Northrop-Grumman Delivers Mobile SICP Command Posts to US Army
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Northrop Grumman Corporation recently rolled out the U.S. Army’s first two high-tech command post systems built under the Standardized Integrated Command Post System (SICPS) program. These common design, mobile, digitized command centers include advanced technologies including Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade-and-Below software (aka “Blue Force Tracker” displays) and other Army automated battlefield-command systems. SICPS are generally mounted on an expanded capacity Humvee jeep, though the standardized enclosure could be merged with other vehicles and may even be moved from one vehicle to another.
These efforts are part of a larger program.
Under an August 2004 contract valued at $400 million over five years, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is developing and fielding Army tactical command posts as part of the Command Post Platform (CPP) Project.
Northrop Grumman’s associated efforts have included special studies, vehicle platform engineering, exercise and test support, as well as working with other Army and joint program offices and government customers to realign their command post/command-and-control shelters to integrate standardized CPP capabilities. See PDF brochure for further details.
Over the next 9 months to July 2006, Northrop Grumman will build 48 mobile, modular, digitized, fully integrated command posts for fielding to the 1st Cavalry Heavy Armored Division at Fort Hood, TX. Ist Cav will deploy to Iraq again in 2006.
Following the initial 18 month contract award which ends in February 2006, Northrop Grumman has expressed the belief that the U.S. Army is likely to execute follow-on CPP options to develop command posts for Stryker Brigade Combat Teams 5 and 6. Full-rate production options, which begin in 2006 and continue through 2010, will equip the remaining Army units.
Northrop Grumman’s Information Technology sector is a significant partner on the CPP program, providing integrated logistics support, training, and integration and testing of the command-and-control components. Other program partners include Azbell Electronics in Waco, TX; Titan Corp of San Diego, CA (now L-3 Communications); Tobyhanna Army Depot in Tobyhanna, PA; Applied Minds in Glendale, CA; Natural Interactive Systems in Portland, OR; Gichner Shelter Systems in Dallastown, PA; Harris Corp of Palm Bay, FL; and Sanmina-SCI, Schafer Corp and Colsa Corporation, all of Huntsville, AL.
The CPP program is managed by the Project Manager, Tactical Operations Centers in Madison, AL, for the Program Executive Officer, Command, Control, Communications (Tactical) at Fort Monmouth, NJ. See corporate release.
