Boeing Awarded Navy Communications Network Design Services Contract

(Huntington Beach, Calif., July 6, 2009) -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a U.S. Navy contract valued at $42.9 million including options to continue providing communications network design and technical engineering services on guided missile destroyers.

The sole-source contract supports the AN/USQ-82 (V) Gigabit Ethernet and Fiber Optic Data Multiplex System (GEDMS / FODMS) program and is a five-year cost-plus, fixed-fee term contract. It is part of the Navy's effort to build, operate and modernize the DDG-51 class guided missile destroyers. GEDMS also is included in the Aegis weapon system package for various foreign navies.

"Boeing has worked with its Navy customer for more than 35 years to upgrade and enhance mission-critical information-transfer systems, ensuring major shipboard systems can communicate with each other," said Jay Nieto, Boeing GEDMS program manager. "This flexible, cost-effective network provides optimal shipboard control and provides the Navy with a system architecture that allows ships to introduce network-centric control systems gracefully and with minimal risk, because the migration does not necessitate wholesale replacement of equipment."

Under the contract, Boeing will continue to enhance data multiplex system (DMS) networks, manage engineering changes, update technical documentation, and develop interface design documents for new and refurbished ships. Boeing also will provide installation support, system configuration management, and land-based test sites and facilities for support operations.

Boeing has developed a complete information-transfer system that enhances reliability, maintainability and survivability by managing data from the ship's navigation, steering-control, damage-control, machinery-control, combat and internal communications systems. The DMS network design replaces the miles of point-to-point cables, signal converters, junction boxes and switchboards associated with conventional cabling on a guided missile destroyer.

Source : The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) - click here for more information