WAYNE, N.J., 25 Dec. 2006. BAE Systems has been named principal teammate to Science Applications International Corp. on a contract to develop an enhanced intelligence capability designed to provide U.S. Army troops and air crews faster access to geospatial and human intelligence information.

BAE Systems joins prime contractor SAIC on the Geospatial Research, Integration, Development, and Support (GRIDS) contract awarded by the Army Corps of Engineers' Topographic Engineering Center.

Under the GRIDS contract, BAE Systems will perform engineering tasks across a range of activities that include geospatial and human intelligence research and development, precision electro-optics sensors development, concept demonstration, experimentation, systems engineering, integration, and operations support.

GRIDS is an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a total value of $250 million that will combine geospatial intelligence with information collected by tactical ground and air forces to improve the quality and availability of information.

"Access to intelligence from multiple sources will dramatically increase the speed of command by collapsing the decision cycle," says John Osterholz, BAE Systems vice president and general manager for Integrated C4ISR systems in Reston, Va. "GRIDS will enable analysts to rapidly collect, analyze, and manage information from multiple sources to significantly enhance warfighter combat situational awareness."