Sailors shape future CSC Command Information Centre

The Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) Project recently achieved another design milestone while collaborating with the United States Navy (USN) to adopt a new Operations Room layout.

Sixteen sailors from the coasts arrived at the Human Performance Lab in Dahlgren, Virginia where they worked to validate a full-scale mock-up of an Operations Room Layout. The exercise culminated in a detailed design process and the CSC Project team is happy to report it resulted in a “locked in” Command Information Centre (CIC).

The April exercise was a step in the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) process to better integrate all CIC activities and personnel by adopting the United States Navy’s operational layout, replacing the currently used Operations Room.

The design process took place over a 19-month period. Representatives from the Canadian Surface Combatant’s Project Management Office joined by partners from the RCN, Canadian Industry and Aegis design specialists followed a five-phase approach to optimize the console layout of the CIC Complex.

The approach considered feedback collected from 175 interviews with sailors from the rank of Sailor 3rd Class to Captain Navy to align existing RCN trades and skills with those within the Aegis enterprise.

After analyzing that feedback, a tabletop exercise was conducted in Halifax in October of 2022. The exercise was a collaborative effort between the operational community and warship designers using a 1:12 scale model with 3D printed consoles. The models were used to brainstorm layout options for the three spaces that make up the CIC: the Sonar Display; the Operational Planning; and, the Command Planning rooms.

Of the 75 potential designs created, 18 were deemed viable for further evaluation, studied by human factor engineers, and scored against a complex score card focusing on communication flow, personnel placement and other factors.

RCN personnel then selected a final design to be stress tested at the Cognitive Walkthrough validation exercise. Selected operators were provided with a week of instruction describing the new aspects of the CSC Combat System including the suite of weapons, sensors and new positions.

The three-day validation exercise featured various warfare scenarios with the CIC watch. Each sailor was shadowed by a human factors engineer who gathered detailed feedback from the scenarios that ranged from reading warnings to conducting engagements.

While CSC belongs to the future fleet, this crucial and innovative design work is happening now to ensure we get it right. Feedback our sailors are providing today ensure that CSC will be the backbone of the combatant fleet as a warship designed by sailors for sailors.