Lockheed Upgrades US Submarine Acoustics Under A-RCI Program
A-RCI is a sonar system upgrade installed on the USA's entire submarine fleet, including SSN-688 Los Angeles & SSN-688I Improved Los Angeles Class, SSN-21 Seawolf Class, SSN-744 Virginia Class, SSBN-726 Ohio Class nuclear missile boats, and the pending SSGN Tactical Trident special ops and strike subs.

By sharply upgrading ship sensor processing, it integrates and improves the boat's towed array, hull array and sphere array sonars, running more advanced algorithms and providing a fuller "picture" of the surrounding environment. Sometimes, it really is all about what you can do with it.

DID adds a bit more explanation of exactly what A-RCI entails and where its benefits were focused; then we'll go on to cover contracts placed under the A-RCI program in 2006.

A-RCI: Specifics & Benefits

The Acoustic - Rapid Commercial off-the-shelf Insertion (A-RCI) AN/BQQ-10(V) Sonar System was actually initiated as Engineering Change 1000 to the AN/BSY-1 Combat System on SSN-688I improved Los Angeles Class submarines. The concept doesn't replace the existing AN/BSY-1, AN/BQQ-5, and AN/BQQ-6 sensors - instead, it replaces central processors with modernized COTS personal computer technology and software installed in an open architecture. A-RCI efforts include interfaces to the legacy systems; signal processing enhancements; display enhancements; and incorporation of Government Furnished Information (GFI) algorithms.

According to GlobalSecurity.org, these improvements provide expanded capabilities, particularly in littoral waters, for covert intelligence collection and surveillance, and covert insertion and support of Special Forces. This is especially apropos for both the SSGN Tactical Trident special operations subs and the Virginia class, which also has special forces insertion capabilities. Expanded capabilities for anti-submarine warfare were focused on diesel-electric submarines, covert mining, and covert strike of targets ashore. Again, covert strikes of targets ashore is also a prominent part of the SSGN and Virginia Class' missions.

Submarines with improved sensors, of course, like the new SSN-21 Seawolf and SSN-744 Virginia Class boats, will realize even greater benefits from having more computing power available in a more easily-upgradeable architecture.

Moore's Law matters - according to the US Navy, a single A-RCI Multi-Purpose Processor (MPP) has as much computing power as the entire legacy Los Angeles Class (SSN-688/688I) submarine fleet combined, and allows the development and use of complex algorithms previously beyond the reach of legacy processors. Specific software improvements included passive ranging, spatial vernier processing, full spectrum processing, dual towed array concurrent processing, low frequency active interference rejection, passive broadband, passive narrowband and passive detection and tracking processing, track management, on-board training, and port/starboard ambiguity resolution.

A-RCI's open architecture confers other advantages as well, notably the capacity for faster, more economical, and more frequent hardware and/or software upgrades. The program expanded to provide improvements that could be back-fit into all nuclear attack (SSN) and ballistic missile (SSBN) submarines, totaling over 60 ship sets. The system is now known formally as the AN/BQQ-10 (V) Sonar, and has gone through four phases.

A-RCI: FY 2006 Contracts

Unless specified otherwise, A-RCI related contracts or cost-plus incentive-fee/award-fee modifications are issued to Lockheed Martin Corp. Maritime Systems and Sensors in Manassas, VA by The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C. (N00024-04-C-6207). Work on these will be performed in Manassas, VA (44%); Portsmouth, RI (26%); Clearwater, FL (17%); Chantilly, VA (4%); Syracuse, NY (3%); Chelmsford, MA (2%); St. Louis, MO (2%); and Houston, TX (2%).

Jan 31/06: A $28.9 million modification for production of sonar upgrade spares kits and sonar system for SSGN Class Tactical Trident (2 systems) and SSN 774 Virginia Class (1 system and advance orders for another 2), respectively. Lockheed Martin will produce two AN/BQQ-10(V) sonar system spares for SSGN Tactical Trident submarines, plus one full AN/BQQ-10(V4) system and economic order quantity material for two more for SSN-774 Virginia Class submarines. Work is expected to be complete by March 2008.

Feb 27/06: A $21 million modification will produce seven AN/BQQ-10(V) sonar systems (including related spares and precable kits) for SSBN-726 Ohio Class missile submarines USS Nebraska [SSBN 739] & USS Maine [SSBN 741]; the SSN-688-VLS Los Angeles Class attack sub USS Newport News [SSN 750]; and the SSN-688I Improved Los Angeles Class attack subs USS Scranton [SSN 756], USS Asheville [SSN 758], USS Springfield [SSN 761] and USS Columbia [SSN 771]. Work is expected to be complete by March 2008.

Feb 27/06: A $12 million modification for 11 Non-SSGN and two SSGN Executive Workstations (EWS) respectively under ARCI program. EWS are network connected remote displays installed in commanding officer and executive officer staterooms and wardrooms to support remote displaying of tactical data and data management. EWS are used in combat control upgrades and are installed on most submarine classes. This modification also provides funding for continuation of engineering services for A-RCI. Work will be complete by March 2008.