CA Spectrum has agreed to provide Lockheed Martin with an advanced network fault manager for use with the Aegis open architecture weapon system.
Aegis, the sea-based element of the US Ballistic Missile Defense System, is capable of quickly detecting, tracking and engaging mulltiple targets.
The system, which was developed using commonly available, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) computing hardware and software, was successfully tested by the US Navy in December 2008 aboard the Guided Missile Cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52).
 "Aegis Open Architecture is a core element of the Navy's strategy for a single objective architecture for all of its surface combatants," explained Orlando Carvalho, a Lockheed Martin VP. "The technology we are harnessing from commercial software sources, such as CA, is demonstrating the ability to insert capability and deliver increased performance to the fleet."
Charles Rizzo, strategic alliance director in CA's public sector group, expressed similar sentiments. "Aegis-equipped cruisers are formidable warships, and they are making a significant contribution to (the) nation's maritime security and defense," said Rizzo. "CA is pleased to provide Lockheed Martin and the Navy with COTS software that contributes to the modernisation and battle readiness of these impressive ships' weapons systems."
Roy Borden, CA's VP of federal systems integrators, told The News that "open architecture successfully leverages CA's solutions" by efficiently generating information about "new needs or updates" before they are even requested.
"What we are doing is capturing all needs and rolling it up into next release of software," said Borden. "Open architecture captures benefits of add ons and upgrades, along with what we see out there in the market."
Borden also explained that CA Spectrum had recently shifted its business strategy away from a prime contracting role.
"CA has made a strategic move to redirect investments away from building out a services or prime contracting capability in an effort to not enter our partner's market. Instead, CA is investing in enabling Federal Systems Integrators (Lockheed, Northrop, etc.) to leverage our COTS products to drive innovative solutions that differentiate them from IBM and HP/EDS," added Borden.
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