Each Team To Receive $45 Million Over Next 18 Months
The Department of Homeland
Security’s Science and Technology directorate today announced
that teams led by BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman have been
selected for agreement negotiations to begin Phase II of the
Counter Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) System
Development and Demonstration Program. Each team will build and
test prototypes to determine whether a viable technology exists
that could be deployed to address the potential threat that
shoulder-fired missiles pose to US commercial aircraft. Under the
agreements, each team will receive approximately $45 million over
18 months.
"We have been impressed with the progress made by these teams
over the past six months," said Homeland Security Secretary Tom
Ridge. "Taking aggressive action to understand how technology can
address this potential threat is a high priority for us, and today
we take the next significant step in developing systems that could
protect commercial aircraft from enemies that would do us
harm."
During Phase I, which lasted from January through July of this
year, selected contractors developed plans to adapt military-use
missile detection and countermeasure technologies for commercial
aircraft use. Over the next 18 months, the selected teams will each
continue with development, demonstration, and testing of
Counter-MANPADS devices on commercial aircraft, and complete
engineering, manufacturing, installation, and operations and
support planning documents. Third parties will be brought in to
thoroughly test and validate the individual design approaches. The
selected contractors each bring operational experience to this
important effort through their partnerships with major air
carriers.
In November 2003, 24 candidates
submitted White Papers in response to a solicitation issued the
first week of October 2003. Of that group, five contractors were
invited to submit full proposals. Three contractor teams, led by
BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, and United Airlines, were awarded
agreements in January 2004 for the six-month Phase I and were
funded at $2 million per team. After Phase I, based on the results
of their work and on their proposals for Phase II, BAE Systems and
Northrop Grumman have been selected for Phase II by a panel of
government representatives including officials from the Departments
of Homeland Security, Defense, Transportation, and Justice. Phase
II selections were based on four categories: Technical Design,
Management, Phase I Performance, and Phase II Cost Proposal.
"We set a very aggressive timetable for this program, and these
teams rose to meet that challenge," said Dr. Charles McQueary,
Under Secretary for Science and Technology. "We believe that as a
result of their efforts and the commitment of the Administration
with both financial and operational support, the President and the
Congress will have the necessary information to move forward
protecting the American people from this potential threat."
The goal of the Counter-MANPADS System Program Office is to
manage Homeland Security’s development and demonstration
efforts for commercial air protection in liaison with other federal
agencies and with the private sector, helping to leverage military
and other existing technologies for increased security at home.