INDUSTRY INTERVIEW
U.S. Coast Guard Forum
Bob Montgomery Director for Homeland Security Programs L-3 Communication Systems - East Bob Montgomery is director for Homeland Security Programs at L-3 Communication Systems-East. His responsibilities include complete business management for the systems architecture, design, development, production, and integration for communications capabilities for all new surface ships and shore-based command centers across various programs, which range from the U.S. Coast Guard to the state and local emergency operation centers. Q: What types of systems are you providing for the Coast Guard, and what platforms are they on? A: L-3 provides the integrated communications systems and overall C4ISR integration for new surface ships, which include the national security cutter [NSC] and the fast response cutter [FRC]. At the core of these systems are the L-3 MarCom Integrated Communications System and the L-3 Symphony Automated Communications Manager. We also integrate the Coast Guard’s “SeaWatch” command and control system on the FRC. Q: What other military and government customers use this technology? A: L-3’s integrated technology is featured on a number of U.S. Navy platforms including LPD-17 Class amphibious ships, Virginia Class submarines, and Aegis cruisers and destroyers. Internationally, L-3’s communication systems are on the Royal Australian Navy’s LHDs, Egyptian Navy fast missile craft, Royal New Zealand Navy ANZAC frigates and other platforms. Most recently, L-3 CS-East was selected as communications system supplier on Textron’s team for the U.S. Navy’s ship-to-shore connector program. Q: What unique benefits does your company provide its customers in comparison to other companies in your field? 28 | CGF 4.4
A: L-3 has been supplying maritime communications solutions for over 40 years. That experience has led us to develop MarCom and Symphony, which form the core technology used to implement a complete integrated solution. The technology is vendor agnostic, which allows us to provide the best solution to each customer based on their requirements. Our solutions provide major benefits for our customer stakeholders, including shipbuilder efficiency, crew reduction, and streamlined training and logistics. Another benefit we provide our customers is our secure communications and information assurance expertise, which allows us to address TEMPEST, certification and accreditation, NVR, and ABS requirements into our solutions upfront, reducing risk early in the program. Q: What is the status of your current Coast Guard programs? A: L-3 has delivered the first 11 C4ISR systems to Bollinger Shipyards for the FRC program, all ahead of schedule. Bollinger has delivered the first four ships to date. The Bollinger/L-3 team plans to deliver a new ship every quarter for the next several years, with the potential to ramp up to six ships per year in 2015. L-3 has received additional work on the program since the start, including all the electronics installation on the ships, which includes antenna installation and
integration on the mast through video camera and speaker installations below deck. L-3 also provides C4ISR training to each crew prior to them going on the ship, enabling the crew to become fully operational much faster when taking ownership of the ship. The Coast Guard feels the C4ISR system on the FRC adds formidable operational advantages, and in some respects surpasses other major cutters currently at sea. The Coast Guard calls the FRC a “game-changer,” with the impressive C4ISR suite fully integrating with the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security’s tactical voice, data and networking systems. L-3 provides the integrated communications for the national security cutter, with four systems delivered to date, and the fifth system in production. The first three NSCs are commissioned and at sea, performing critical missions throughout the world. L-3 also provides the MarCom Integrated Communications System for the USCG command center in Miami. We have also delivered an additional eight MarCom systems to the USCG to support future command center upgrades. Q: What future programs and opportunities is L-3 working on? A: L-3 is working extremely hard on the offshore patrol cutter [OPC] acquisition program, the largest acquisition in Coast Guard history. We are working with a number of shipyards in becoming their C4ISR teammate, highlighting the commonality benefits and streamlined logistics provided by the FRC and NSC platforms. We are the ideal C4ISR partner for the shipyards due to our experience as the only company that has integrated the USCG SeaWatch command and control system, currently on the FRC and specified on the OPC, as well as our experience and performance in TEMPEST, information assurance, and ABS requirements. O www.CGF-kmi.com