Raytheon awarded CIIF contract

Raytheon will carry out work to improve interconnective networking technologies under an $11.8 million contract from the US Office of Naval Research announced on 14 March.

The networking technologies will enable greater sensor interconnectivity and enhance integrated fires capabilities for naval operations. Known as Communications and Interoperability for Integrated Fires (CIIF), this will advance situational awareness for force-wide integrated air and missile defence. New and existing ships, aircraft, UAVs and expeditionary forces will communicate and share critical information across data links. These links connect one platform to another via radio frequency to transmit and receive digital information.

According to Raytheon, CIIF will leverage existing and planned sensor networking systems deployed onboard naval ships and aircraft, and in US Marine Corps expeditionary systems and land-based test sites. CIIF will provide a greater information flow of integrated fires data supporting higher fidelity situational awareness and data dissemination capability across the battle force.

Colin Whelan, vice president of advanced technology at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, said: 'CIIF brings the navy closer to full spectrum awareness and supports distributed lethality. Battlefield commanders need instant access to as much information as possible to protect critical assets and save lives. CIIF ties together that information – from land, sea and air-based sensors, across the services – in ways never before possible.'