The U.S. Coast Guard awarded General Dynamics Mission Systems a $125.6
million follow-on contract to provide Rescue 21 program management,
system support and maintenance and sustainment engineering support for
the U.S. Coast Guard Command, Control, and Communications Engineering
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Rescue 21 is the U.S. Coast Guard’s advanced
command, control and direction-finding communications system. The system
was created to better locate mariners in distress, save lives and property
at sea and on navigable rivers. By harnessing state-of-the-market technology,
the General Dynamics-built Rescue 21 system enables the Coast Guard
to execute its search and rescue (SAR) activities with far greater agility
and efficiency. Rescue 21 is operational along the entire Atlantic,
Pacific and Gulf coasts of the continental United States as well as
along the shores of the Great Lakes, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands,
Hawaii, Guam and Mariana Islands.
“Mission Systems is proud to work with the Coast Guard on this
critical SAR program,” said Chris Marzilli, president of General
Dynamics Mission Systems. “Since its implementation, the Coast
Guard has supported more than 90,000 SAR cases using Rescue 21. This
system saves lives.”
Mission Systems will continue to provide customer care, field support
and engineering escalation resources as well as support for information
assurance, spare parts and obsolescence management, and pursue life-cycle
cost savings.
“We will continue to leverage the best technology and deliver
superior program management to improve Rescue 21 mission readiness,”
commented Bill Weiss, vice president and general manager of the Ground
Systems line of business at General Dynamics Mission Systems. “We’re
proud to be a part of this important program, and deeply value the Coast
Guard’s confidence in us.”
The 36-month award consists of a base period with three option periods
from September 2016 through August 2019.
Rescue 21 comprises 253 towers and 32 command centers in full operation
that cover more than 41,000 miles of U.S. coastline, lakes and rivers.
When a distress call arrives, the system automatically records the call
while direction-finding equipment on the towers accurately computes
the call’s location, allowing search-and-rescue operations to
begin immediately. The system is also designed to accommodate additional
sensors and command and control equipment as it becomes available, which
will deliver new and cost-effective capabilities to the Coast Guard.
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