Sierra Nevada takes contract to integrate SOCOM systems

Sierra Nevada Corp. has won a $183 million, sole-source contract to provide engineering and integration support for a U.S. Special Operations Command effort to integrate systems aboard their aircraft.

The goal is a systems of systems where the different systems can communicate and provide more synchronized feedback to users.

In 2018, SOCOM and its Sofwerx organization began working together on the concept of unified Integrated Tactical Mission Systems. One goal was looking at the systems installed on the MC/AC-130 aircraft.

SOCOM was challenged by increasing and more complex mission requirements. They also knew they had to keep air crews at current levels or even reduce the size of the crews. With Sofwerx, the command began looking at capability gaps, interfaces and end-state requirements.

They set a goal that the Integrated Tactical Mission System would in bring together at least five systems tied to mission planning and survivability of the aircraft.

The sole-source contract with Sierra Nevada was awarded following Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302.1.