BAE Systems to Support US Air Force Nuclear Treaty Monitoring
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BAE Systems received a contract worth up to $20 million to support the US Air Force global monitoring for nuclear treaty compliance. The company will provide engineering, research, and program management services for the Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida.
AFTAC operates and maintains a global network of nuclear explosion detection sensors called the US Atomic Energy Detection System (USAEDS). Once the USAEDS senses a disturbance underground, underwater, in the atmosphere or in space, the event is analyzed for nuclear identification and findings are reported to national command authorities through USAF headquarters.
AFTAC monitors compliance with the following nuclear testing treaties:
- Limited Test Ban Treaty of 1963 – this treaty prohibits nuclear testing anywhere but underground and prohibits the venting of nuclear debris or radiation from those tests into the atmosphere outside the country’s national borders;
- Threshold Test Ban Treaty of 1974 – this treaty limits the size of underground nuclear tests to 150 kilotons;
- Peaceful Nuclear Explosion Treaty of 1976 – this treaty prohibits the testing of nuclear devices outside of agreed treaty sites.
The 5-year BAE contract includes an initial 1-year award of $4 million, plus 4 option years. Work will be performed on-site at Patrick Air Force Base. The company currently employs 80 people at the facility and expects to hire up to 40 network design engineers and installation technicians over the next year.
