09:21 GMT, November 4, 2009 MELBOURNE, Fla. | BAE Systems has received a contract worth up to $20 million to support U.S. 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.

“This award demonstrates our long-running commitment to serving our Florida Space Coast customers,” said Sam Cole, vice president and general manager of aerospace solutions for BAE Systems. “We’ve been supporting AFTAC for more than 15 years, and we’ll continue to make significant contributions to the Air Force’s critical role in protecting national security.”

The five-year contract will be managed from BAE Systems’ new facility in Melbourne, Florida, recently opened to accommodate the company’s growing presence along the Space Coast. The new contract includes an initial one-year award of $4 million, plus four option years. Work will be performed on-site at the 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.

BAE Systems’ Melbourne facility also supports the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.