Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $23 million contract by the U.S. Navy to create an Integrated Combat System (ICS) that could potentially connect the Navy’s and U.S. Coast Guard’s surface fleets. The contract has the potential to be worth up to $1.1 billion if all options are exercised through fiscal 2030. The Navy envisions a common combat system that could be used across all surface combatants, allowing for faster integration of new capabilities and reduced costs. The ICS hardware and software development programs aim to support not only the Navy’s fleet but also Coast Guard vessels and foreign military sales.
Lockheed’s winning bid for the contract was one of two submitted, though the second bidder was not named in the Defense Department announcement. The company’s 21st Century Security strategy aims to deliver capabilities aligned with the Navy’s objectives for high-quality, scalable capability across the surface navy. By decoupling the hardware and software components of the ICS, the Navy can upgrade each on their own schedules, making it easier to integrate new technology and implement software updates. Lockheed has already digitized the Aegis Combat System and Ship Self-Defense System, paving the way for the development of the ICS.
This contract is part of the Navy’s efforts to achieve a common combat system for all surface combatants, which would facilitate the fielding and integration of new capabilities across the entire fleet. The ICS will support mission execution for surface ships through software capabilities and shipboard computing infrastructure. The goal is to push software updates to ships rather than requiring physical changes, allowing for easier upgrades and vulnerability patches. Lockheed’s virtualized Aegis system has already been used on unmanned surface vessels and tested as a digital twin on live ships, demonstrating its potential for future integration and expansion.
