WASHINGTON, 23 Dec. 2010. The Argon ST subsidiary of the Boeing Co. in Fairfax, Va., will develop the U.S. Navy's Next-Generation Countermeasure (NGCM)anti-torpedo defense system under terms of a $16 million contract awarded Wednesday by the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington.
Argon ST will design and build NGCM engineering development models and special test sets under terms of the contract. The NGCM is an acoustic torpedo countermeasure with advanced features that can be employed either as a static or mobile device, Navy officials say.
The NGCM will replace the legacy acoustic device countermeasure MK 2 and ME 3 torpedo countermeasures in an attempt to improve Navy submarine defenses against acoustic homing torpedoes.
The NGCM will be a torpedo-like 3-inch diameter acoustic countermeasure designed to defeat threat torpedoes. The anti-torpedo system will be launched from U.S. fast attack and missile submarines in groups of as many as six at a time. The NGCM units will be able to communicate with one another acoustically and act as a group; some will act as stationary broadcast jammers, while others will be mobile sophisticated decoys.
The NGCM units will have receivers able to operate in full-duplex mode with acoustic communications link that pass tactical information and updates among the units, as well as with surface warships and submarines nearby.
The NGCM will be re-programmable to operate cooperatively with U.S. torpedo or anti-torpedo firings, and will be able to change tactics or modes of operation based on changes in tactical conditions or in response to downloaded commands via the acoustic communications links.
Each NGCM unit will have an advanced embedded tactical processor and a threat torpedo classifier built in, and will use its programmed group behavior technology to determine appropriate behavior and responses to rapidly changing tactical conditions.
Argon ST develops command, control, communications, computers, combat, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems that have powerful sensors and integrated networks. The company was acquired last summer by the Boeing Co. for $775 million, and now is a stand-alone subsidiary of Boeing, and a division of Boeing Network & Space Systems in St. Louis -- a business within the Boeing Defense, Space & Security operating unit.
On the NGCM job, Argon engineers will do the work in Fairfax, Va.; Durham, N.C.; Reston, Va.; Barrington, R.I.; and Arvada, Colo., and should be finished by May 2015. Argon prevailed over three other companies bidding for the NGCM job, Navy officials say.
For more information contact Argon ST online at www.argonst.com, Boeing Network & Space Systems at www.boeing.com/bds/network_space, or Naval Sea Systems Command at www.navsea.navy.mil.
