Technology for Shipbuilding Affordability

This research project combines Frontier Technology, Inc. and Northrop Grumman Ship Systems together to develop an affordability analysis tool suite tailored for use on important design trades associated with Systems Support Technology Capabilities. The tool suite will be applicable to modifications, enhancements or new systems associated with any Navy ship systems. It will enable the program manager, technologist, analyst or system planner to conduct quick life-cycle cost evaluations while assessing the importance of mission capabilities to the surface warriors. This tool suite will ensure affordability considerations become a key element of the decision process for ship modifications. The tool suite integrates detailed cost models that are accepted standards within the USN and DoD. A GUI guides the user through detailed cost model interactions to provide quick and easy life-cycle cost estimates. A primary focus of this research is to identify, collect and organize data applicable to Navy ship systems and tailor the database structure for integration with accepted cost models used in the tool. The Phase I research will result in a prototype for use by the Navy and Northrop Grumman. The analyst feedback will be used to guide the potential Phase II development effort.