U.S. Marine Corp chooses General Dynamics team to create new aviation subsystems

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. 6 Oct. 2012. The U.S. Marine Corps have awarded a contract to a General Dynamics C4 Systems-led team for the creation of four engineering development models and nine limited deployment units of the processing and display/sensor data subsystem (PDS/SDS) for Increment 1, Phase 2 of the common aviation command and control system (CAC2S).

When built and fully operational, the system will deliver a real-time picture of events taking place at sea, in the air, and on land during a mission, enabling faster, more informed decision making for Marine Corps commanders and their staffs. The contract has a total potential value of $61.4 million if all options are exercised.

The PDS/SDS is the aviation command-and-control enabler for three mission-critical air command and control organizations that support Marines on the ground. The tactical air command center provides airspace management, the direct air support center controls air assault and other airborne operations and the tactical air operations center performs air surveillance and controls air-to-air fighter and air defense.

The subsystem will increase the mobility and agility of Marines operating on land, in the air, and at sea. It is also smaller, lighter and more energy efficient compared to earlier stove-piped systems. The complete CAC2S is based on commercial-off-the-shelf components, reducing training and logistics support costs.

The General Dynamics-led team includes Fulton, Md.-based Raytheon Solipsys; Smartronix, Inc., of Stafford, Va.; Ternion Corp., of Huntsville, Ala.; and Engility of San Diego.