The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD),
Defense Acquisition Executive today presented a Fleet Ballistic Missile
(FBM) TRIDENT Open System Architecture Team with an award for outstanding
achievement in acquisition reform.
Each year, the Defense Acquisition Executive (DAE) presents a Certificate of
Achievement to individuals, groups, and teams such as Integrated Product
Teams (IPT), Process Action Teams, Working level IPTs and Overarching IPTs,
that have made exceptional contributions to improving life cycle costs
and/or the Department’s acquisition system through innovative acquisition
management techniques. The TRIDENT Open System Architecture Team was
presented with the award as part of the DOD’s Acquisition and Logistics
Reform Week 2001.
“Lockheed Martin is proud to support the government’s acquisition reform
efforts and we are honored to be part of this important recognition,” said
Tom Morton, vice president, strategic missile programs for Lockheed Martin
Space Systems Co., Missiles & Space Operations. “The TRIDENT Open System
Architecture Team demonstrated a remarkable ability to draw upon a wide
range of commercial technologies which ultimately reduced total ownership
costs for the government. Congratulations to the entire team on a job well
done!”
In 1995, the Navy FBM system program manager, Strategic Systems Programs
(SSP), faced several critical challenges for the deployed TRIDENT II (D5)
Strategic Weapon System (SWS) including affordability and viability issues
such as rising operation & maintenance costs, technology obsolescence,
legacy parts availability and extended system life requirements. These
challenges threatened the acquisition command’s ability to adequately
support the shipboard SWS over its 44-year operating life, particularly with
the high reliability and stringent nuclear safety requirements placed on
this strategic deterrent system.
At the time, the SWS had six subsystems, each consisting of
contractor-developed custom printed wiring assemblies, software and Navy
Standard Electronic Modules (SEMs). To reduce life-cycle costs, SSP formed
an Overarching Integrated Product Team (OIPT) comprised of Lockheed Martin,
government and other industry partners, to begin transforming the legacy SWS
from its unique mil-spec design, to a Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) based
open system architecture design.
The Team used proven integrated product and process development techniques
and leveraged private sector COTS development to successfully reengineer the
shipboard portion of the SWS. The new open system architecture enables
regular system architecture enhancements with the insertion of new
commercial technology without requiring another major system redesign. This
successful effort allowed the Navy to avoid the enormous costs to operate &
maintain obsolete and unique legacy equipment without impact to system
performance or nuclear safety.
“Over a five year period, the TRIDENT Open Systems Architecture Team
increased Commercial-Off-The-Shelf products as a percent of parts to 60%,
attained a 75% parts count reduction, a 50% development cycle time
reduction, and a cost avoidance of $1.2 billion”, said Paul Schneider,
former acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Research, Development and
Acquisition. “Their significant contributions in best acquisition practices,
innovation, and exceptional reduction in life cycle costs have enhanced the
continuing improvement of acquisition reform within the Department of the
Navy.”
The first of these new “Open Systems” is currently being installed aboard
the USS ALASKA (SSBN 732) as she undergoes overhaul and conversion to
TRIDENT II capability at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The other 13 TRIDENT II
SSBNs will also be outfitted with the redesigned system when they are
overhauled, and eventually, the entire 14 ship TRIDENT II D5 strategic
submarine force will be outfitted with the new system.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Missiles & Space Operations and Lockheed
Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems-Undersea Systems, Mitchel
Field, NJ were both members of the team, as well as Navy SSP. Other members
include Space & Warfare (SPAWAR) System Center San Diego, General Dynamics
Defense Systems (GDDS), Naval Sea System Command (NAVSEA), Defense Contract
Management Agency (DCMA), Boeing North American, Dynamics Research Corp.,
EG&G, Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane, Naval Surface Warfare
Center-Dalhgren Division.
The Navy selected Lockheed Martin Space Systems operations in Sunnyvale,
Calif. as its prime missile contractor and missile system manager in 1955.
Since then, the Lockheed Martin team has designed, developed, produced and
supported six successive generations of FBM- POLARIS (A1), POLARIS (A2),
POLARIS (A3), POSEIDON (C3), TRIDENT I (C4) and TRIDENT II (D5).
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, headquartered in Denver, Colo., is
one of the major operating units of the world’s largest defense contractor,
Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT). Space Systems is a global leader
in the design, development, test and production of space launch systems,
ground systems, scientific spacecraft, satellites for commercial and
government customers, fleet ballistic missiles and missile defense systems.
Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin is a global enterprise
principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and
integration of advanced-technology systems, products and services. The
Corporation’s core businesses are systems integration, space, aeronautics,
and technology services. Lockheed Martin had 2000 sales surpassing $25
billion.
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For more information about Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Missiles &
Space Operations, see our website at http://lmms.external.lmco.com/
Oct. 2001
01-84
