General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team Will Deliver Flexible, Net-Centric, Open Architecture System
Approach will significantly drive down Navy lifecycle costs for LCS
ARLINGTON, Va. – General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), announced today the formation of the team of industry-leading companies that will contribute to the open-architecture core mission systems functions for the General Dynamics design of the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). Bath Iron Works, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, is the General Dynamics LCS prime contractor.
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is the core mission systems integrator and has designed a core mission systems architecture that enables the most progressive, proven technologies and capabilities to be integrated into one system.
“Our ability to identify, qualify and select the most capable team members to contribute to this system is a key differentiator of our information technology proposal for the LCS. Our design and our team philosophy created an infrastructure that allows hardware and software manufacturers to easily interface their products, delivering the lowest cost, lowest risk LCS approach to Navy for both the current phase and for future spirals,” said Mike Tweed-Kent, vice president and general manager of maritime digital systems for General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems. “Our approach allows the best-of-the-best to combine forces, and the Navy reaps the rewards.”
For nearly two years, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems and its team have been developing the core mission systems infrastructure, a flexible information technology backbone that allows “plug and play” integration of custom-designed, robust mission modules. The approach builds upon General Dynamics’ highly flexible total ship computing environment that not only meets Navy open architecture requirements, but leverages industry standards and non-proprietary interfaces to create a low-cost core mission system solution.
System Benefits
The General Dynamics approach significantly drives down Navy lifecycle costs for LCS. By using a powerful mix of modern computing technologies and commercial middleware solutions, the General Dynamics design eliminates dependence on legacy infrastructures, provides significant flexibility for the sailor, dramatically reduces manpower requirements through the use of General Dynamics’ any-display-anywhere technology, and makes LCS a seamless member of the Navy’s network-centric warfare vision.
General Dynamics’ fully open, published interface design makes it easy to incorporate new products and technologies from across industry. In combination with the expansive power supply capabilities and large volume created by General Dynamics’ unique ship design, this approach will help keep LCS technology current and costs down by using an open business model to constantly solicit, evaluate and rapidly insert worldwide hardware and software technologies into the LCS design.
Teammates
The General Dynamics LCS core mission systems team includes BAE Systems, Inc., Rockville, Md.; CAE USA, Inc., Marine Systems, Leesburg, Va.; Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Baltimore, Md.; General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Charlotte, N.C.; and General Dynamics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
BAE Systems is responsible for the ship’s internal and external communications systems, as well as topside antenna modeling and mission module interface coordination. CAE USA Inc., Marine Systems, is responsible for the ship automation and control system. Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems is responsible for the Integrated Combat Management System (ICMS). General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products is responsible for all of the weapons and effectors. General Dynamics Canada is responsible for the above- and below-water sensors.
About General Dynamics
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, headquartered in Arlington, Va., is a leading provider of transformational mission solutions in command, control, communications, and computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Customers include those in the defense, intelligence, homeland security and homeland defense communities. More information can be found at www.gd-ais.com.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 68,400 people worldwide and anticipates 2004 revenue of $19 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation.
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Any "forward-looking statements" contained in this press release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
General Dynamics Corporation (ticker: GD, exchange: NYSE)
News Release -Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Press Contact: (703) 271-7452
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