General Dynamics to build more combat operations centers

General Dynamics C4 Systems will produce 24 combat operations centers for the Marine Corps under a $54 million contract modification.

Combat operations centers are a network of workstations and servers that support tactical data systems and other mission-critical software, voice, data and voice-over-IP communications, company officials said Dec. 2. The centers will support command and control functions for Marines deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. The centers also support pre-deployment training at locations in the United States.

The award modifies a contract General Dynamics won in 2002. The total value of that contract is now $741 million, company officials said.

The new combat operations centers will have technology upgrades for greater command, control and communications interoperability that deliver improved networked communication among Marine Corps and joint command-and-control systems, the officials said.

The Marines currently have 295 combat operations centers that support pre-deployment training and operations at the battalion, squadron, regiment, group and Marine Expeditionary Brigade levels in Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries.

Tents, trailers, radios, and power-generation and other tactical hardware integrate with each center for a single-system command-and-control capability.

General Dynamics C4 Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics, of Falls Church, Va. The parent company ranks No. 4 on Washington Technology's 2009 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.