$215.6M for Trident II Missile-Related Contracts
(click to view full)
Carried on SSBN-726 Ohio Class submarines, The Trident II D-5 is the US Navy’s submarine launched nuclear missile, with exceptional range for a sea-launched weapon and accuracy figures that rival or even exceed land-based ICBMs. These missiles are arguably the most important and effective component of the US nuclear deterrent, and they constitute Britain’s entire nuclear deterrent as well.
The US Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs in Washington, DC has issued a number of contracts recently related to the Trident II D-5 SLBMs, totaling $215.6 million. DID has grouped them all into this post, using subheadings. Readers may also note that none of these efforts were competitively procured. Mind you, “built by the lowest bidder” may not be an overly comforting thought in this particular area…
UPDATE: DID will start by noting the larger context for these efforts, which are tied in with a life extension program for the Ohio Class SSBN submarines and therefore the Trident II D-5 missiles they carry. The 1980s guidance systems and electronics need replacing and/or upgrades, and more missiles will be needed to keep enough in service for the fleet. A subsequent DID article offers a more in-depth briefing re: those life extension efforts.
$14.2M to Boeing for D-5 Gyro Navigator Design & Test
The Boeing Co. in Anaheim, CA received a $14.2 million cost-plus-incentive-fee letter contract to provide for TRIDENT II Subsystem Fiber Optic Gyro Navigator Design Investigations and Test System Design. Work will be performed in Anaheim, CA and is expected to be complete by October 2007. The contract was not competitively procured (N00030-05-C-0063).
$8.3M to GD for Weapon Control System Support & Repair
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems (GDAIS) in Pittsfield, MA received an $8.3 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract to provide TRIDENT II weapon control systems operational support and weapon control system repair and return. Work will be performed in Pittsfield, Mass., and is expected to be complete by September 2006. Contract funds in the amount of $4 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was not competitively procured. The Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00030-05-C-0051).
$62.5M to BAE for Special Technical Investigations
BAE Systems Applied Technologies Inc., Rockville, MD is being awarded a $62.5 million cost plus fixed fee and cost-plus incentive-fee-of-effort contract. This contract provides for System Integration Support for the TRIDENT II D-5 Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) Program in implementing interface control programs and performing special technical investigations such as the following:
# Modify and update system test procedures;
# Perform configuration management and alteration control via documentation, drawings and technical manuals;
# Provide logistics, engineering and material control support; and
# Provide maintenance support data system installation and support for the strategic weapon system, including materials.
The contract also contains option effort to plan for and participate in strategic weapon system testing during submarine overhaul, refit and backfit; and to provide
- Tomahawk Land Attack Missile-Nuclear (TLAM-N) support
- Advanced Systems’ Studies
- Strategic Weapon System Underwater Launch Technology Sustainment
- TRIDENT II (D5) Life Extension Systems Engineering, and
- TRIDENT Submarine Operation and Employment Studies.
Work will be performed in Rockville, MD (78.58%), Kings Bay, GA (11.78%); Mechanicsburg, PA (2.83%); San Diego, CA (5.96%), and Bangor, WA (0.85%); and and is expected to be complete by September 2006. Contract funds in the amount of $44.6 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year (N00030-06-C-0006).
$130.6M for Trident II Missile Guidance Support & Improvement
The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory (CSDL) in Cambridge, MA received $130.6 million cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract, elements of which will also be subcontracted out to various other firms. The contract encompasses the following efforts:
- Providing tactical engineering support (TES) for the U.S. and U.K. MK-6 Guidance System
- Providing tactical engineering support (TES) for the TRIDENT II D-5’s Guidance System Test Equipment
- Providing tactical engineering support for investigation, evaluation, and development of Strategic Programs Alteration (SPALT) plans and/or special studies for the MK-6 Guidance System.
The Guidance Applications Support effort includes development of a computer based Integrated Engineering Environment (IEE), and development of an open-architecture Strategic Inertial Guidance Hardware Technology Synthesizer supporting the evaluation of replacement guidance technologies. It also includes engineering studies addressing specific features of current instruments, alternate technologies for accelerometer and gyro scope technology; and monitoring radiation-hardened electronics technology.
CSDL will subcontract to the following companies:
- Dynamics Research Corp. (DRC) in Andover MA to maintain and operate the centralized engineering database for the MK-6 guidance system, and perform various product improvement tasks related to the MK-6 guidance system test equipment;
- General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems (GDAIS) in Pittsfield MA, to provide field-engineering support at Strategic Weapons Facility Atlantic and Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific;
- Raytheon Company Electronics Systems Division in El Segundo, CA to provide test equipment maintenance and support, fleet support, stellar camera development, and electronic factory support;
- Honeywell International, Inc. in Clearwater, FL, to provide storage assessment testing on TRIDENT guidance systems inertial instruments; and
- Litton Systems, Inc. in Woodland Hills, CA, to provide for the development of the alternate pendulous integrating accelerometer.
CSDL’s work will be performed in Cambridge, MA, and work on this contract is expected to be complete in September 2006. Contract funds in the amount of $73.7 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year (N000-30-06-C-0003).
