Controlling the Cost of C4I Upgrades on Naval Ships

by Schank, John F.; Pernin, Christopher G.; Arena, Mark V.; Price, Carter C.; Woodward, Susan K.

• ISBN13: 9780833047755
• ISBN10: 0833047752
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-11-16
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

Command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) systems-the lifeblood of naval ships-have evolved at a rapid pace over the last few decades. To keep up with technological advances and to take advantage of improvements nurtured in the civilian marketplace, the U.S. Navy extensively uses commercial hardware and software for its C4I systems. However, the cost of keeping these products up-to-date is high.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. iii
Figures	p. ix
Tables	p. xi
Summary	p. xiii
Acknowledgments	p. xxvii
Abbreviations	p. xxix
Introduction	p. 1
The Problem: Controlling and Reducing the Costs of C4I Upgrades	p. 1
Research Objectives and Approach	p. 2
Organization of the Report	p. 4
Background on Navy C4I Systems	p. 5
Sea Power 21 and FORCEnet	p. 5
Responsibility for C4I	p. 6
Navy C4I Systems	p. 7
C2 Systems	p. 8
Networks and Communication Systems	p. 11
C4I Upgrades and In-Service and New-Construction Timelines	p. 14
C4I Upgrades: Issues and Options	p. 17
C4I-Upgrade Issues During Ship Design and Construction	p. 17
Adapting Commercially Available Systems and Technologies to Shipboard Environments	p. 18
Deciding on GFE Versus CFE Systems	p. 20
Ensuring the Currency of C4I Systems at Delivery	p. 21
Incorporating Adequate Design Margins	p. 23
C4I-Upgrade Issues for In-service Ships	p. 24
Various Ship Configurations Make the Planning of Upgrades Difficult	p. 24
Navigating the SHIPMAIN Process	p. 26
C4I System Upgrade Issues Common to New-Ship Construction and In-Service Ships	p. 27
Integration and Testing	p. 28
Hot Work and Changes to Ship Services	p. 29
Topside Integration	p. 31
Summary	p. 31
Analysis of C4I Installation Costs	p. 35
Methodology	p. 36
Cost Normalization	p. 39
Analytic Approach	p. 39
C4I System Upgrade Display a High Degree of Installation-Cost Variability	p. 40
Factors That Influence Installation-Labor Costs	p. 42
Influence of Ship Type on Installation-Labor Cost	p. 42
Variations Within Ship Type	p. 47
Cost Improvement Occurred with Some of the Upgrades	p. 51
CANES Early Adopters	p. 54
Estimate Accuracy	p. 56
Analysis by Hull Type	p. 60
Analysis by Upgrade Type	p. 63
Summary of Observations	p. 65
Conclusions and Recommendations	p. 67
Designing and Building Ships to Reduce C4I-Upgrade Costs	p. 68
Managing Ship Programs to Reduce C4I-Upgrade Costs	p. 69
Steps to Address the Variability in Upgrade Costs	p. 70
The Impact of Ship Type, Ship Age, and Installation Location	p. 71
Reducing Costs for Successive Installations	p. 72
Accuracy in Estimating Installation-Labor Costs	p. 72
Appendixes
Programs Managed by PEO C4I	p. 73
Descriptions of Analyzed Upgrades	p. 89
Bibliography	p. 103
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