PASCAGOULA, Miss., 6 Oct. 2008. Lockheed Martin Coast Guard Systems team participated in the successful power up of the first set of electronic cabinets and consoles of the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) system onboard the U.S. Coast Guard's second National Security Cutter, Waesche

Lockheed Martin's C4ISR systems will provide Waesche's crew with a common operating picture to aid coordination among helicopters, aircraft, other ships, and shore facilities. The system has an open architecture design and provides interoperability, assuring that the Coast Guard can work with multiple federal, regional, and state agencies and organizations to maintain maritime domain awareness and accomplish homeland security missions, Lockheed Martin officials say.

The operation – Electronics Light-Off – powered up six operations center consoles, the large-screen display, and the vessel's local area network electronics cabinets, marking the beginning of the National Security Cutter's electronics test program. Light-off of the communications suite cabinets was also accomplished. All 28 electronics cabinets, which constitute the core of the C4ISR system, will be powered up this week.

"Waesche will sail with a highly sophisticated, proven system, which will aid the Coast Guard in carrying out missions efficiently and effectively to protect our nation," says Paul Klammer, director of Coast Guard C4ISR programs for Lockheed Martin. "The electronics light-off is a significant event as we move into the system test phase."

The 418-foot Waesche, built at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's Pascagoula shipyard and equipped by Lockheed Martin, will be the second ship in a class of technologically-advanced, multi-mission cutters. The first ship in this class, also equipped with Lockheed Martin's C4ISR system, USCGC Bertholf, was commissioned this summer.