SAIC Wins Deal of Seismic Proportion

By Nick Wakeman, Staff Writer


JUNE 16 ? Science Applications International Corp. has won a $100 million, four-year contract to upgrade and maintain the seismic sensor network used by the Air Force Technical Applications Center to monitor nuclear weapons testing.


The network provides coverage of seismic activity around the globe. With options, the contract could stretch out for 10 years.


San Diego-based SAIC will install new seismic stations and upgrade existing stations with modern computer hardware and software technology. The stations include seismometers and computer systems to digitize, store, analyze and telemeter the seismic data to AFTA's headquarters at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.


SAIC also will provide the maintenance depot and other maintenance support services to ensure all network stations are maintained to meet their mission requirements throughout the life of the contract. The new and upgraded stations will improve the Air Force's capability to detect a clandestine nuclear test and distinguish it from other seismic events (primarily earthquakes and industrial explosions) that occur worldwide several times per hour.


"The Air Force has the responsibility to detect and identify any nuclear test conducted anywhere in the world," said Tom Bache, SAIC senior vice president. "With this contract, SAIC will provide the technical support the [Air Force] needs to fulfill this important mission."