2 March 2005

DML STARTS WORK ON NEW COMBAT SYSTEM CONTRACT

DML Group has started work on the new Naval Combat System Interface Co-ordination (NCSIC) contract, following a successful bid in support of BMT Defence Services to win the competitive contract, awarded in October last year by the Warship Support Agency's AD Whole Life Support (ADWLS).

Under the NCSIC contract the team will provide combat system design change co-ordination for all UK major surface warships and submarine upgrades. This will include managing and updating combat system interface specifications, data exchange specifications and interface certificates in various media and formats, including paper and CD-Rom documentation, together with the on-line System Interface Co-ordinating Authority (SiCA) database which is published over the MoD's secure network or RLI (Restricted LAN Interconnect)

DML project manager Chris Rowley explains: "Combat systems are the complex central nervous systems of surface ships and submarines, interconnecting the various data sources, links and processing systems (command and control systems, sensors, weapons systems, and so on) required to fulfil the warship's mission.

"The interfaces between these combat system components are many and varied in complexity and it's essential when maintaining, updating and enhancing these systems that the teams, MoD staff and company engineers know the status of these interfaces and are aware of any proposed changes that could affect the equipments and systems for which they're responsible. This contract enables us to undertake a pivotal design role to co-ordinate this critical information on behalf of the MoD, to ensure seamless interoperability of all components in the integration and upgrade of future combat systems across the fleet."

The NCSIC contract replaces the previous Submarine Weapon System Engineering (SWSE) contract. BMT Defence Services had been servicing the SWSE contract for nearly ten years, and the BMT/DML bid was able to build on this experience, complemented by DML's combat system design and installation expertise giving the bid team valuable waterfront experience, to secure the NCSIC contract.

The first stage of the contract, now underway, is to review current status with a view to re-formatting data and improving publication methods.

Simon Moir, DML combat systems group manager, commented: "The joint skills set provided by ourselves working in partnership with BMT will greatly enhance the overall delivery of this service to the MoD."