The U.S. Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Command (SPAWAR) selected Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman on March 4 to pursue the final phase of the billion-dollar competition to upgrade the computer networks on more than 200 ships and shore sites, Navy spokesman Steve Davis said.

During the next phase of the competition, the two companies will install their versions of the Consolidated Afloat Network and Enterprise Services (CANES) computer systems on an initial set of ships over the next 14 months. Navy officials then will conduct a four-month-long review to select a single contractor to complete installation on more than 200 ships and shore sites.

Davis said there is a 30-day window for the other competitors to protest the decision. The other competitors for the contract were BAE Systems, Rockwell Collins, Boeing and General Dynamics.

Lockheed Martin attributed its selection to its history of installing computers on ships. The company said it has installed 7,000 computing systems over the years

“These units are currently deployed on all classes of ships and submarines as well as at shore facilities,” said Jack Papp, a company spokesman.

Northrop pointed to its proposal. “We’ve designed our system with the modular-open-system-approach concept. That will allow the government to rapidly install the best technology as it becomes available,” said Mike Twyman, vice president of C3I Systems.

— Evan Sweetman