Navy picks Astronics and Serco to provide signal routing subsystems for communications aboard submarines

Summary points:

• Astronics and Serco will build and support RF Distribution and Control Systems (RFDACS) for all classes of U.S. Navy submarines.
• RFDACS enables modular, streamlined signal routing between submarine antennas and communications systems, replacing legacy point-to-point wiring.
• The five-year contract includes manufacturing, modernization, and depot-level repairs, with work to be completed by June 2030.

NEWPORT, R.I. – U.S. Navy undersea communications experts needed on-board systems to route signals and information among antennas and communications systems aboard U.S. Navy submarines. They found solutions from Astronics Test Systems Inc. in Irvine, Calif., and Serco Inc. in Herndon, Va.

Officials of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, R.I., announced a combined $49.5 million contract earlier this month to Astronics Test Systems and Serco to build Radio Frequency Distribution and Control Systems (RFDACS) for the Navy's submarine fleet.

RFDACS is a major signal routing subsystem within the common submarine radio room installed on board all classes of Navy ballistic missile and fast-attack submarines. The RFDACS provides a means of routing signals and information between the various antenna systems and other submarine communication subsystems.

Astronics and Serco will receive initial task orders and $500, and then will compete for task orders over the next five years.

Replacing point-to-point wiring

RFDACS replaces point-to-point wiring of RF and control signals, and provides modular architecture for hardware and software for simplified expansion or modification of the system.

The system has been in production for more than 10 years. This contract also calls for the companies to manufacture RFDACS units and subcomponents, and manage obsolescence issues.

Astronics and Serco will build RFDACS units for current and future submarines, and to modernize, when required, existing fleet RFDACS. A complete RFDACS OK-700 consists of several rack-mountable units. The companies also will handle depot-level repairs of RFDACS units and subcomponents. The will manufacture, perform certification tests, and deliver subcomponents of the RFDACS.

On this contract, Astronics and Serco will do the work in Irvine, Calif., Herndon, Va., and at Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division-Newport in Newport, R.I., and should be finished by June 2030. For more information contact Astronics Test Systems online at https://www.astronics.com/subsidiary?subsidiaryItem=astronics%20test%20systems, Serco at https://www.serco.com/na, or the Naval Undersea Warfare Center-Newport at https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Warfare-Centers/NUWC-Newport/.