Lockheed, General Dynamics move ahead on WIN-T
The Army selected Lockheed Martin Corp. and General Dynamics Corp. for the initial phases of its multibillion dollar Warfighter Information Network-Tactical program.
The Army selected Lockheed Martin Corp. and General Dynamics Corp. for the initial phases of its multibillion dollar Warfighter Information Network-Tactical program, the Army announced Aug. 9.
The Lockheed Martin award is worth $74.8 million, while General Dynamics' award is worth $72.3 million. The two companies estimate the entire program will be worth between $6 billion and $7 billion.
A team led by TRW Inc. of Cleveland bid on the contract but was not chosen.
WIN-T is the Army's next-generation warfighting communications system, integrating a high-speed, high-capacity communications network to provide battlefield situational awareness on the move and giving commanders new abilities to synchronize combat forces.
In phase one, over the next 12 months Lockheed Martin, Bethesda, Md., and General Dynamics, Falls Church, Va., will define and document the architecture for WIN-T. This focuses on risk management, technology readiness and coordination with other Army transformation programs under way, such as the Future Combat System being developed by the Boeing Co., Chicago.
For phase two, which will last for 23 months, the teams will develop and deliver prototype hardware and software systems for testing by Army users. After phase two, the Army likely will select one of the two companies to begin initial, low-rate production.
"We're now a player in one of the most vital things the Army has done in its history, and that's transformation," said David Kelley, Lockheed Martin's WIN-T program executive. "We think we can leverage our technology, our systems integration skills. [We] think we can bring something to the table."
Both companies have assembled teams to work the project that comprise a veritable who's who of the government information technology industry. Joining Lockheed in its efforts are Harris Corp., Melbourne, Fla.; Cisco Systems Inc., San Jose, Calif.; Affiliated Computer Services Inc., Dallas; SRI International, Menlo Park, Calif.; CACI International Inc., Arlington, Va.; Innovative Logistics Techniques Inc., McLean, Va.; and Integrated Solutions Inc., Holmdel, N.J.
The General Dynamics team includes three of the company's business units, C4 Systems, Decision Systems and Land Systems; BAE Systems, Farnborough, England; BBN Technologies, Cambridge, Mass., a owned subsidiary of Verizon Communications Inc., New York; DynCorp, Reston, Va.; Laguna Industries Inc., Laguna, N.M.; Log.Sec Corp., Warrenton, Va.; Micro Analysis & Design Inc., Boulder, Colo.; Northrop Grumman Information Technology-Defense Mission Systems, Herndon, Va.; Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa; RTI International, Research Triangle Park, N.C.; Solers Inc., Arlington, Va.; Scientific Research Corp., Atlanta; Veridian Corp., Arlington, Va.; and Xetron Corp., Cincinnati.