Homeland Security

Deepwater Team Delivers 10 Legacy Cutters With Updated Communications To U.S. Coast Guard

Portsmouth, VA, May 10th, 2004 -- Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS) has delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard 10 cutters with upgraded communications systems that will support the service's coastal protection and homeland security missions.

Among their enhanced capabilities, the 270-foot and 378-foot cutters now have access to classified and unclassified data communications through the U.S. Department of Defense's Secret Internet Protocol Network (SIPRNET), giving Coast Guard crews intelligence information that previously was not available. Additional future enhancements include doubling the data bandwidth and improving variable bandwidth efficiency, improvements that will enable cutters to exchange and process information more rapidly.

The initial upgrades were accomplished through the joint efforts of the ICGS team, the United States Coast Guard and the cutter crews.

"Integrated command, control, communications, computers, information, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems are the backbone of Deepwater's system of systems design," said Dale Bennett, president of ICGS. "This upgrade provides real-time interaction between cutters at sea and shore-based resources, which allows the Coast Guard greater capability to carry out its vital missions."

The legacy upgrades were performed in conjunction with two similar upgrades to the Communication Area Master Station Pacific (CAMSPAC), located in Pt. Reyes, CA, and the Communication Area Master Station Atlantic (CAMSLANT), located in Chesapeake, VA. The CAMSPAC upgrade was completed in early April and the CAMSLANT upgrade was completed in November.

Upgrades to the remaining four 270-foot medium endurance cutters and eight 378-foot high endurance cutters will take place over the next seven months, followed by upgrades to 14 210-foot medium endurance cutters.

This upgrade was the direct result of the successful partnership between government and industry, including ICGS, the U.S. Coast Guard Telecommunication Information System Command, the U.S. Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, several Lockheed Martin divisions and PROSOFT Corporation.

About Integrated Deepwater System

IDS is a critical multi-year, multi-billion dollar program to modernize and replace the Coast Guard's aging ships and aircraft, and improve command and control and logistics systems. It is the largest recapitalization effort in the history of the Coast Guard.

IDS was developed to guarantee the nation's maritime homeland security with the capabilities to maximize the warning, detection and response time available to Homeland Security decision-makers and to provide the necessary capabilities to execute those decisions. The Deepwater Program will provide capability and the capacity for the Coast Guard to meet Maritime Homeland Security missions that could occur in ports, waterways, coastal areas and extending seaward.

When complete, the interoperable IDS system will include three classes of new cutters and their associated small boats, a new fixed-wing manned aircraft fleet, a combination of new and upgraded helicopters, and both cutter-based and land-based unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). All of these highly capable assets are linked with Command, Control, Communications and Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems, and are supported by a new and far-reaching integrated logistics system.

About Integrated Coast Guard Systems

ICGS is a joint venture of Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. ICGS was awarded the Deepwater contract in June, 2002. ICGS is headquartered in Rosslyn, VA, with core leadership teams in Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Washington, DC.

Margaret Mitchell-Jones : 571-218-3352; cell: 202-550-8746; email: [email protected]
Communications Director, Integrated Coast Guard Systems

Julie Camardo: 856-722-7738; cell: 609-410-1296; email: [email protected]