Boeing and SAIC as the Future Combat Systems (FCS) Lead Systems Integrator (LSI) has awarded a General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems and Rockwell Collins team a $154 million contract modification to accelerate technology development of the Integrate Computer System (ICS).

The ICS is the common computing environment for 17 of the 18 platforms in the FCS family of systems. ICS will be integrated into the current US Army's force and subsequently into the FCS systems. Adding this modification contract the total ICS contract value now stands at $429 million.

This contract modification will allow to get ready the first ICS to years earlier than originally planned. The industry team expects to deliver the first prototype FCS ICS in January 2007. ICS will begin integration into current force's Abrams battle tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles, Humvees and Strykers in 2008. FCS Unit of Action will deploy the ICS beginning in 2014.

FCS uses a groundbreaking system-of-systems approach that brings advanced technologies together to help create an agile Unit of Action. The ICS integrates a wide range of traditionally independent or stove-piped computing applications into a single, integrated, secure processing environment. This provides the FCS-equipped Units of Action with unprecedented processing, networking, data storage and information assurance capabilities.

Deagel
30.04.2005
www.deagel.com