Leidos Inc., Reston, Virginia, is awarded a $9,383,698 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to previously-awarded contract to exercise an option for continuing the development of the Acoustic Device Countermeasure MK 5 (ADC MK5). Work will be performed in Reston, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by November 2022. Fiscal 2022 research, development and testing (U.S. Navy) funds in the amount of $1,959,208 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
The ADC MK5 project is part of the Navy’s Next-Generation Countermeasure (NGCM) program to replace existing ADC MK 3 submarine acoustic countermeasures systems. This torpedo-defense countermeasure will generate noise to deceive the sonar guidance systems of incoming torpedoes that are homing-in on the sounds the target submarines are making, as well as the acoustic returns of active sonar pings. This contract calls for Leidos to design and develop ADC MK5 torpedo defense developmental devices, as well as provide technical and non-recurring engineering services, This includes software and hardware development.
The ADC MK5 is to be a 3-inch-diameter expendable device that submarines launch from external launchers have advanced features that submarines can employ as static or mobile devices with adaptive countermeasure (ACM) technology. The NGCM ADC MK5 will have acoustic communications links to connect separate countermeasures devices to enable group behavior to defeat incoming torpedoes. The ADC MK5 countermeasures will have receivers that can operate in full duplex mode, and an acoustic communication link will pass tactical information and updates among the deployed countermeasures, submarines, and surface ships.
On 13 September 2018, the company was awarded a $13.93m to design and develop ADC MK5 developmental devices, as well as deliver engineering and technical services and non-recurring engineering services such as software and hardware development. The ADC MK5 is part of the navy’s next-generation countermeasure programme, which seeks to insert new technologies into submarine defence. The device will replace the existing ADC MK3 systems with the service. The ADC MK5 will be re-programmable to operate together with U.S. and allied torpedoes or anti-torpedo systems, and will be able to change tactics in response to changing tactical via the acoustic communication link.
