US Navy Finishes First CANES Installation on USS McCampbell

The Navy announced Nov. 26 that it successfully installed the first operational next generation tactical afloat network aboard the Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG 80).

Based in Yokosuka, Japan, McCampbell completed its installation of the Consolidated Afloat Network and Enterprise Services (CANES) Nov. 6. Prior to that, the destroyer conducted sea trials in October to validate how the network would perform in an operational environment and that the network would meet mission needs.

CANES represents a key aspect of the Navy’s modernization planning by upgrading cybersecurity, command and control, communications and intelligence systems afloat. The enhanced degree of standardization will reduce the number of network variants by ship class across the fleet.

Installation of CANES is ongoing in various stages aboard eight guided missile destroyers, two carriers and one amphibious assault ship.

Hardware refresh is planned and funded for every four years, with software refresh scheduled for every two years. This will enable the Navy to keep pace with technology, eliminate the challenges of multiple versions of hardware and software and decrease threats to the network. Information assurance is the foundation used to build CANES, which makes network protection easier and decreases the costs and complexity of training and sustainment.

The network will be deployed to more than 190 ships, submarines and Maritime Operations Centers by 2021.

As the Navy’s Information Dominance systems command, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) designs, develops and deploys advanced communications and information capabilities. With more than 8,900 active duty military and civil service professionals located around the world and close to the fleet. SPAWAR is at the forefront of research, engineering, acquisition and support services that provide vital decision superiority to our forces at the right time and for the right cost.

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Press Release, November 27, 2013; Image: US Navy