General Dynamics delivers tactical awareness to US Navy

The General Dynamics Common Network Interface (CNI) Flight 0+ system has been approved for use on the IT for the 21st Century (IT-21) network by the US Navy's Network Warfare Command. The CNI's advanced displays allow watch officers to view and manipulate Link 16 tactical data and access a variety of tools and software applications from one display rather than several stand-alone, stove-piped systems. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, developed CNI.

Comprising a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) processor and software suite, CNI integrates multiple-source data into a real-time tactical picture. CNI's use of an open architecture and the Navy's rapid capability-insertion process ensures that increased capability is incorporated into a ship's existing command-and-control system quickly, through frequent software upgrade cycles.

CNI has been developed in a series of "flights." Deployment of each new flight inserts additional tactical capability and improves the user interface without incurring the high costs associated with dismantling and reinstalling an entire system. General Dynamics incorporates feedback from fleet users with each flight, ensuring warfighter-driven improvements are included.

CNI Flight 0+ is currently installed on USS Kearsarge and USS Bataan. Upgraded installations are planned for USS Boxer, USS Bonhomme Richard and USS Essex, which currently use CNI.

Originally given an interim authority to operate (IATO), CNI is now approved for the final certification of the CNI Flight 0+ system with an authority to operate (ATO), with no restrictions on the operations or length of operations.

Source: General Dynamics