General Dynamics Wins $40.3 Mln LCS Combat Systems Contract

General Dynamics Mission Systems said it has secured a $40.3 million contract to support the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) in its role as U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Independence-variant Software Support Agent (SSA), Combat Management System (CMS), and In-Service Engineering Agent (ISEA).

The contract, awarded May 1, will provide support for LCS Independence-variant CMS efforts. As the prime contractor, General Dynamics’ responsibility will be to provide reach back support and resolution of technical issues to the Independence-variant LCS combat system software suite, as identified by NSWCDD. This includes support to all aspects of the combat management system software installed on LCS, including the Integrated Combat Management System (ICMS) core software suite, as well as software interfaces to sensors, weapons and communication systems. Work will be performed in Pittsfield, Mass., facility and will be completed in 2024 if all options are exercised.

As the CMS ISEA, NSWCDD supports currently installed combat management system components and coordinates, monitors and provides follow-on maintenance and operational support for those components. In-Service Engineering Agents are the first responders; investigating, identifying problems, recommending resolution, and testing the solutions across the LCS’s combat management system.  As SSA, NSWCDD ensures that software engineering design meet all government prescribed requirements.

Carlo Zaffanella, vice president and general manager, Maritime and Strategic Systems at General Dynamics Mission Systems, said, “Our experts have spent many years bringing LCS’ current mission systems to life. Additionally, our open, flexible computing architecture is very capable of supporting the maintenance and in-service operation of our mission systems. Our team recognizes the increasingly critical role LCS plays in the U.S. Navy’s littoral battlespace, and the essential part LCS plays in defeating anti-access and asymmetric threats in the littorals. This support contract will help enable LCS to successfully achieve its missions, today and in the future.”