Partnership Drives Innovation to Counter IED Threat

(London, UK, September 8, 2009) -- 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."

Source : BAE Systems PLC (LSE: BAES.L)