Integrated Deepwater System Program

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Illustated Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) Program.

Bell Eagle Eye, part of Deepwater.

The Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) Program is the largest acquisition program in the history of the United States Coast Guard. It includes upgrades to existing vessels and other assets of the USCG, new vessels ("platforms"), improved systems for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (C4ISR), and new methods for providing logistics support.

Three competing industry consortium teams bid on the Deepwater contract. Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS), a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, was selected as the main contractor (systems integrator) for the program. The program's implementation plan says that Deepwater will be completed in approximately 20 years.

The Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Deepwater since April 17, 2006, is RADM Gary Blore. His predecessor, the "founding father of the IDS" was RADM Patrick M. Stillman.

1 Funding and management issues
2 123-foot patrol boat project
3 Large cutters
4 Medium cutters
5 140-foot cutters
6 Launches
7 UAV
8 Notes
9 External links
10 External links

[edit] Funding and management issues

Deepwater is unique in that the primary contractors are making design and procurement decisions on behalf of the Federal government. This has led to conflicts of interests. For example, top retired officers at the Coast Guard frequently rotate into top jobs at the defense contractors involved with Deepwater. Elements of the program have not performed to specification. At the moment, 8 of the finished 123 foot cutters are still in dry dock because they are not seaworthy. [1]

Because of performance problems, Deepwater has been the source of congressional budget battles over its funding. For fiscal year 2006, President Bush requested funding of over $900 million, but the House approved only $500 million. In September of 2005, the full Congress did approve $900 million, just short of the President's original request.

In August 2006, the inspector general in the Homeland Security Department said that the department's oversight of the program was hampered by funding limitations and lack of experience with this type of program.^[1]

As of late 2006, the cost of the program had risen to $24 billion, from the original estimate of $17 billion in 2002.^[1]

[edit] 123-foot patrol boat project

The first major project of the Deepwater program was the stretching (conversion) of existing 110-foot cutters of the Island class to 123 feet. The first vessel converted under the program was the USCGC Matagorda. The work was done by HBJV, a joint venture between Bollinger and Halter Marine Inc. of Gulfport, Mississippi, working as a sub-contractor to Northrop Grumman Ship Systems. Shortly after the Matagorda reentered the fleet and arrived in its home port of Key West, Florida, it developed a six-inch crack forward of its superstructure and a buckled hull on the starboard side.

The Coast Guard originally planned to convert all 49 of its 110-foot cutters, but structural flaws found in the initially-converted boats caused the Coast Guard to scuttle the program after eight conversions. At least two more of the converted cutters have also experienced hull deformations.

In August 2006, a man claiming to have been the C4ISR systems engineering lead for the project posted a video on the Web site YouTube.com, alleging problems with the boats' surveillance and communications systems, and his inability to get Lockheed Martin or government officials to seriously investigate his claims. The claimed problems include; external equipment not able to meet the environmental requirements, blind spots in the ships' surveillance systems, and a communications system vulnerable to eavesdropping.^[2]

In December 2006, the Coast Guard stopped using the converted cutters because of structural problems that made them dangerous. In 2005 the cutters had been restricted from operating in waters with more than 8-foot waves, after problems were noted with hulls and cracks were found in decks. ^[1]

[edit] Large cutters

A key part of the Deepwater system is the Maritime Security Cutter, Large (WMSL) -- Legend-class cutters. These cutters are designed to replace the 378-foot (115 m) high-endurance cutters currently on duty. They will have a length of 421 feet (128 m), be powered by a gas turbine engine with two auxiliary diesel engines, and be capable of 12,000 nautical mile (22,000 km) voyages lasting up to 60 days.

The keel laying of the USCGC Bertholf (WMSL-750), the first cutter in this class, took place in September 2004 and she was launched on September 29, 2006. The Bertholf is scheduled to be delivered in the summer of 2007.^[3] The second keel was laid September 11, 2006; it is named the USCGC Waesche.

[edit] Medium cutters

Another key vessel in the program is the Maritime Security Cutter, Medium (WMSM), which will be 341 ft (104 m) long, displace 2,921 tons (2968 tonnes), and be capable of 45-day patrols of up to 9,000 nautical miles (17,000 km). Both the WMSL and the WMSM cutters will be able to carry two helicopters or four VTOL Unmanned Air Vehicles (VUAVs), or a combination of these.

[edit] 140-foot cutters

The Fast Response Cutter is another part of the Deepwater program. At 140 feet it is similar to, but slightly larger than 123 foot extended Island Class cutters, like the USCGC Matagorda.

[edit] Launches

Another part of the Deepwater program is the use of "at speed" launches from the cutters. The National Security Cutters and the Offshore Patrol Cutters will have two rear launching ramps, and will carry two launches, either two USCG Short Range Prosecutor, or two of the larger USCG Long Range Interceptor, or one of each. The refitted Island class patrol cutters currently carry one Short Range Prosecutor.

The Short Range Prosecutor is an 7 meter, high speed launch with an inflatable rigid hull, and is powered by water-jets. It mounts a radar, special shock-proof seats, and can travel at 30 knots. It is used for intercepting and boarding suspect vessels.

The Long Range Interceptor has similar specifications, but at 11 meters and 35 knots, it is larger and faster. It can also be armed with a fore mounted machine gun or grenade launcher.

[edit] UAV

The Bell Eagle Eye is a tiltrotor unmanned aerial vehicle produced by Bell Helicopter which will enter service in the U.S. Coast Guard as part of the Deepwater program. It may also enter service with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. Development began in 1993; it entered the Deepwater program in 2002 as the TR918.