Trident Systems tapped to run small UAV component of counter-terrorism Special Surveillance Program
LAKEHURST, N.J., 23 Feb. 2011. The U.S. Navy is hiring Trident Systems Inc. in Fairfax, Va., to run the small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) component of the Special Surveillance Program (SSP) to detect and target terrorist forces engaged in planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs), sabotage, and attacking U.S. and allied military bases.Trident Systems won a $49.5 million contract Tuesday to develop, build, and procure small UAV technology, small UAV control stations, sensors, and other support for the Special Surveillance Program as it relates to small UAVs. Awarding this phase-3 Small Business Innovation Research contract are officials of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, N.J.The Navy is asking Trident Systems to develop and adapt technologies to improve the performance of small UAVs for persistent persistent surveillance in support of the Special Surveillance Program, which consists of advanced surveillance sensors mounted to unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned ground vehicles, systems to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs), communication relay systems unmanned vehicle ground-control stations, and remote operating posts to support counter-terrorism operations.
Collectively, these technologies will use acoustic, infrared, visible-light, magnetic, and other special sensors to detect and target insurgent ground movements and other enemy activities. The Special Surveillance Program will support not only the Navy, but also the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense, Special Operations Command, and other government agencies.
Trident Systems will develop technologies to optimize the collective performance of small unmanned aerial vehicles for persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, as part of the overall Special Surveillance Program.
The company will provide engineering support for the Special Surveillance Program small UAV component, as well as develop and procure innovative sensor for small UAVs involved in the program. Trident engineers also will perform rapid prototyping of combinations of small UAVs and sophisticated sensors, perform systems analysis to determine their effectiveness in counter-terrorism and counter-IED operations.
Trident Systems experts will do the work in Fairfax, Va., and in Afghanistan, and should be finished by February 2013. For more information contact Trident Systems online at www.tridsys.com, or the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, at www.navair.navy.mil.
John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
