ARLINGTON, Va., 28 April 2005. The team of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems and Rockwell Collins has been awarded a $153.9 million contract modification to accelerate technology development of the Integrated Computer System (ICS) into the U.S. Army's Current Force and to add support for previously deferred assets within the Future Combat Systems (FCS) program.
The ICS is the common computing environment for 17 of the 18 platforms in the FCS family of systems, which constitutes a network of sensors, unmanned air platforms, and both manned and unmanned ground platforms.
The contract modification was awarded by the Army Lead Systems Integrator (LSI) team of The Boeing Company and Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) and brings the total ICS contract value to $429 million. Work is shared between General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems and Rockwell Collins.
With this contract modification, the ICS will benefit soldiers two years earlier than originally planned. General Dynamics and Rockwell Collins are now scheduled to deliver the initial prototype unit to the FCS LSI in January 2007. The ICS will be deployed into the field on current force platforms, including Bradley fighting vehicles, Abrams main battle tanks, Strykers and Humvees, with the first spiral out of future force technology in 2008.
FCS uses a groundbreaking system-of-systems approach that brings advanced technologies together to help create an agile Unit of Action. The ICS integrates a wide range of traditionally independent or stove-piped computing applications into a single, integrated, secure processing environment. This provides the FCS-equipped Units of Action with unprecedented processing, networking, data storage and information assurance capabilities.
"Our team's computing solutions use a wide range of open standards and common components that can be deployed on current platforms that serve today's warfighter. This will help increase information sharing and support joint operations," said Lou Von Thaer, president of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems. "By focusing on scaleable and sustainable technology, we can field advanced systems to the full FCS-equipped Unit of Action in 2014 and beyond."
Greg Churchill, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Rockwell Collins Government Systems, added, "Spiral development helps our team develop technology that matches the real requirements of the Soldier. It ensures a highly integrated system that will quickly get the right information where it's needed most -- on the battlefield."
Work is being performed by General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems in Bloomington, Minn., and by Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Additional partners include General Dynamics C4 Systems and LynuxWorks.
Rockwell Collins is a leader in the design, production and support of communications and aviation electronics solutions for commercial and government customers worldwide. For more information, see www.rockwellcollins.com.
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics. Headquartered in Arlington, Va., it is a leading provider of transformational mission solutions in command, control, communications, and computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Customers include those in the defense, intelligence, homeland security and homeland defense communities. For more information, see www.gd-ais.com.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 70,100 people worldwide and had 2004 revenue of $19.2 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation. For more information, see www.generaldynamics.com.
