ARLINGTON, Va. — Officials at the U.S. Coast Guard awarded Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS) a contract to start building the first Maritime Security Cutter, Large (WMSL) — formerly the National Security Cutter — under the Integrated Deepwater System program.
"The contract award for the Maritime Security Cutter, Large is a significant milestone in the Deepwater Program," says Rear Adm. Patrick M. Stillman, program executive officer for the Integrated Deepwater System.
"It begins the process that will, in several years, culminate in the delivery of the Coast Guard's first 21st-century cutter — a highly capable ship designed to satisfy the Coast Guard's multimission responsibilities in homeland security, national defense, marine safety, and environmental protection. In addition to enabling the Coast Guard to fulfill its commitment to the National Fleet Policy, this class of cutters will play an important role in restoring the Coast Guard's operational readiness, capacity, and effectiveness at a time when the demand for its services has never been higher."
Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in Pascagoula, Miss., is leading the production effort, as a major partner in ICGS, a joint venture of Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin will also receive work from this contract, primarily focused on the command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities.
The ship will be manufactured in Pascagoula. Work began on this first-in-class ship last month, with the keel laying to follow in April 2005. The anticipated date of delivery for the lead ship will be the second quarter of 2007, Coast Guard officials say.
"This cutter will significantly enhance the maritime security capabilities and efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard," says Philip A. Dur, president, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems. The new cutter will be based on work Northrop has done on surface combatants for the military, he adds.
"We are also ready to deliver these ships on an accelerated schedule if that becomes necessary and feasible," Dur says.
"Our entire Deepwater team will continue to survey cost savings and will establish a best-value analysis for equipment and component standardization to fully understand the life-cycle cost savings associated with this effort," says Judy Wheat, program manager for the Maritime Security Cutter.
The WMSL will be a 421-foot vessel with a 4,112-ton displacement at full load when delivered, will be powered by a twin screw combined diesel and gas turbine power propulsion plant designed to travel at maximum speed of 28 knots. The cutter will include an aft launch-and- recovery area for two rigid- hull inflatable boats, a flight deck to accommodate a range of rotary-wing manned and unmanned aircraft and state-of-the-art command and control electronics, Coast Guard officials say.
Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) is a multi-year program to modernize and replace the Coast Guard's aging ships and aircraft, and improve command, control, and logistics systems. It is the largest recapitalization effort in the history of the Coast Guard. When complete, the interoperable IDS system will include three classes of new cutters and their associated small boats, a new fixed-wing manned aircraft fleet, a combination of new and upgraded helicopters, and cutter-based and land-based unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), Coast Guard officials say. All of these assets are linked with C4ISR systems, and are supported by a new integrated logistics system.
For more information on the Coast Guard's IDS program go online at www.icgsdeepwater.com.
