A Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]-led industry team recently completed a successful Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the U.S. Navy’s Communications at Speed and Depth (CSD) program, essential to providing real-time, two-way communications to submarines without having to surface to periscope depth. All U.S. Navy submarines will be equipped with this capability, which will allow communication between underwater submarines and surface ships, aircraft, and land-based assets.

Under the program, Lockheed Martin will deliver three types of two-way communications buoys and associated submarine and shore equipment. Two tethered expendable communications buoy systems — for Iridium satellite and UHF communications — will be launched from submarines. The third is an Acoustic-to-RF Gateway system that can be launched from submarines and aircraft. Following the successful PDR, the Lockheed Martin team will move into the Critical Design Review (CDR) phase, a vital milestone that must be achieved before hardware manufacturing begins. During the CDR, detailed components and subsystems of the design are assessed to ensure the overall system will meet all U.S. Navy requirements with reliable performance.

Since the January 2009 contract award, the Lockheed Martin-led team has successfully completed an integrated baseline review and system requirements review. The Lockheed Martin-led CSD team includes Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems and ERAPSCO, a joint venture between USSI, Inc. and Sparton Corporation.