The power of the Navy's Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) tactical afloat C4ISR environment can’t be overstated.
CANES represents a fundamental breakthrough in the way the Navy procures command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities. By using proven technology and industry standards, CANES provides a common computing environment, including network hardware and software infrastructure, for tactical systems afloat.
“CANES creates a new Information Dominance operational posture by greatly reducing cybersecurity vulnerability risks, centralizing cyber protection operations and providing robust cyber situational awareness. It serves as the cyber platform for more than 200 applications and connected systems, including data, transport, systems management, and voice and video services,” said Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Commander Rear Adm. David H. Lewis in May.
“The current technology is really proving itself and is a big improvement from the previous ISNS (Integrated Shipboard Network System) IT suite,” Lewis said. The admiral also noted that the program is on a regular drumbeat of technical refreshes for software and hardware to improve cyber security.
“The current technology is really proving itself and is a big improvement from the previous ISNS (Integrated Shipboard Network System) IT suite. We are on a regular drumbeat now with technical refreshes for software and hardware with a cyber-secure architecture,” Lewis said.
Importantly, the CANES program has a funded and programmed technology refresh cycle through which it will avoid costly mitigations for end-of-life software and hardware. Additionally, by consolidating five programs of record into one program,
CANES greatly reduces the logistics burden to the Navy by eliminating multiple logistic chains and training pipelines, according to Dr. John A. Zangardi, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for C4I, IO and Space.
“CANES not only provides the fleet an improved network capability, truly integrated applications, and significant increases to network security, but it also has saved the U.S. Navy over $900 million through its acquisition cycle. That’s $900 million out of a $12 billion-dollar program,” Zangardi said.
CANES, PEO C4I and SPAWAR — Information Dominance at its Finest
With the winning combination of increased capability, cybersecurity and reduced costs, it is easy to see why the Navy is rolling out CANES as quickly as practicable to the fleet. To this end, in recognition of their hard work and expertise, 75 employees received a SPAWAR Lightning Bolt award for their service to the fleet. The award was presented by Rear Adm. Lewis in June.
The award citation reads: “The SPAWAR Lightning Bolt award is presented to the CANES Installation Planning and Execution Team for exceptional coordination, oversight, and dedication in bringing the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services to force and unit level platforms throughout the Fleet. As a result of the team's tremendous efforts, the Navy's most advanced information systems network is operational on 23 ships around the world and installation teams are overcoming challenges every day to increase that number, standardizing equipment and improving network security Navy-wide.”
The CANES Acquisition Strategy
The CANES acquisition strategy implements a key Better Buying Power initiative by employing continuous competition throughout the program’s lifecycle. Because the data rights to the CANES design is government-owned, seven qualified vendors will compete for future build-to-print production unit delivery orders.
The CANES production contract was awarded in January 2015. It is an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity Multiple Award Contract with production units competed through firm fixed price delivery orders. This contract type provides the Navy flexibility and mitigates risks related to ship availability, variables between platform types and technical changes due to component end-of-life.
CANES, a critical component of the Navy's modernization plan, will be installed on 177 ships and shore sites, including submarines. As of July, the CANES program has completed 23 installations with 10 installations ongoing.
For more information about CANES, go to: http://www.public.navy.mil/spawar/PEOC4I/ProductsServices/Pages/CANES.aspx.
Sharon Anderson is the CHIPS senior editor. Steve Davis, of SPAWAR Public Affairs and Corporate Communications, and the office of the PEO C41, contributed to this report.