General Dynamics secures $125.6m contract from US Coast Guard

The US Coast Guard has awarded a $125.6m follow-on contract to General Dynamics Mission Systems to provide Rescue 21 programme management, system support and maintenance and sustainment engineering support for the US Coast Guard Command, Control, and Communications Engineering Center.

Rescue 21 is the US Coast Guard's advanced command, control and direction-finding communications system.

This system was created to better locate mariners in distress, save lives and property at sea and on navigable rivers.

By leverage technology, the General Dynamics-built Rescue 21 system allows the Coast Guard to execute its search and rescue (SAR) activities with greater agility and efficiency.

Rescue 21 is operational along the entire Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts of the continental US as well as along the shores of the Great Lakes, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Guam and Mariana Islands.

General Dynamics Mission Systems president Chris Marzilli said: "Mission Systems is proud to work with the Coast Guard on this critical SAR program.

"Since its implementation, the Coast Guard has supported more than 90,000 SAR cases using Rescue 21. This system saves lives."

The 36-month contract comprises a base period with three option periods from September 2016 through August 2019.