Super-secret NSA admits it's behind the technology curve

WASHINGTON -- The techno-geeks have the upper hand in the post-Cold War era. Just ask the U.S. National Security Agency.

The ultra-secretive spy agency plans to issue contracts to private sector companies to overhaul technology in a 10-year contract estimated at $5 billion. The contract will comprise non-mission work.

The NSA, which for years tried to break Soviet code and monitor its military and intelligence programs, has acknowledged that civilian technology has surpassed the agency's capabilities, Middle East Newsline reports. These include achievements in encrypted communications, digital cellular phones and the Internet.

An arm of the Defense Department, the NSA announced what it termed "dramatic change" in the managing and upgrading of its information technology in "an effort to refocus agency assets on core functions." The NSA is said to have 40,000 people engaged in code-breaking and intercepts satellite, telephone, fax and E-mail communications throughout the world.

These functions include the mission of collecting and processing intercepted communications. A 15-month study urged the NSA to follow the lead of the CIA and tap into high-tech firms.

"In order to remain successful in our foreign signals intelligence and information assurance missions, we must immediately begin to invest in our infrastructure to secure NSA's agility and adaptability in the Information Age,'' NSA director Lt. Gen. Michael Hayden of the Air Force said. "It is critical that we have a robust and reliable infrastructure capable of supporting our missions.