PANAMA CITY, Fla., 26 Feb 2013. U.S. Navy shipboard electronics experts will look to A & J Manufacturing Co. in Tustin, Calif., to provide mil-spec electronic enclosures and related equipment for the Multiple Vehicle Communications Systems (MVCS) on two new littoral combat ships (LCS).
Officials of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla., have announced their intention to award a sole-source order to A & J Manufacturing for MVCS enclosures and electronic products for the littoral combat ships USS Montgomery (LCS 8) and the USS Little Rock (LCS 9).
A & J, a rack and electronics manufacturing specialist, will build four MVCS electro-magnetic interference (EMI)-resistant electronic enclosures for the Montgomery, and eight MVCS EMI-resistant electronic enclosures for the Little Rock. The amount of the order has yet to be negotiated.
The MVCS is for communications between the LCS surface ship and different mission packages involving mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, and surface warfare.
The MVCS supports communications between the surface mother ship and mission package vehicles that are part of the Remote Multi-Mission Vehicle (RMMV) unmanned vehicle, and the LCS's Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS), which provides stand-off, long-endurance, semi-autonomous minesweeping capability to counter acoustic and magnetic influence sea mines in shallow waters along coasts and harbors.
The Montgomery will be an Independence-class LCS, and the Little Rock is to be a Freedom-class LCS. The Montgomery is under construction by Austral USA in Mobile, Ala.; and the Little Rock is under construction by Marinette Marine Corp. in Marinette, Wis.
In addition to the four EMI-resistant electronic enclosures A & J will build for the Montgomery, A & J also will provide two 2U electronic drawers, 10 cable retractors, 12 mounting brackets, seven slide plate assemblies, four power panels, as well as nuts as gasketing.
In addition to the eight EMI-resistant electronic enclosures that A & J will build for the Little Rock, A & J will provide four 2U drawers, 20 cable retractors, 24 mounting brackets, 14 slide plate assemblies, 10 power panels, as well as nuts and gasketing.
The Navy is awarding a sole-source contract to A & J because the company is the only provider of these kinds of systems that are based on government testing results, meet the necessary commercial and military band certifications and weight restrictions, Navy officials say.
Currently, no other source meets the certification requirements for interoperability with the MVCS, officials say.
For more information contact A & J Manufacturing online at www.aj-racks.com, or the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division at www.navsea.navy.mil/nswc/panamacity.
