Officials of the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington announced an $8.1 million contract this week to Lockheed Martin for the Technology Insertion 16 production portion of the Common Display System (CDS) program.
The CDS is a family of enterprise display systems for Navy surface warships, and has the potential for use with the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as with allied navies.
With this contract Lockheed Martin effectively takes over from DRS Technologies Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Finmeccanica S.p.A., as the lead systems integrator for the latest versions of the Navy Common Display System.
A $15.5 million contract for the Technology Insertion 12 portion of the CDS program went to the DRS Laurel Technologies segment of DRS Technologies in Johnstown, Pa., one year ago. Lockheed Martin was a key partner to DRS on that and on previous CDS technology insertion contracts.
Other companies that historically have taken part in the Navy CDS program include General Dynamics Mission Systems in Fairfax, Va.; Barco in Duluth, Ga.; and Aydin Displays Inc., a Sparton company in Birdsboro, Pa.
Successive technology insertions represent a procurement approach designed to equip Navy vessels, aircraft, and shore installations with the latest technologies at the most reasonable costs. Technology insertions normally involve mature technologies available largely as commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) items.
Navy experts initially developed the CDS for the DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class surface-attack destroyer, as well as for Aegis modernization efforts aboard the Navy's Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
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Navy electronics experts have expanded the requirement for CDS to Navy aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, and dock landing ships. Navy leaders also are considering the CDS for Navy aircraft and submarines.
Navy leaders have scrapped plans to build 32 Zumwalt-class destroyers, and are likely to build only two of the large vessels, which are built around the Advanced Gun System (AGS), and are designed primarily for shore bombardment. The AGS is a 155-millimeter cannon designed to hurl special shells as far as 83 nautical miles at a rate of 10 rounds per minute.
On this contract Lockheed Martin will do the work in Johnstown, Pa., and Manassas, Va., and should be finished by February 2017. For more information contact Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training on line at www.lockheedmartin.com/us/mst, or Naval Sea Systems Command at www.navsea.navy.mil.
