Northrop Grumman has subcontracted Mikros Systems to provide wireless network systems design planning support for US Navy submarines, as part of the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) programme.
The company had already assisted Northrop in wireless networks design, and also supported installations onboard various classes of US Navy surface ships.
Mikros president Tom Meaney said: "We have worked closely over the years with the navy’s technical community to develop specific knowledge and software tailored to meet the unique demands of installing and operating wireless networks in shipboard environments."
In February 2012, Northrop was awarded a contract by the US Navy for production and a limited deployment phase of the CANES programme, intended to provide common computing environment infrastructure.
The contract was aimed to support the navy in combining next-generation tactical afloat information systems networks in one modern shipboard computing system, minimising infrastructure size and operational costs.
The CANES aims to install a common infrastructure for dozens of command, control, intelligence and logistics applications, while eliminating several legacy and standalone computing networks.
Designed to create a modernised C4ISR architecture, the programme will streamline and update shipboard network systems for improved interoperability and affordability across the fleet.
The navy initiative also provides an adaptable and responsive information technology platform to rapidly meet changing soldiers’ needs with enhanced security while significantly reducing development, deployment and lifecycle costs.
Following receipt of Milestone B approval in early 2011, the CANES programme is scheduled to be installed on more than 190 ships, submarines and maritime operations centres by 2021.
