The U.S. Navy recently awarded General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems a $95.9 million contract for production and deployed-systems support of U.S. and U.K. Trident II submarine strategic weapons systems, including the SSBN fire-control system, the SSGN attack weapon-control system, the U.S. SSBN-replacement and the U.K. SSBN-successor common missile compartment.
The contract has a maximum value of $225 million if all options are exercised. General Dynamics Advanced Informational Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics.
“We have a 50 year partnership with the Navy supporting strategic weapons systems and this award is a validation of our team’s performance in supporting the modernization and enhancement of the Trident program,” said Lou Von Thaer , president of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems. “Looking forward, the introduction of the common missile compartment will be instrumental for the next generation of SSBN platforms for the U.S. and U.K. navies. Deploying a common compartment across different platforms will decrease cost and introduce more flexibility for meeting today’s mission requirements and those of the next generation of sailors.”
The Trident submarine force is the backbone of the U.S. and U.K. navies’ nuclear deterrence strategies. To ensure this capability remains at peak readiness and safety, the U.S. Navy undertook the D5 Life Extension Program in 2002 to replace aging components of the Trident II missile.
Under this contract, General Dynamics will continue to oversee elements of the D5 modernization program, including lifecycle support of the fire-control and attack weapon-control systems. The company will provide engineering support, performance evaluation, logistics, fleet documentation, reliability maintenance and training. The contract also calls for engineering support of the U.S. and U.K. common missile compartment including concept development, prototyping and initial design efforts.
Work will continue to be performed in Pittsfield, Mass., where General Dynamics currently employs over 1,100 employees.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff , January 06, 2012; Image: generaldynamics