Single-board computers for Navy next-generation Vertical Launch System

U.S. Navy officials are choosing Dynamics Research Corp. (DRC) in Andover, Mass., to supply embedded computing board products for the MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS), Next Generation (NG-2) equipment and to perform environmental testing, Navy officials announced Tuesday.

DRC will supply 10 single-board computer circuit card assemblies, 30 video circuit card assemblies, and 44 transition modules for the next-generation VLS system under terms of a contract that the company will negotiate with the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Philadelphia Site.

Although Navy officials intend to negotiate a sole-source contract for the circuit card assemblies with DRC, interested companies may communicate their interest and capabilities, or submit proposals within the next 30 days. Send written proposals to the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division Philadelphia Office, 5001 South Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19112-1403, Attn: Anthony V. Ricciardi, Code 3353.

The MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS), built by the Lockheed Martin Corp. Naval Mission Systems and Sensors (MS2) Marine Systems unit in Baltimore, is a standard in shipborne missile launching system that fires missiles for anti-air warfare, antisubmarine warfare, ship self-defense, strike warfare, and anti-surface warfare.

The Navy deploys MK 41 VLS on AEGIS-equipped Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Spruance- and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and will use this system aboard next-generation surface warships to fire munitions such as the Standard Missile, Tomahawk missile, and Evolved SeaSparrow Missiles (ESSMs).

VLS is able to fire missiles quickly from canisters against hostile threats. The missile launcher consists of an eight-cell missile module able to launch missiles used against hostile aircraft, missiles and surface units. The Mk 25 Quad-Pack enables the system to store and fire four ESSMs in a canister space that normally contains one missile.