Navy asks embedded computing industry to supply 83 6U VME32 circuit cards for LCAC
PANAMA CITY, Fla., 17 July 2014. U.S. Navy surface warfare experts are asking industry to supply electronic circuit cards for planned upgrades to the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) vessel that brings warfighters and supplies ashore from nearby surface ships.
Officials of the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NWSC) in Panama City, Fla., issued a solicitation this week (N61331-14-R-0032) for 6U VME32 LCAC control cards. Navy officials plan to buy as many as 83 circuit cards over the next five years for the LCAC system.
This purchase is related to the LCAC service life extension program, which seeks to keep the 1970s-era LCAC vessels fielded and in top shape at least for another 20 to 30 years.
The circuit card order is for the LCAC command, control, communications, computers, and navigation (C4N) systems, and specifically will be for the LCAC C4N Control Alarm and Monitoring System (CAMS) system.
Related: Navy chooses 6U CompactPCI single-board computers from Concurrent for LCAC C4N
Navy experts particularly are interested in purchasing craft control cards for the LCAC C4N CAMS system baseline configuration 3 (SBC3). The cards are to be built and tested to government drawings and specifications, officials say.
Navy experts plan a competitive firm-fixed-price five-year indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity (IDIQ) type contract for as many as 83 LCAC C4N CAMS SBC3 craft control cards that mount in a VME32 vertical 6U chassis.
The LCAC C4N upgrades in recent years have aimed at replacing LCAC obsolete LN-66 radars with modern, high-power P-80 radar systems, and install open-architecture electronics based on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components and subsystems.
Related: Navy looks to Aitech for embedded computing boards on LCAC amphibious landing craft
Known suppliers of LCAC rugged electronics components include Concurrent Technologies in Woburn, Mass.; Aitech Defense Systems Inc. in Chatsworth, Calif.; and Tracewell Systems in Westerville, Ohio.
Concurrent Technologies has provided 6U CompactPCI single-board computers for LCAC electronics, Aitech has provided rugged single-board computers, and Tracewell Systems has provided upgraded electronic packaging.
Related: Rackmount chassis for Navy LCAC electronics upgrades to come from Tracewell Systems
Companies interested should respond no later than 29 July 2014 to the Navy's Joel Roberson at [email protected].
For questions or concerns contact Roberson by email or by phone at 850-234-4296. More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DON/NAVSEA/N61331/N61331-14-R-0032/listing.html
John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
