General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract by the U.S. Marine Corps to produce units of the next generation Tactical Data Network (TDN)-Data Distribution System-Modular (DDS-M), a modular, scalable Internet Protocol (IP) communications and networking system. The initial award value of the contract is $130 million; it has a total potential value of $375 million if all options are exercised.
The TDN-DDS-M system enables deployed Marines to establish secure, networked voice, data, video conferencing and other communication capabilities among commanders, joint and coalition forces.'The TDN-DDS-M connects Marines to essential tactical networks wherever they deploy using advanced communication and networking technologies, at significantly reduced size, weight and power consumption than earlier versions,' said Scott Butler, a vice president of Computing Technologies for General Dynamics C4 Systems. Based on commercial-off-the-shelf equipment, the TDN DDS-M comprises routers, switches, computers, power supply and other equipment needed to access the Defense Information System Network (DISN), Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet) and Non-secure Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNet), as well as coalition and joint-forces networks. The TDN-DDS-M system is an upgraded version of the Tactical Data Network (TDN)-Data Distribution System-Replacement (DDS-R), the contract for which was first awarded to General Dynamics in November 2006. Initial deliveries of TDN-DDS-M systems are scheduled for the third quarter of 2008. The work will be done in Taunton, Mass. |
