CANES Consolidates Afloat Networks
MIT 2009 Volume: 13 Issue: 10 (November)
Competitive Contract Program Represents the Next Generation of Navy Shipboard Networks and Computing Infrastructure.
Delivering Weapons-Grade Maritime C4I Capabilities
BAE SYSTEMS’ TEAM SOLUTION OPERATES AS A VIRTUALIZED, SECURE AND INTEGRATED SYSTEM THAT MEETS THE NAVY’S CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS.
BY JOHN DEAL
The CANES program modernizes the U.S. Navy by giving sailors the networking and computing power they enjoy at home. The BAE Systems CANES team proposed a weapons-grade maritime command, control, communications, computing, and intelligence (C4I) CANES solution to meet this need, based on a 23-month internally funded development program prior to proposal submission in early June.
During program development, BAE Systems engineers thoroughly examined the CANES architecture and developed and validated detailed functional specifications with key stakeholders and the naval fleet. After numerous simulation models were completed and examined, BAE Systems built several full-scale prototypes at the company’s new maritime C4I development center in Point Loma, Calif. Through advanced engineering methods and dedicated teamwork, the BAE Systems team applied innovative methods to ensure the efficient completion of the more than 200 CANES shipboard installations at the lowest possible cost.
Incorporating primarily COTS technology, BAE Systems’ CANES solution operates as a virtualized, secure and integrated system that meets the Navy’s current and future common computing environment and crossdomain solution needs. The BAE Systems team validated the design by loading the common PC computing environment with its Microsoft server applications and key Navy C4I programs such as the Distributed Common Ground System-Navy, or DCGS-N.
Most important, the CANES solution adopted the advanced telecommunication architecture standard for operation in rugged environments with the highest reliability, survivability, and integrated systems diagnostics and centralized backup capabilities. BAE Systems leveraged proven approaches from each team member to create a hybrid solution that significantly reduces hardware while maintaining domain separation. The entire system was designed to be operated and supported by the information systems technicians onboard the ships.
CANES will reduce total ownership costs by more than 40 percent over current systems and will provide greater operational flexibility and timeliness to support a wider range of missions including major combat operations, maritime domain awareness, and coalition-led counter-piracy operations. Instead of taking hours or days to reconfigure legacy hardware, CANES enables sailors to configure mission-specific capabilities in minutes through a centralized “missionmanagement dashboard.” This approach also gives increased visibility to the status of mission-critical C4I functions.
The BAE Systems CANES team is composed of Raytheon Company-Integrated Defense Systems, DRS C3 Systems, Hewlett Packard/Electronic Data Systems, and Sun Microsystems Federal, and 11 small-business partners (3e Technologies International, CommTech Systems, Dragon Research and Engineering, FSK Technology Services, Integrits Corp., McLaughlin Research Corp., RAM Laboratories, Referentia Systems, Shee Atika Technologies, and VeroTek Systems). The team is collocated at the BAE Systems Liberty Station facility. ♦
John Deal is vice president, Maritime C4I Programs and CANES, BAE Systems.
Extensive Experience Leads to Robust Design
ROBUST, SCALABLE SOLUTION FROM LOCKHEED MARTIN TEAM MINIMIZES SHIPBOARD SPACE AND POWER, AND THE NUMBER OF VARIANTS REQUIRED TO SUPPORT ALL PLATFORMS.
BY KAREN CONTI
The U.S. Navy is taking on one of its most challenging problems— something has plagued the service for years. Unifying afloat networks with a single, common approach will bring innovation, new technology, flexibility, agility and money savings. The first challenge, however, is to find a team with a solid and secure technical approach. Lockheed Martin believes this critical partnership with the U.S. Navy requires a team that is familiar with solving tough, challenging problems.
We have assembled a team of strong industry leaders and innovative small technology businesses. Their combined knowledge provides a low risk, cost-effective solution for the CANES program.
For more than five decades, Lockheed Martin has provided the Navy’s afloat computing systems, and has extensive experience in managing technology evolution on shipboard assets. We’re also leveraging our knowledge and experience from the Integrated Shipboard Network System (ISNS) and Q-70 programs, which have delivered more than 7,000 computing platforms across the fleet.
Our large business teammates bring specialized skills to the CANES program: General Dynamics has advanced tactical networking, cross-domain security, systems management and expertise in shipboard information technology installation; ViaSat possesses information assurance expertise; Harris Corp. brings wireless communications experience through design and development of a highly reliable, low-cost communications system; and American Systems has expertise in certification and accreditation, and information security.
We believe innovation comes from small business, so we’ve assembled a dynamic group of small businesses representing all socio-economic groups.
The team will use Lockheed Martin’s Technology Collaboration Center-West, located in Old Town San Diego, Calif., for integrating and testing the CANES systems. This center fosters and encourages small business technology development, collaboration and interface with actual Navy systems in a secure, unstructured test environment.
Lockheed Martin has spent two years modeling the requirements of all Navy platforms to develop a robust, scalable solution that minimizes shipboard space and power—and the number of variants required to support all platforms.
Our CANES design is scalable from a DDG to a CVN (or aircraft carrier), avoiding costly design efforts encountered during the transition from system design phase to low rate and full rate production. We can also assist the Navy in installing CANES on submarines and air platforms.
Lockheed Martin’s Clearwater, Fla., plant is currently producing ISNS units, and has the capacity to deliver large quantities of units required for CANES. This facility was recently named “2009 Quality Plant of the Year” by Quality Magazine.
For the CANES program, we’ve tailored the Advanced Rapid COTS Insertion (ARCI) business model and processes that were successfully implemented in support of PEO Submarines.
Using a CANES technology insertion program, Lockheed Martin can ensure the fleet receives hardware and software upgrades on a predictable, recurring cycle. We’ve also leveraged many of the support processes associated with ARCI that have significantly reduced total ownership cost of maintaining these systems over their life cycle.
Finally, Lockheed Martin has extensive experience in designing and delivering open systems. To avoid expensive redesign if a vendor fails or parts become obsolete, our CANES design is 100 percent open and 100 percent COTS.
The Lockheed Martin CANES team sees this as an exciting journey, and we look forward to supporting the Navy in this very challenging opportunity. ♦
Karen Conti is Lockheed Martin vice president, MS2.
A Vision to Support Changing Missions
BOEING TEAM’S PROPOSAL ALLOWS DATA TO BE SEAMLESSLY ACCESSED OR TRANSFERRED BETWEEN DIFFERENT SECURITY LEVELS.
CANES will ensure a common network computing environment for the entire U.S. Navy fleet, providing greater security and a more collaborative and effective war fighting capability.
“Boeing understands the Navy’s requirements and is fully committed to its vision for CANES,” said Nan Bouchard, vice president and general manager of Boeing C3 Networks. “Our proposal offers a CANES solution to the Navy that can be deployed quickly, reduces life cycle costs, and is reconfigurable to support changing missions.”
The Boeing proposal enables the Navy to deploy an innovative, low-cost, cross-domain solution that allows data to be seamlessly accessed or transferred between different security levels. Boeing’s IT-related experience includes managing one of the world’s largest global networks that securely connects employees, customers, partners and suppliers worldwide, and developing open architecture and battlespace networking solutions for the U.S. military.
“Our experienced team is ready to provide this important capability to the U.S. Navy,” added Bouchard.
Lessons Learned for a Superior Solution
THE MOST SEAWORTHY FLEETWIDE NETWORK COMES FROM FLEETWIDE EXPERIENCE, SAYS NORTHROP GRUMMAN-LED TEAM.
BY MIKE TWYMAN
The goal of CANES is to consolidate and replace numerous legacy systems and deliver an open, common network to every ship, submarine and shore-based command and control center in the Navy. A subprogram of CANES, Afloat Core Services, decouples development of software so that it is modular, reusable and interoperable and can be updated more quickly and frequently.Mp> The approach of the Northrop Grumman team focuses on providing the required C4ISR capabilities at minimal total ownership cost. Northrop Grumman examined the lessons learned from first- and secondgeneration Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) business processes and found that the true benefits of MOSA had not been realized due to COTS product and prime contractor “lock-in.”
A principal driver of vendor “lock-in” occurs due to not validating the vendor-neutral nature of MOSA interfaces. This analysis is supported by a Senate finding relative to current Navy combat systems. Northrop Grumman applied these lessons learned in developing our CANES solution to yield a technically and financially superior solution.Mp> Over the past three years, Northrop Grumman leveraged our in-depth knowledge and domain experience across the Navy, from building all classes of ships to fielding the majority of the Navy’s C4ISR applications, to perform a comprehensive systems analysis and prototype validation to design our CANES solution. Additionally, we forged a formidable team with our major teammate IBM Global Services, an industry leader in networks, computing and commercial best practices in IT service management, as well as the small and disadvantaged businesses on the Northrop Grumman team, which are distinguished by their special skills and track records of innovation.
The Navy’s acquisition strategy is innovative, in that it requires the prime contractor to be responsible for the system design, production and installation. This strategy ensures the total cost of the system is minimized. Our systems engineering process integrates the team’s networking, C4ISR, cyber-security, shipbuilding and ship installation expertise to provide an offering that achieves program objectives.
Working together with the Navy, Northrop Grumman is confident its team will develop CANES solutions to support the warfighter’s mission requirements today and in the future. ♦
Michael Twyman is vice president for Integrated Command and Control Systems at Northrop Grumman Corporation.
