Mikros Systems has received a contract from the US Navy to provide new condition-based maintenance capabilities for radars and electronic systems installed onboard littoral combat ships (LCS).
Under the $2.8m contract, Mikros will extend adaptive diagnostic electronic portable test-set (ADEPT) systems capabilities to the ADEPT distance support sensor suite (ADSSS) to the US Navy.
Mikros chief technology officer (CTO) Henry Silcock said the new project would complete the initial LCS’s ADEPT engineering effort, which started in 2012.
"The ADEPT distance support sensor suite on LCS will provide a complete and integrated data collection, diagnostics, prognostics, and data transfer solution for four key combat systems on both variants of the LCS," Silcock said.
Mikros president Tom Meaney added: "Once this project is complete, we expect to begin installing ADSSS on all LCS ships."
The ADEPT intelligent, automated, programmable electronic test tool will enable technical personnel to maintain, align, calibrate, and error diagnosis of radar and other complex electronic systems.
In addition to helping in detection and troubleshooting of error and out-of-alignment conditions, the ADEPT improves system readiness and operational performance, as well as reduces equipment downtime and lifecycle support costs through enhanced automation, distance support and interactive training.
More than 100 ADEPT systems have been delivered over the past three years to the US Navy for installation on to Aegis-equipped vessels to reduce shipboard maintenance and deliver new distance support solutions.
The US Navy’s LCS vessels have been designed to support a range of missions such as defeat asymmetric anti-access threats including mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft in near-shore environments.
Image: USS Freedom (LCS 1) vessel conducting mission at sea. Photo: courtesy of US Navy, by mass communication 2nd class Aaron Burden/Released.
