Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) [NYSE: SAI] announced today it was awarded a prime contract by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to design a concept for a new autonomous unmanned surface vessel to help counter the modern threat submarine. The contract has a six month period of performance and a total value of $2 million. SAIC is one of six companies selected for Phase I of the DARPA Program. Officially named the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) Phase I, the program involves a broad range of activities which include: concept exploration; technology surveys; wargaming; risk assessment; and production of a concept design, construction plan and preliminary performance specification.