General Dynamics to help USMC see more clearly
General Dynamics C4 Systems has announced that its team has received a contract from the US Marine Corps (USMC) to build up to four Engineering Development Models and nine Limited Deployment Units of the Processing and Display/Sensor Data Subsystem (PDS/SDS) for Increment 1, Phase 2 of the Common Aviation Command and Control System (CAC2S). The contract has a total potential value of $61.4 million if all options are exercised.
According to the company, when built and fully operational, the General Dynamics next-generation command-and-control (C2) system will deliver a real-time picture of events taking place at sea, in the air and on land during a mission, enabling faster, more informed decision making for USMC commanders and their staff.
The PDS/SDS is the aviation C2 enabler for three mission-critical air C2 organisations that support the USMC on the ground. The Tactical Air Command Center provides airspace management, the Direct Air Support Center controls air assault and other airborne operations, while the Tactical Air Operations Center performs air surveillance and controls air-to-air fighter and air defence.
According to the company, the General Dynamics-designed subsystem ‘will increase the mobility and agility of marines operating on land, in the air and at sea. It is also smaller, lighter and more energy efficient compared to earlier stove-piped systems. The complete CAC2S is based on commercial-off-the-shelf components that deliver manufacturing and operational efficiencies and reduce training and logistics support costs.’
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