Austal has selected General Dynamics (GD) Advanced Information Systems to serve as the platform systems engineering agent (PSEA) in support of littoral combat ships (LCS) 14 and 16 for the US Navy.
Under the subcontract, GD will provide a core mission system, which features open architecture computing infrastructure (OPEN CI) for the ships.
The OPEN CI provides platform flexibility and enables quick configuration in response to dynamic and emerging mission requirements for the navy.
Featuring highly flexible architecture, OPEN CI provides plug-and-play capabilities to quickly integrate new technology into ship systems, and facilitates the integration of commercially available products, quickly and cost-effectively.
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems mission integration systems division vice-president and general manager Mike Tweed-Kent said that the company aimed to ensure that the navy possessed affordable, capable and advanced systems.
"This award validates our ability to introduce new innovations quickly and easily using OPEN CI, helping to drive total ownership cost down throughout the LCS lifecycle and enabling interoperability across the fleet," Tweed-Kent said.
The LCS programme aims to fill the critical, urgent operational combat requirements gaps currently in the navy for defeating littoral threats and provide access and dominance in coastal waters.
General Dynamics is supporting Austal for the LCS programme and responsible for design, integration and testing of the ship’s electronic systems for combat, networks, and seaframe control.
LCS 14 and 16 are part of the US Navy’s $3.5bn contract awarded to Austal to build and deliver an additional ten LCSs in December 2010.
Work under the contract will be performed at the company’s facilities in Massachusetts, Alabama, Virginia, North Carolina, New Jersey and California.
Image: USS Independence (LCS 2) docked at Naval Air Station Key West. Photo: courtesy of US Navy, by naval air crewman 2nd class Nicholas Kontodiakos/Released.
