The Pakistan Federal Investigative Agency (PFIA) will soon use Lockheed Martin's state- of-the-art fingerprint identification system to quickly identify suspected criminals. The U.S. State Department has awarded Lockheed Martin a $9.4 million contract to develop and deliver the Pakistan Automated Fingerprint Identification System (PAFIS).

PAFIS will be a variant of a similar systems used by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The Government of Pakistan, through this contract with the U.S. State Department, will receive top-of-the-line biometric identification technology.

"Lockheed Martin is dedicated to improving public safety and security through biometric technologies," said Dan Crowley, Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training & Support president. "It's gratifying to know that our Automated Fingerprint Identification System will help Pakistan's police forces to quickly identify known or suspected criminals, improving their effectiveness in the battle against domestic crime, international crime, and terrorism."

The PAFIS program will provide the PFIA and its constituents with a powerful central fingerprint database, criminal history system, and geographically distributed access stations to serve police forces throughout the country. Through PAFIS, the Pakistani law enforcement community will establish automated links to the International Police Organization -- Interpol -- that provides police agencies around the world with access to a range of criminal databases and analytical services and provides proactive support for police operations throughout the world. PFIA will also be able to link to other national police agencies, such as the FBI, amplifying their ability to rapidly identify suspects.

"We are pleased to continue our support of the State Department and look forward to working with the Government of Pakistan to make PAFIS a success," said John Freeh, Lockheed Martin Systems Management President. "We are focused far beyond system delivery, continuously working to achieve mission success for everyone involved."

A world leader in automated biometric solutions, Lockheed Martin meets the large-scale identification needs of the FBI and DoD including the FBI Automated Fingerprint Identification System that is supporting Homeland Security identification requirements for border protection. For the Pakistan Government, Lockheed Martin is supplying a "turnkey" advanced biometric identification solution, which includes delivery, installation, training, and maintenance of a central AFIS plus two levels of remote operations sites.

Lockheed Martin's Simulation, Training & Support business unit in Orlando, FL and Systems Management business unit in Marlton, NJ are working jointly to deliver the PAFIS program. Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services.

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin