MARION, Mass., 25 July 2009. Lockheed Martin's team developing a Communications at Speed and Depth (CSD) capability for U.S. Navy submarines has completed the system requirements review. The capability will enable secure, two-way communications between submarines operating below periscope depth and at tactical speeds with surface ships, aircraft, and land-based assets. All classes of U.S. Navy submarines will be equipped with this transformational capability, according to a representative.

"The on-schedule progress of this program results from a strong government-industry team that is focused on delivering a much-needed capability to the fleet," says Brent Starr, the Navy's CSD principle acquisition program manager. "The system requirements review was a huge success."

The Lockheed Martin-led industry team includes Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems and ERAPSCO, a joint venture between Sparton Electronics Florida Inc. and Ultra Electronics - USSI.

The team will deliver three types of two-way communications devices and associated submarine and shore equipment. Two of the devices -- the tethered expendable communications buoy (TECB) Iridium system and the TECB-UHF system -- are launched from submarines. The third is an acoustic-to-RF Gateway (A2RF) system that can be launched from submarines and aircraft.

Hardware delivery is expected in mid-2010.

"Successful on-schedule completion of the system requirements review is a major step in providing submarines the same access to communication networks as the rest of the U.S. Navy's fleet," says Rod Reints, Lockheed Martin's senior program manager for the CSD program. "Our team is now starting the preliminary design phase, moving us closer to our goal of providing communications at speed and depth to the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet."