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Navy awards contract for frigate IT

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150627-N-XD363-009 ATLANTIC OCEAN (June 27, 2015) Operations Specialist Seaman Aisha Williamson tracks surface contacts on a computer console display aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3). The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are participating in ARG/MEUEX, a scenario-based amphibious integration exercise, in preparation for a future deployment. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Michael Gendron/Released)

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $79.5 million Navy contract to provide an open architecture combat management system for frigates.

The Component-Based Total-Ship System — 21st Century (COMBATSS-21) is already used by the littoral combat ship. 

“COMBATSS-21 is built from the Aegis Common Source Library (CSL), and shares a pedigree with the Aegis Baseline 9 software developed for the Aegis cruiser and destroyer fleet, as well as international ships, the Aegis Ashore system, LCS and the Coast Guard National Security Cutters,” according to a Lockheed Martin news release.

The Common Source Library “allows surface combatants to rapidly and affordably integrate new capabilities across the fleet,” Lockheed Martin said. “This means that ships using a CSL-derived combat system can incorporate new sensors, weapons and capability upgrades to keep pace with evolving threats. The benefit of the surface combatant CSL is that these updates become available for rollout across other ship classes.”

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Michael Peck is a correspondent for Defense News and a columnist for the Center for European Policy Analysis. He holds an M.A. in political science from Rutgers University. Find him at theuncommondefense.com. His email is mikedefense1@gmail.com.