PARTNERSHIP DRIVES INNOVATION TO COUNTER IED THREAT
08 Sep 2009 | Ref. 156/2009
London, United Kingdom: Scientists at BAE Systems have teamed up with the MoD to develop innovative technologies to tackle the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) facing troops on the frontline.
Under the programme codename project Saturn, the team has developed a new vehicle-mounted sensing system, taking it from concept design to a working demonstrator within just 100 days – compared to an average of 18 months using traditional approaches. The speed of innovation was achieved through a completely new form of partnership, which saw scientists from BAE Systems’ Advanced Technology Centre working side by side with armed forces personnel at a military testing site to simulate a realistic operational environment.
James Baker, Director of Advanced Technology Centre, said: “Countering the threat of improvised explosive devices is our scientists current highest priority”. Previously scientists had very little understanding of what these devices looked like and how they worked. The partnership helped to overcome this and accelerate the pace of development for newtechnologies to support troops on the frontline.
“The complexity and evolving nature of the threat means that no single sensor can accurately and consistently detect hidden explosive devices. Saturn focuses on integrating these technologies using advanced analytical tools to fuse the different sources of information to accurately detect a buried explosive device, offering a highly promising solution.”
The system has been designed around an open systems architecture, so different sensors can be plugged in and taken out quickly and easily. The team is also working with small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and academia to ensure that the most innovative commercial technologies are brought together and tested to develop the most effective solution possible to the problem.
Saturn has grown out of an MoD initiative last year in which UK businesses were invited to trial a range of technologies at a military testing site to see how well they could detect hidden explosive devices. BAE Systems’ technologies proved to have promising capabilities and following the trial the Company pledged to develop more advanced equipment within 100 days, which became Saturn.
Following trials on the initial Saturn demonstrator, the programme has now entered its next phase, with BAE Systems and the MoD undertaking further work to accelerate the programme.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is the premier global defence, security and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. With approximately 105,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded US $34.4 billion (£18.5 billion) in 2008.
For further information please contact:
Andrew Jenkins, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 117 302 8160 Mob: +44 (0) 7801 717037
Andrew.jenkins@baesystems.com
Kristina Crowe, Biss Lancaster
Tel: +44 (0) 207 257 9821 Mob: +44 (0)7841 279 859
Kristina.crowe@bisslancaster.com
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