Navy P-8A to get open systems architecture upgrade from Raytheon
NewsFebruary 17, 2015
MCKINNEY, Texas. Raytheon engineers will be providing a flexible, application-based architecture (ABA) enhancement for the U.S. Navy's P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft under a $15.5 million system development contract.
The Navy wants the upgrade to enable their mission commanders on the P-8A to be able to rapidly field new or enhanced capabilities via third-party software applications.
"The goal is to use readily available technology to quickly upgrade the P-8A's warfighting capability," says Jerry Powlen, Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems' vice president of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems.
Raytheon engineers will provide two prototype ABA systems, that leverage airborne COTS computing, services-oriented architecture and infrastructure; and software-based mission applications.
This open systems architecture can also easily be used for other domestic and international users who want to affordably enhance their airborne platforms, Powlen says.
The work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be completed by March 2017. The contract alos positions Raytheon for the engineering and manufacturing development phase that is scheduled for 2017.
Raytheon's open system architecture team includes Northrop Grumman Information Systems, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, L-3 Communications ComCept, and Rite Solutions, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business.
