Lockheed Martin Meets Key Milestones For Navy Submarine Communications Program

24 Juli 2009

CSD-Communication at Speed and Depth (image : Lockheed Martin)

MARION, MA, -- Lockheed Martin’s [NYSE:LMT] team developing a Communications at Speed and Depth (CSD) capability for U.S. Navy submarines has successfully completed the system requirements review.

The capability will enable secure, two-way communications between submarines operating below periscope depth and at tactical speeds with surface ships, aircraft and land-based assets. All classes of U.S. Navy submarines will be equipped with this transformational capability.

A future undersea communications network capability will enable communications among submerged submarines, Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs), and undersea sensors to multiply the effectiveness of the Submarine Force in maintaining undersea dominance. By coupling the undersea acoustic communications network with the mainstream Global Information Grid (GIG) communications infrastructure, end-to-end warfighter connectivity is enabled among surface, air, shore, submarines, other undersea platforms, and undersea sensors. (photo : Navy.mil)

“The on-schedule progress of this program results from a strong government-industry team that is focused on delivering a much-needed capability to the fleet,” said Brent Starr, the Navy’s CSD principle acquisition program manager. “The system requirements review was a huge success.”

The Lockheed Martin-led industry team, which includes Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems and ERAPSCO, a joint venture between Sparton Electronics Florida, Inc. and Ultra Electronics – USSI, will deliver three types of two-way communications devices and associated submarine and shore equipment. Two of the devices – the tethered expendable communications buoy (TECB) Iridium system and the TECB–UHF system – are launched from submarines. The third is an acoustic-to-RF Gateway (A2RF) system that can be launched from submarines and aircraft.

The Bouyant Cable Antenna with High Frequency antenna and enhanced modem provides two-way voice and robust IP data connectivity from submerged submarines to ship, air, and shore-based warfighters (image : Navy.mil)

Since the January contract award, the team has completed both the integrated baseline review and system requirements review milestones on schedule. Hardware delivery is expected in mid-2010.

“Successful on-schedule completion of the system requirements review is a major step in providing submarines the same access to communication networks as the rest of the U.S. Navy's fleet,” said Rod Reints, Lockheed Martin’s senior program manager for the CSD program. “Our team is now starting the preliminary design phase, moving us closer to our goal of providing communications at speed and depth to the U.S. Navy’s submarine fleet.”

(Lockheed Martin)