The U.S. Coast Guard's current deepwater assets are old, aging and rapidly becoming technologically obsolete. Current ships and aircraft are routinely unavailable, they and the systems that operate them lack the capabilities necessary to perform traditional and homeland security missions effectively, and are experiencing declining readiness due to worn out equipment or expanding incompatibility. They lack essential speed, interoperability and sensor and communication capabilities. These shortcomings severely limit their overall mission effectiveness and efficiency.

To address this problem, the Coast Guard established the Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) Program. The IDS Program is an innovative performance-based acquisition. This program is not just acquiring new ships and aircraft but takes an integrated approach to upgrading existing assets while transitioning to newer, more capable platforms with improved Command, Control, Communications and Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (C4ISR) and innovative logistics support systems. This "System of Systems" and the new assets it brings will provide the Coast Guard with a significantly improved ability to detect, identify and respond appropriately to all activities in the maritime arena, as well as the improved ability to intercept and engage those activities that pose a direct challenge to U.S. sovereignty and security.

Integrated Coast Guard Systems, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, is the industry partner established to work with the Coast Guard to develop, supply and manage this sweeping and transformational multi-year acquisition program. Working together, the public private partnership of ICGS and IDS are bringing capabilities to the Coast Guard that are critical to the Coast Guard's future and paramount to America's ability to safeguard our homeland and maritime security for generations to come.