Tracor Wins Navy Contract For Communications Systems Design

Tracor Applied Sciences, Inc., an Austin, Texas-based division of Tracor, Inc., has won a sevenyear contract with a total potential value of $38.7 million to provide engineering services for the design and installation of the radio communications system (RCS) for a new construction Nimitz class aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76). The contract includes an option for retrofit of the same system onboard the USS Nimitz (CVN-68). Under the contract, Tracor will perform total system design, integration and tests of CVN-76 RCS using a "design budget" approach developed by the U.S. Navy for the Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) class destroyers.

The latest Navy-approved equipment, fully integrated and tested in a test bed simulating the radio room of the aircraft carrier, will be delivered to the Navy for installation aboard the CVN.

According to K. Bruce Hamilton, president of Tracor Applied Sciences, "This contract is a major extension of our core business in communications system integration into a new class of surface combatants. The CVN is the fourth class of ship for which Tracor will deliver production communication suites." Since 1978, the company has reportedly delivered RCS for 27 Aegis cruisers, 21 Aegis destroyers and six Taiwanese frigates.

Tracor is reportedly one of the 15 largest defense electronics firms in the U.S., and released sales figures totaling $886.9 million for 1995. For more information on Tracor Applied Sciences, Inc. Circle 104 on Reader Service Card