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ICAN Performs Well During Nimitz Exercise

27 January 2003

By JOC David Nagle, Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON -- The advanced capabilities of one of the Navy's newest integrated shipboard network systems, that will improve shipboard efficiency and reduce Sailors' workloads, were demonstrated during a recent exercise aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Integrated Communications and Advanced Networks (ICAN) was highlighted during this exercise in preparation for Nimitz's Composite Unit Training Exercise and upcoming deployment. Members of the Navy's Operational Test and Evaluation Force (COMOPTEVFOR), in coordination with the Program Executive Office for Aircraft Carriers, conducted an observation of capability of the machinery control systems, integrated voice systems, and navigation systems, all using the common ICAN core network.

ICAN consolidates a number of separate, cumbersome devices and replaces them with single, multifunction, multi-purpose units. It also integrates existing analog technologies with new capabilities, resulting in valuable space and weight savings in the ship design. ICAN's four components include:

• An integrated voice system that consolidates telephones, radios, shipboard announcing systems, sound-powered phones and intercoms
• A machinery control system, integrating the aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) control and monitoring system, the JP-5 control and monitoring system, list control indication system and various alarm systems
• The ship control indication system, centralizing the monitoring of ship control and navigation functions
• The navigation critical network, which performs data distribution to users needing "time critical" navigation information.

ICAN replaces most of these existing systems' components, and replaces existing user devices and displays with new human-machine interface displays that receive and display information from the network. The end result is a ship that operates more efficiently, while requiring fewer watchstanders to monitor shipboard systems.

The COMOPTEVFOR team observed Nimitz's crew operating and maintaining the ICAN components, and spoke with several crewmembers about the daily operation and performance of the system components. According to the COMOPTEVFOR team, the crew was enthusiastic about the systems and felt they received the proper training in operation and maintenance procedures.

The team noted that ship systems performed extremely well and observed no maintenance or reliability problems.

The ICAN acquisition strategy was implemented aboard Nimitz during its refueling complex overhaul (RCOH), which ended in June 2001. Correction of discrepancies associated with the first-time installation of the new systems has led to many system improvements, which will be incorporated, on future installations. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), currently undergoing its own RCOH, will receive the same capabilities, and an expanded version of ICAN is included on Pre-Commissioning Unit Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), currently nearing completion of construction at Northrop Grumman Newport News.

"ICAN is an example of spiral development," said Capt. Chuck Bush, Program Manager for Aircraft Carriers. "We're leaning forward, getting future technologies out to this generation of warfighters."