16 -- Digital Solid-State Recorder (DSSR) Assemblies for Advanced Tactical Air Reconnaissance System (ATARS) on F/A-18D

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) plans to negotiate a contract with BAE SYSTEMS, Information and Electronics Systems Integration Inc., for the system design and development, as well as integration, of the Digital Solid-State Recorder (DSSR). This DSSR will serve as a replacement for the current Digital Tape Recorder components, specifically the Tape Transport Unit and Record/Reproduce Unit subassemblies, on the Advanced Tactical Air Reconnaissance System (ATARS) installed on the F/A-18D aircraft. The contract encompasses not only the replacement hardware but also includes provisioning of test assets, sustaining engineering support, integrated logistics, technical publications, and related data to ensure comprehensive integration and sustainment of the system. BAE SYSTEMS is uniquely positioned as the sole designer, developer, and manufacturer of the ATARS, holding the exclusive expertise, experience, and specialized tooling required for this project. The contract period is expected to span from December 2002 to December 2004, with this work anticipated as a modification under an existing contract (N00019-01-C-0047). This action indicates an effort to modernize and enhance the reconnaissance capability of the F/A-18D by transitioning to a more advanced and reliable digital recording system, ensuring sustained operational effectiveness for the platform.