Northrop Grumman has been awarded $285.5m for construction of the third National Security Cutter (WMSL 752), the newest multi-mission cutter in the United States Coast Guard fleet. The contract is being funded under the Integrated Deepwater System program.
According to Northrop Grumman, the design for the National Security Cutter (NSC) has evolved since the first NSC was proposed in 2002 to meet homeland security requirements identified by the Coast Guard for operations in a post-9/11 operating environment. These include chemical, biological and radiological facilities, a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), and more robust aviation installations.
Northrop Grumman is leading the construction effort, and the ship will be manufactured at the company's
The NSC will be 418 feet long with a 4,300 ton displacement at full load, powered by a combined diesel and gas turbine power propulsion plant driving twin screws with a maximum speed of 28 knots.
The cutter will include an aft launch and recovery area for two rigid hull inflatable boats, an expansive flight deck able to accommodate a range of rotary wing manned and unmanned aircraft, and command and control systems.
Northrop Grumman is building the NSC under contract from Integrated Coast Guard Systems, a joint venture of Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. Partner Lockheed Martin is designing and integrating the command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for the NSC under this contract.
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