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NSWC Panama City Opens LCAC Systems Integration Lab

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110906-05
9/6/2011

By Dan Broadstreet, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Public Affairs

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (NNS) -- The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) will host a ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 2 in Panama City, Fla., to celebrate the newly-upgraded and renovated systems integration laboratory for landing craft, air cushioned (LCAC) craft test and development.

The new laboratory will provide console mockups and equipment test beds that support system and software prototyping, development, integration, software maintenance and fleet support of all LCAC command, control, communications, computers and navigation (C4N) systems.

"This is a wonderful development that provides our command the ability to support the assault craft units where the Navy's [LCAC] operational hovercraft resides," said NSWC PCD Commander Capt. Tom Brovarone.

NSWC PCD serves the Navy's LCAC community as the in-service engineering agent and software support activity.

"This new state-of-the-art [systems integration lab] will bring to the LCAC community a new level of efficiency and cost effectiveness in supporting verification and validation testing of C4N system requirements prior to installation on craft," said Capt. Chris Mercer, Amphibious Warfare program manager for PEO Ships. "This investment is expected to reap future cost avoidance by providing effective mitigation of risks associated with real-time software intensive system development and deployment in support of fleet units."

"Our C4N team supports 79 operational craft with the maintenance of three major software baselines - known as block cycles," said Expeditionary C4N Branch Head Greg Simmons. "The C4N team's mission is to design develop, produce, maintain, install and support integrated C4N and electrical systems for the Assault Craft Units, so we're very pleased because this renovation enables us to continue providing timely support to fleet customers."

NSWC PCD, a NAVSEA field activity, provides innovative, technical solutions to complex problems specifically in the areas of littoral and expeditionary warfare.