SAIC completes purchase of vehicle-scanning firm

Science Applications International Corp. has completed its acquisition of Spectrum San Diego, a high-technology security firm specializing in ultra-low-dose X-ray scanning systems. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Under the agreement, SAIC acquires Spectrum’s CarScan product line, which scans cars and vans in the normal flow of traffic at vehicle checkpoints such as borders and high-security government facilities.

CarScan is designed for high throughput and operational flexibility, minimizing its impact on traffic. The X-ray images enable security personnel to look for weapons, drugs, currency, stowaways and other hidden contraband, according to an SAIC announcement today.

Spectrum’s customers include U.S. government, law enforcement and military organizations.

Spectrum’s CarScan will be integrated into SAIC’s Security and Transportation Technology business unit and expand the company’s capabilities for scanning light vehicles.

Before the acquisition, Spectrum’s other product lines (including CastScope and SentryScope), residual assets and liabilities were transferred to a new company, Tek84 Engineering Group LLC, owned by Spectrum’s former security holders, the announcement states.

SAIC, of San Diego and McLean, Va., ranks No. 7 on Washington Technology’s 2009 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.