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NEWS | June 6, 2019

NSWC Crane’s Platform and Launch Systems Division provides trusted support to SSP through multi-disciplinary expertise

By NSWC Crane Corporate Communications

CRANE, Ind. – Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) is celebrating sixty years of support to the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs (SSP). NSWC Crane’s Platform and Launch Systems Division provides high reliability design as well as test and sustainment of electronics, sensors, and mechanical systems in use of Strategic Missions Platform and Launch Systems.

SSP is responsible for the development, production, and life cycle support of the U.S. Navy's Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) Strategic Weapons System (SWS) – the nation’s primary strategic deterrent.

Andrew Kluesner, a Division Manager at NSWC Crane, says he is proud to not only provide longstanding support to SSP, but also serve as a trusted partner for the program.

“It is exciting to celebrate the many years of NSWC Crane’s role in securing our nation’s strategic deterrence,” says Kluesner. “For decades, we’ve been a reliable government resource with a very diverse, yet specific, technical knowledge. We have both the expertise, as well as diverse laboratory facilities to conduct various design and analysis. In support of the programs, NSWC Crane often acts as the technical eyes and ears for the program office to ensure the systems work when they need to work.”

NSWC Crane’s Platform and Launch Systems Division delivers full life cycle support of strategic missions hardware on both the shipboard systems and the flight system, or the missile. This includes work in navigation, fire control, and launch systems. Kluesner says working with SSP for sixty years has yielded a relationship that seems more like a family. He says many in the division have spent their entire careers working for SSP.

Curt Parsley, a Systems Engineer at NSWC Crane, is one of those individuals.

“The data we gather is critical to the defense of our nation and SSP relies on Crane’s expertise to continue to be that vital resource,” says Parsley. “Everyone in our division understands that mission and that it takes the whole team’s effort to ensure success. It means a lot to me to be part of that extensive history. We truly are part of an SSP community.”

Kluesner, who has also spent most of his career supporting SSP, says that the sixty-year history with the program office is more than a number.

“To build a relationship like this shows how much SSP trusts our workforce,” says Kluesner. “That assurance goes beyond technical competency. It takes upholding relationships for years to build this kind of trust.”

NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) with mission areas in Expeditionary Warfare, Strategic Missions and Electronic Warfare. The warfare center is responsible for multi-domain, multi- spectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing capability to today's Warfighter.