General Dynamics Canada awarded $32M NATO surveillance deal

OTTAWA—General Dynamics Canada has been awarded a $32-million contract by Northrop Grumman Corporation for key communications network technology for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) program.

Under this contract, General Dynamics Canada will provide software that will control the AGS communications ground control system (CGCS).

The CGCS will manage radio and satellite communications between Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and the main operating base in Sigonella, Italy.

General Dynamics Canada says it will also deliver rugged computer workstations and the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) intercom systems that will enable communications between operators at the operating base and with mobile command centres.

The company will provide engineering support for the integration of its software and systems at Northrop Grumman’s facilities in the United States, and at the main operating base in Italy.

The NATO AGS program, led by Northrop Grumman, is a major international procurement initiative to establish an airborne ground surveillance system, which can provide NATO commanders with a comprehensive picture of activity on the ground.

It includes five Northrop Grumman high-altitude, long endurance Global Hawk UAVs, missionized to NATO requirements; Mobile Ground Command and Control Vehicles; as well as associated command and control base stations.

Once deployed, the AGS system will enable NATO and its coalition partners to gather intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information to support military and humanitarian operations.

Development and production of the AGS program is expected to take place over the next three years, with initial operation scheduled for November 2016.

General Dynamics Canada will continue to provide in-service support for the system beyond 2016.