Navy looks to Progeny Systems to stave-off obsolescence in undersea warfare embedded computing
WASHINGTON – U.S. Navy undersea warfare experts needed open-architecture embedded computing hardware and software to help mitigate obsolescence issues in submarine and undersea warfare weapons systems. They found their solution from Progeny Systems Corp. in Manassas, Va.
Officials of the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington announced a potential $92 million contract to Progeny Systems on Friday for software development, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and software, and systems integration for submarine and undersea warfare weapons systems.
Progeny Systems engineers will provide these goods and services as necessary to resolve COTS obsolescence and technical issues that influence physical or electronic interfaces on Navy submarines and undersea warfare systems.
Hardware and software obsolescence can threaten to invalidate a variety of existing technical certifications, Navy officials say. These certifications involve weapon systems safety, ship control safety of flight, live fire shock, and information assurance accreditation.
Many of today’s weapons systems are obsolete and cannot support changes necessary to adapt to new threats, Progeny officials say. Solutions to obsolescence typically involve replacing rather than modifying the existing system, which is an expensive option.
Yet modern high-density systems can migrate reasonably to higher-performance like-technology components, as long as the base architectures have not changed. Systems designers can minimize this migration effort by applying discipline to development -- even for systems that differ architecturally.
Progeny Systems has developed a prototype environment for integrating COTS hardware and software into embedded computing systems by providing open-architecture infrastructure components, infusion assessment and management tools, strategies, and methodologies for creating resilient system designs, company officials say.
Progeny has applied this approach to several Navy systems and architectures, such as non-tactical data processing and system automation software to support reduced manning onboard submarines; upgraded torpedo electronics for improved performance and reduced cost; submarine weapon simulators; and information-assurance products for managing classified data, officials say.
This contract involves Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) topic N96-278 called Technology Infusion Methodology for Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Based Systems. Progeny will receive $17.2 million up-front, and will fulfill for follow-on orders as necessary.
Progeny Systems will do the work on this contract in Manassas, Va.; Middletown, R.I.; and San Diego, and should be finished by June 2019. For more information contact Progeny Systems online at www.progeny.net, or Naval Sea Systems at www.navsea.navy.mil.
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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.
