The Navy on Thursday awarded Lockheed Martin [LMT] a $56 million combat system engineering support contract over two other bidders for the Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS).

The SDSS is a combat system integrates sensors and weapons to defend various non-Aegis supported ships like carriers and amphibious ship classes.

Sailors operate a rigid-hull inflatable boat during training from the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19). (U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Phylicia A. Hanson/Released)

The Navy said the contract was competitively procured with three offers received, but did not disclose the other two vendors.

Raytheon [RTN] is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the SDSS combat system and in 2014 Northrop Grumman [NOC] won an engineering services contract for SDSS (Defense Daily, July 22, 2014).

A total of $12.4 million in Navy FY 2018 and 2019 funding was obligated with the award.

The Navy said this contract will manage the in-service SDSS configurations and “adapt and integrate new or upgraded war-fighting capabilities.”

Primary deliverables under this contract for the combat system engineering agent/software design agent includes SDSS tactical computer programs, program updates and associated engineering, development and logistics products.

The work will largely occur in Moorestown, N.J., and is expected to be finished by December 2019. It includes options that, if exercised, would raise the total value to $638 million and be finished in December 2028.

The SDSS is currently fielded on the Gerald R. Ford and Nimitz-class carriers as well as the San Antonio-class (LPD-17), America-class (LHA-6), Wasp-class (LHD-1), Whidbey Island-class (LSD-41), and Harper’s Ferry-class (LSD-49) amphibious ships.