Northrop Grumman will submit a bid in response to the request for proposal (RFP) issued by the US Navy for consolidated afloat network and enterprise services (CANES) full deployment contract.
Northrop Grumman Information Systems defence systems division vice-president and general manager Mike Twyman said that the company was gearing up to produce and help accelerate the delivery of CANES to the US Navy.
"The CANES programme is critical to modernising the Navy afloat network for enhanced security, affordability and delivering relevant capabilities to the warfighter," Twyman said.
The CANES aims to remove many legacy, standalone computing networks and install a common computing environment for dozens of command, control, intelligence and logistics applications.
In addition to providing the secure afloat network required for naval and joint operations, the programme will increase reliability, security, interoperability and application hosting to meet current and projected soldier requirements, as well as mature cross domain technologies.
The programme will streamline and update shipboard network systems for improved interoperability and affordability across the fleet, as well as reduce infrastructure footprint and associated logistics, sustainment and training costs.
The programme also provides modernised C4ISR architecture, as well as reduced development, deployment and lifecycle costs.
Following the contract award, Northrop will use modular open systems approach-competitive (MOSA-C) strategic business and engineering process to improve interoperability and reduce lifecycle costs while ensuring vendor-neutral solutions.
The CANES programme has received Milestone B approval, validating its ability to meet key cost, schedule and performance criteria in early 2011 and will be deployed on more than 190 ships, submarines and maritime operations centres by 2021.
The full production RFP for CANES procurement has been released by the US Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command and the contract is expected to be awarded in the second quarter of FY2014.
