NAVSEA To Move Aggressively Forward With Open Architecture

By OTTO KREISHER, Special Correspondent

In a major step forward in its aggressive program to inject open architecture into the Navy’s combat systems, U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) plans to hold a competition this summer that could break the hold Lockheed Martin has had on the Aegis combat system.

NAVSEA will hold an industry day later this month and is expected to release a request for proposals in June for Advance Capability Build 14 (ACB 14), the next evolution in its systematic improvements in the capabilities of Aegis and other combat systems, Chris Deegan, executive director for the Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems at NAVSEA, said May 3 during a briefing at the NAVSEA booth at the Sea-Air-Space Exposition at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center.

Deegan said the winner of the ACB 14 competition “would touch source code” for the Aegis combat system, which was developed by Lockheed.

That would fulfill one of the objectives of the open architecture program - which facilitates adding, upgrading and swapping computer software and hardware components - to increase competition for the Navy’s technology programs. The other key goals of the OA program are to reduce cost and increase combat capabilities.

“What we’re not doing is open architecture for open architecture’s sake,” Deegan said.