L-3 Communications to equip US Coast Guard cutters with C4ISR systems

L-3 Communications announced Wednesday that its Communication Systems group was awarded a contract from Bollinger Shipyards LLC to provide the integrated C4ISR system for the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter (FRC).

The company said the value of this contract for 26 cutters was approximately $160 million over a nine-year period.

Under this contract, L-3 will provide initial design upgrades to the FRC, including the antenna arrangement and analysis, exterior communications and other situational awareness enhancements.

In addition, L-3 will deliver, install and support the integrated bridge, interior and exterior communications systems, and distributed navigation equipment. The company will also conduct training of the FRC crews at its site in Camden, New Jersey, and will provide postdelivery warranty support at each cutter’s homeport.

“L-3 is excited to serve as the C4ISR integrator and provide our comprehensive suite of best-in-class systems on this important platform,” said John Mega, president of L-3 Communication Systems. “The FRC is the newest generation of patrol cutter and plays a vital role in the USCG’s mission to protect our homeland.”

Work on this contract, which is for Phase II production of the FRC, will be done by L-3 Communication Systems-East (L-3 CS-East) in Camden, and L-3 Henschel in Ayer, Massachusetts. L-3 CS-East specializes in the design, development and production of integrated command, control, communications and computing (C4) and cyber systems supporting space, ground, air and maritime operations for next-generation requirements. T