ROME, NY -- Protecting military computers from organized information warfare assaults is the focus of a new contract awarded by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Information Directorate to Logicon Inc. of Herndon, Va. Under terms of the two-year agreement, "Network Early Warning System (NEWS) 2.0," Logicon will develop a prototype capable of providing advance warning of impending Internet-based, coordinated attacks on Department of Defense computer networks. "We feel this research will enhance the advantage of the proactive versus reactive approach to network monitoring," said Peter J. Radesi, program manager in the directorate’s Defensive Information Warfare Branch. "The inherent advantages of NEWS are that it increases situational awareness and can be extended across mission areas." "This program represents the means to advance the current protect-detect-respond network defense strategy to a survivable strategy facilitated by anticipating adversary attacks, assessing intrusions and adapting defenses to counter the attack," said Paul Zavidniak, program manager for Logicon's information warfare, intrusion detection and forecasting research and development activities. NEWS will use artificial intelligence to apply automation to the indications and warning discipline of computer security, an area which has traditionally been manpower intensive. It will advance technology beyond intrusion detection to embrace intrusion forecasting, further ensuring the survivability of network communications. The NEWS contract is valued at $1.2 million, if all options are exercised. Work on the program is expected to be performed at Logicon facilities in Bethpage, N.Y., and San Diego, Calif.