SAIC to boost Army mobile inspection systems

Science Applications International Corp. will provide the Army with advanced mobile inspection systems under a contract worth more than $97 million.

The delivery order calls for SAIC to provide military mobile Vehicle and Cargo Inspection Systems (VACIS) technology and associated maintenance services. The systems produce digital images of the contents of vehicles and cargo for analysis, enabling Army personnel to search for weapons, explosives and other threats, SAIC officials said.

Based on SAIC’s commercial VACIS inspection technology, the military mobile system is built around an armored, highly mobile multipurpose vehicle. The rugged system lets users perform nonintrusive inspections in remote locations not accessible by conventional mobile systems. It also provides added protection for operators and drivers during scanning and transportation, the officials said.

The mobile VACIS gamma ray imaging system produces radiographic images used to determine the possible presence of contraband or explosives. The gamma ray imaging system is integrated with an International Navistar chassis.

Since 1994, SAIC has provided hundreds of VACIS systems in fixed and mobile configurations to military forces, customs agencies and other security organizations, said Alex Preston, SAIC senior vice president and business unit general manager, in a statement today.

SAIC will manufacture the systems near San Diego and will deliver them throughout 2009 and 2010.

SAIC, of San Diego, ranks No. 5 on Washington Technology’s 2008 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.