Northrop Grumman Integrating Systems for Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Cutter

Northrop Grumman is integrated the control systems for the Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Cutters, such as the USCGC Argus, shown here. *NORTHROP GRUMMAN*

ARLINGTON, Va. — Northrop Grumman is integrating the control systems for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Cutters being built by the Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Panama City, Florida.

The systems are being readied for installation in the four cutters when they are ready to receive the systems. The company is also looking beyond to other programs, including the Navy’s DDG(X) next-generation destroyer program

Northrop Grumman is “the prime ship integrator for the OPC, amongst delivering many other capabilities to that platform, to include the navigation system, the bridge systems, the machinery control systems,” said Rudy Fernandez, director for Strategy and Business Development, Naval and Oceanic Systems, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, in an interview with Seapower. “So, we integrate all of that, plus other systems for the platform.”

Northrop Grumman has had plenty of experience integrating systems on other warships, Fernandez said, including bridge and navigation system for the Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, including the WSN-7 and WSN-12 inertial navigation systems and the machinery control systems.

“The new role for us is the system integrator role, which we really value in the partnership we have with ESG to be able to carry out that role in support of this very critical Coast Guard program,” he said.

Northrop Grumman’s Maritime Systems and Integration Operating Unit is part of its Naval and Oceanic Systems Business Unit, which is part of the Maritime Land Systems and Sensors Division in Charlottesville, Virginia. The company competed for the OPC contract as part of the Eastern Shipbuilding Group team.

Northrop Grumman built a land-based test facility and a test and integration facility in Charlottesville that is used to test equipment before it is shipped to ESG.

“Working with ESG, we’ve also been able to build a mock-up of the [OPC’s] bridge and navigation center so that we could test all the equipment that we are delivering in a much more integrated fashion before it goes on the ship itself,” Fernandez said, noting that the facility is at one of ESG’s shipyards and is helping to reduce risk in the program.

Fernandez said his company is involved in pursuing the contract for the second batch of OPCs, but he was not at liberty to discuss which builder it was teamed with, “but I can tell you we’re very anxious to see that award come through.”

He said the down-select was expected “in the near term.”

Northrop Grumman is looking at the Coast Guard’s Waterways Commerce Cutter program, but Fernandez was not free to provide any details of the company’s plans. The company also is looking at potential work of future contract awards for polar security cutters. Fernandez also said his company was “very attuned” to the Navy’s future DDG(X) program.

“DDG(X) is an exciting opportunity for us … and we’ve interacted with our customer on several occasions already to understand better where they’re going,” he said, noting Northrop Grumman already delivers the power systems for the SPY-6 radar and SLQ-32 Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program. The effort is focused on the DDG(X)’s integrated power system.

“We’ve already done a tremendous amount of risk reduction for that platform,” he said. “We’re making as a company tremendous investment in that area.”

Fernandez also said his company is very interested in developing or adapting power systems and controls for the Navy’s future unmanned surface vessels.

“That’s going to take a bit of ingenuity because automation and reliability have to come into play,” he said.