The U.S. Navy destroyer USS McCampbell became the first ship to go to sea with a new shipboard computing network dubbed CANES, system integrator Northrop Grumman announced on Nov. 25.

Northrop Grumman manages the contract out of its Information Systems office in the Rancho Carmel area of San Diego. One hundred Northrop Grumman employees and subcontractors work on the contract in San Diego, Alabama and Virginia.

The Virginia-based defense contractor is providing the CANES electronics under a contract that could be worth as much as $638 million if the Navy exercises all of its options.

Northrop Grumman has so far provided 11 sets of electronics to the Navy. The Navy is then responsible for installing the electronics on its ships.

CANES stands for Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services. Sailors use the system for email, video and secure voice communications.

The McCampbell is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer based in Yokosuka, Japan.

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