Eastern Shipbuilding Group, the shipbuilder in charge of constructing new offshore patrol cutters for the U.S. Coast Guard, has contracted Northrop Grumman Corporation for the design of C4ISR and machinery control systems (MCS).
Included in the design phase of the OPC program is a MCS land-based test facility, as well as a C4ISR test and integration facility, both of which will be located in Charlottesville. Additional work will be conducted at company facilities in San Diego, and Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
Northrop Grumman said it would also provide key C4ISR and MCS integration roles during production testing and shipboard trials to be held in Panama City, Florida.
The U.S. Coast Guard plans to build as many as 25 OPCs to replace its fleet of medium endurance cutters.
The OPCs will feature increased range and endurance, updated weapon systems, improved electronics and a larger flight deck which will accommodate aircraft operations in severe weather.
The systems being supplied include integrated bridge systems, command and control consoles, navigation and combat data distribution systems, ship-wide computer network systems, machinery control systems and propulsion control systems
“Our suite of integrated C4ISR and machinery control systems will provide the Coast Guard the long-term offshore capability needed to perform Coast Guard missions,” said Todd Leavitt , vice president, maritime systems business unit, Northrop Grumman. “This high priority investment will allow the Coast Guard to affordably and efficiently modernize the fleet, while extending their existing capabilities and effectively addressing the changing needs of their missions.”