Stories

KBR was instrumental in the Surface Aviation Interoperability Laboratory (SAIL) team being awarded the Department of the Navy (DON) Test & Evaluation (T&E) Award for 2022 for solving major challenges pertaining to the MH-60R/S and H-1 test teams. The team also exceeded expectations regarding support provided to the development, test, and evaluation of datalink systems across nearly every aircraft and ship in the Navy and Marine Corps inventory. Nominated by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's (NAWCAD) Surface Aviation Interoperability Laboratory (SAIL), this is the first time KBR has been a part of the award-winning team.

The SAIL team’s efforts, which included support from KBR personnel, directly identified the root cause issue on the MH-60R/S and their technical innovation to solve the problem will continue to improve digital interoperability testing on future projects. Additionally, the SAIL team helped develop an improved approach to ground test Link 16 and was instrumental in the success of the Link 16 developmental test on the UH-1Y and AH-1Z. SAIL’s success in establishing a persistent Link-16 network in the Patuxent River operations area has enabled better training and flight test overall.

Significantly advancing T&E activities, SAIL directly supported fleet units by leveraging the innovative use of its Roadhawk mobile laboratory to test shipboard combat and communication systems on location for 14 different destroyers, cruisers, and aircraft carriers, greatly improving system assessment. Continually finding ways to support testing state-of-the-art technologies, SAIL supported the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to aid in development of the Multi-Link CDL System (MLCS) and Cross Platform ESM Technology Acceleration (CPETA) systems onsite with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The MLCS allows the U.S. Navy to make up to 16 calls at one time whereas previously the Navy could only make one.

“SAIL is a true example of KBR being the team behind the mission and I congratulate everyone who’s hard work and efforts contributed to this award,” adds Byron Bright, President of KBR’s Government Solutions U.S. business unit. “We touch the fleet daily no matter where it is in the world. As a result of the SAIL team’s dedication, exceptional technical expertise, and innovative mindset, delivering mission capability to the fleet continues to be a success and I am pleased their efforts have been recognized.”

The coveted DON T&E Awards were established to highlight the outstanding efforts and achievements of teams and individuals among the Navy’s testing and evaluation workforce. The DON Award for technical excellence at a T&E facility or range is awarded to an individual or team that has made a significant advancement in testing and evaluation effectiveness and efficiencies through a technical innovation or solution.

SAIL is a fully contained shipboard combat-system evaluation and exercise facility equipped with the current combat systems used on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, guided missile destroyers and frigates. Seventy-five percent of the personnel at SAIL are KBR employees. KBR currently performs work there under an existing research, development, test and evaluation contract.

As always, KBR is honored to support the U.S. military’s readiness and effectiveness whether it’s wartime or in times of peace. Congratulations, once again, to the NAWCAD SAIL Team!