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The HCM project achieved First Article Acceptance
- formal recognition that Lockheed Martin Canada’s combat system
design meets the Navy’s performance requirements. First Article
Acceptance was preceded by an extensive series of integration tests
at the company’s Maritime Advanced Training and Test Site in Dartmouth,
Nova Scotia.
Individual system acceptance of the Lockheed Martin Canada combat system
has also been achieved on seven of Canada’s 12 Halifax Class frigates.
They are: HMCS Halifax, HMCS Calgary, HMCS Fredericton, HMCS Winnipeg,
HMCS Montréal, HMCS Vancouver and, most recently, HMCS Charlottetown.
The ships completed a rigorous sea trial program to validate the combat
system is ready to support the Navy’s critical missions.
Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, commented
on the achievements of the HCM project. “The overall management
and success of the program has proven to be an excellent partnership
model for future shipbuilding projects, and has been recognized internationally.
The valuable information provided to the New Zealand Ministry of Defence
on our modernization experience assisted them in their decision to upgrade
the combat systems on their ANZAC class ships. This global export opportunity
of the Canadian combat system is the result of close collaboration between
the Royal Canadian Navy, Department of National Defence, and industry.”
The complex HCM project was managed through several stages. Requirements
reconciliation set the tone for the entire project with the Lockheed
Martin Canada team working collaboratively with the Navy to ensure requirements
were well defined to support the competitive selection of key sub-systems.
This was followed by the design and implementation phases. As vessels
continue to come out of the modernization process, they go through various
stages of readiness as the new systems are tested and the crews are
trained. Modernized ships have already returned to the fleet and are
now conducting Canada’s important missions.
“Our innovative combat management system, integration methodology,
and Canadian supply chain form the largest component of the modernization
project,” said Rosemary Chapdelaine, vice president Lockheed Martin
Canada Mission Systems and Training. “Our team is thrilled to
deliver Canadian-built, world-class technology to the Royal Canadian
Navy.”
Lockheed Martin Canada’s heritage extends over three decades,
to the original Halifax class ship program in the 1980’s. The
company’s modern combat system is a result of the 30-plus years’
experience and knowledge of Canadian and NATO naval operations. Building
on this foundation, the company’s combat system was also selected
and repurposed for command and surveillance capability on Canada’s
new Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships. Today, the company continues to work
in partnership with the Navy, Irving Shipbuilding, Seaspan, and several
industry suppliers.
“We are proud of our rich history in Canada and the advanced combat
system integration capability we have built here,” Ms. Chapdelaine
said. “At the very core of this success is the open and transparent
communication established early in the project. Our teams continue to
foster cooperation and partnership with all stakeholders – a model
of success for future projects in Canada and abroad.”
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