The Canadian Department of National Defence has awarded Lockheed Martin a task to begin refreshing technology in the Submarine Fire Control Systems (SFCS) deployed in Victoria class submarines.

The modernized weapon control interface will allow the Canadian Navy to easily modify the Victoria class submarines' SFCS to launch and control a mixed weapons load, including different versions of the Mk 48 torpedo.

"The work we will accomplish on Canada's Victoria class submarines is a continuation of the technology refresh process which Lockheed Martin has implemented successfully in the U.S. submarine force," said Charles A. Cantello, vice president of Sensors & Advanced Programs for Lockheed Martin Undersea Systems.

Lockheed Martin has worked with the U.S. Navy and international navies for more than 40 years to provide high-performance, affordable and supportable combat systems for nuclear and diesel electric submarines. The company pioneered the use of open systems architecture and commercial off-the-shelf equipment for its submarine combat systems integration work, already proven on the U.S. Navy's Virginia, Seawolf and Los Angeles class submarines. This open architecture enables navies to easily upgrade systems with new commercial technology and capabilities for enhanced performance at a greatly reduced cost over the life of the submarine. This approach has also been successfully applied within the Lockheed Martin proprietary SFCS installed in the Canadian Victoria class submarines.

In addition to its work for the U.S. Navy, Lockheed Martin has integrated submarine weapons control systems on 32 submarines from the United Kingdom, Australia, Greece, Egypt and India. In December 2005, Lockheed Martin received a contract to work with Navantia and other Spanish industrial leaders to develop an advanced combat system for the most modern new construction submarine program in the world, the Spanish Armada's new S-80A diesel submarine.

Drawing on Lockheed Martin's extensive experience in weapons systems integration, Navantia has also asked the company to expand its role in the development of the core combat system to include other significant elements such as the Weapon Control Unit (WCU) for the new S-80A submarine.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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http://www.lockheedmartin.com/.

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin