Meeting the challenge of installing CANES during new ship construction on LPD 28

Abstract

The budget to build ships and modernize and sustain the C4I systems installed is limited. Lead times for contracting are long, while technology changes rapidly after contract award. The shipboard C4I network examined in this thesis typifies this dichotomy. The challenge is to provide the latest shipboard network that meets the C4I capability needs of the warfighter at ship delivery, while at the same time supporting the shipbuilder’s need for Government Furnished Information (GFI) and Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) supporting the Ship Construction schedule. This thesis analyzes whether to install the legacy Shipboard Wide Area Network (SWAN), where the FGI is firm, or install the newer Consolidated Afloat Network Enterprise System (CANES), where the GFI is evolving, on LPD 28 during New Ship Construction. Recommendations include implementation of the Design Budget Approach during New Ship Construction, use of the Systems Engineering (SE) V Method during C4I network system development to verify and validate warfighter requirements can be net, and a commitment to the GFE Program of Record (POR) C4I network solutions.