The U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Fleet will install the Common Network Interface (CNI) on large-deck amphibious ships, starting with USS Nassau in October 2009. Developed by General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, the software package improves situational awareness for Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) commanders by delivering a Link 16 tactical picture, modern displays and human-machine interface enhancements. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD).
Additional Atlantic Fleet ships scheduled to receive the CNI system include USS Kearsage (LHD 3) and USS Bataan (LHD 5). USS Essex (LHD 2), a Pacific fleet ship in Japan, is also scheduled to receive CNI in 2010.
The CNI system introduces the surface navy community to the rapid capability-insertion process that has been successfully used in the submarine community for over ten years, providing frequent software upgrades with increased capability. CNI is being developed in a series of “flights” or generations, with each flight inserting additional tactical capability and improvements to the human-machine interface. It is anticipated that this system will eventually provide a single integrated display of correlated radar and link data as well as Automated Identification System (AIS) data. The Atlantic Fleet ships included in the program will receive the upgraded CNI Flight 0+ software through 2010.
This CNI effort continues work that began with a successful at-sea engineering demonstration on USS NASSAU in 2007. The demonstration validated CNI’s use of an open architecture system by seamlessly incorporating new technology into the ship’s existing command and control systems.
Previous installations of CNI include the USS Boxer (LHD-4), USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and USS Peleliu (LHA 5), all of which belong to the Pacific Fleet.
Headquartered in Fairfax, Va., General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is a provider of end-to-end mission solutions in systems integration, development and operations support to customers in the defense, intelligence, space, homeland security communities. The company integrates land, air, sea, space and cyber assets to facilitate the collection, exploitation, analysis and dissemination of mission-critical intelligence information.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 92,000 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.gd.com