Common Link Processing System Development Underway

Northrop Grumman, RESTON: Northrop Grumman Corporation has been selected by the U.S. Navy to develop the common link integration processing (CLIP) system. A joint U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy initiative, CLIP is a software package that will allow existing platforms without a tactical data link, as well as platforms with different data links, to communicate with each other.  
 
The Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command awarded the contract on behalf of its organizational partner, the Navy's Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence and Space. The $25.4 million contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman's Mission Systems sector and contains options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $122 million through January 2007.  
 
CLIP will enable any weapon system from any U.S. military service and many allied nations to use common communications software, eliminating interoperability problems. It can be used with any operating system and tailored to the specific needs of any weapon system. In addition, this system is expected to save the armed forces hundreds of millions of dollars in installation, integration and sustainment costs, and to substantially reduce platform development costs.  
 
“This Internet protocol-enabled system will be the critical enabler for interfacing weapon systems to the global information grid,” said Mike Twyman, vice president of Northrop Grumman Mission Systems sector's Communication and Information Systems business unit. “We proposed a scalable, innovative architecture for implementing CLIP requirements. The old paradigm of developing unique software to interface each platform to the network is over.”  
 
Northrop Grumman will support SPAWAR's effort to ensure end-to-end performance of the joint battle management command-and-control capability. The company will also work as part of each warfighting unit's integration team to incorporate the CLIP functionality into each weapon system.  
 
“We have extensive experience developing message standards and test systems that ensure interoperability among data-link systems, and we are eager to bring that experience to the CLIP program,” said Barry Rhine, vice president and general manager of the sector's Defense Mission Systems unit. “Our team balances expertise in data-link processing, communication systems and platform integration to provide unique capability to this program.”  
 
Northrop Grumman will integrate CLIP with existing computer programs on each weapon system. The CLIP program will operate within multiple computing environments, complying with network-enterprise service-interoperability standards and joint tactical radio system software communications architecture. Northrop Grumman will expand the CLIP design framework through four increments to include wideband networking platform, tactical targeting network technology, Link 16, Link 11, Link 22, enhanced position-location reporting system, integrated bridge system and joint range extension application protocol processing software.  
 
The Northrop Grumman team includes Ultra Electronics Advanced Tactical Systems, Austin, Texas; Harris Corporation, Melbourne, Fla.; ViaSat Inc., Carlsbad, Calif.; General Dynamics, Fairfax, Va.; and seven small businesses. Development will be performed at Northrop Grumman Mission Systems' new state-of-the-art facility in San Diego.  
 
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, based in Reston, Va., is a global integrator of complex, mission-enabling systems and services for defense, intelligence and civil government markets. The sector's technology leadership and expertise spans areas such as strategic systems, including ICBMs; missile defense; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; command and control; technical services; and training.