General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems has been awarded a contract by the US Navy to continue its efforts towards phase III small business innovative research (SBIR) topics.

The $22.5m contract covers continued development and production of multiple upgrades to the hardware and software products that will be integrated into the acoustic rapid commercial-off-the-shelf insertion (ARCI) system.

The SBIR topics include combat systems software migration to open systems, java applications for naval combat systems, next-generation combat system display concepts and development of low-cost COTS technology for total ship monitoring.

Work will be carried out at the company’s facility in Virginia, US, and is expected to be completed by December 2011.

The US Naval Sea Systems Command will be the contracting activity.