Raytheon delivered the 28th Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS MK 2) hardware ship set ahead of schedule. The ship sets will be installed on new ships and will also upgrade legacy combat management systems on in-service ships, bringing them up to U.S. Navy-certified open architecture (OA) standards.

SSDS is an open, distributed combat management system in service on carriers and expeditionary warfare ships. It is designed to expedite the detect-to-engage sequence to defend against anti-ship cruise missiles. SSDS links and automates standalone sensors and weapon systems to provide the required combat reaction.

"Aligned with the Navy's surface ship refresh and life-cycle maintenance schedules, the SSDS hardware upgrades ensure that these ships return to the fleet with fully enhanced combat management capability, optimized to ensure maximum protection for the ship and its crew," said Kevin Peppe, vice president of Seapower Capability Systems for Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) business.

"The system's open design and flexibility easily support upgrades to enhance and extend the ship's capabilities - now and throughout its life."

Under the current production contract, Raytheon is responsible for the assembly, testing and delivery of hardware sets for integration onboard the Navy's amphibious assault ship LHA 7, aircraft carriers USS Truman (CVN 75) and Ford (CVN 78), the amphibious transport dock ship LPD 26, and the NAVAIR (Naval Air Systems Command) test facility.

The integrated sensor system upgrades enhance the combat management system's response time and weapons systems coordination. Hardware ship set upgrades also address commercial off-the-shelf equipment obsolescence, capitalizing on progressive commercial improvements of standard system components.

Most recently, the company was awarded a $9 million modification to the previously awarded Platform Systems Engineering Agent contract to exercise options for fiscal 2011 Ship Self-Defense System PSEA efforts. The modification funds continue SSDS pre- and post-certification/life-cycle maintenance support services, SSDS MK 2 modification for CVN 78, and SSDS MK 1 upgrade to the MK 2 OA baseline.

Raytheon's SSDS MK 2 is the first fleet use of this open architecture computing environment software that includes selected software components from the Total Ship Computing Environment Infrastructure developed for the DDG 1000-class destroyer.

The open architecture design adds a new level of flexibility and commercial standards to support the Navy's goal of open, modular and interoperable combat management systems for the fleet. With its open and modular design, SSDS can also support additional domestic and international combatants.

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