powering and guiding Sting 1 could be tested in a variety of traffic and weather conditions, all without actually moving an inch.

Sandstorm

During the 2004 race, the Sandstorm robotic vehicle, developed by Carnegie Mellon University and SAIC, traveled much farther than its competitors — successfully maneuvering across 12 kilometers of desert terrain at an average speed of 36 kilometers per hour and a top speed of 56 km/hour.

The mapping and route planning software we developed for Sandstorm has provided valuable insights that could be used for geospatial intelligence requirements for future military robotic systems.

Pioneering Breakthroughs to Protect Submarines

SAIC technologists work on the frontiers of advanced signal and image processing. Over the years, we pioneered breakthroughs in signal detection and direction finding to protect submarines, and automatically analyze synthetic aperture radar images.

A leader in underwater signal processing for three decades, SAIC provides critical research and analysis to help the U.S. Navy better detect hostile submarines and better protect friendly submarines. With the rise in regional conflicts and asymmetrical threats, the emphasis has shifted from open-ocean detection to shallow water near coastlines. In these waters, acoustic interference generated by surface ships and complex bottom interacting acoustic propagation pose new challenges.

Our new algorithms enable towed sonar arrays to better detect and track ships even as the sub towing the sonar array maneuvers. We are also exploring new acoustic signal processing algorithms and advanced underwater acoustic communications using off-board sensors and unmanned vehicles.

Benefiting the Next Generation of Airborne Surveillance

We have been recognized for advancing the state of the art in adaptive processing algorithms that use multiple degrees of freedom to detect weak signals in complex environments. For example, we work on the leading edge of space-time adaptive processing to detect weak radar echoes from ground targets in the presence of large radar noise (motion-induced spread-Doppler clutter). Our work benefits the next generation of airborne surveillance radar systems.

Our engineers even developed a new field of statistical detection and estimation theory, contributing to adaptive Wiener filter theory and its application to radar and communications.