SI International wins defense next-gen Internet deal

SI International Inc. has won a contract to support the Defense Information Systems Agency in defining and developing solutions and procedures for the Defense Department's transition to Internet protocol version 6, company officials announced today.

Internet protocol version 6 is the next-generation Internet standard. Reston, Va.-based SI International's two-year contract is worth $2.9 million, officials said.

The Defense Department is transitioning its communications, command and control infrastructure to integrated Internet protocol based systems and wants to have IPv6 fully implemented by 2008.

Implementing the next-generation Internet protocol will help the Defense Department secure and connect its essential military assets ? sensors, weapons, platforms, information, and people ? around the world and on the battlefield, according to SI International.

SI International is providing internetworking consulting services to support the rollout of IPv6, including a strategy for Internet addresses that will accommodate the massive increase in IP addresses that is needed to fully Web-enable the U.S. military, company officials said.

SI International will assist the Defense IPv6 Transition Office in these tasks:

• Rationalizing the requirements for IPv6 across the armed services
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• Evaluating network components and architectures
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• Testing and establishing standards to assure the operational flexibility, security and interoperability needed in the next-generation military theater
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• Advising and assisting the armed services in transitioning their systems from the current Internet standard, IPv4, to IPv6.