CALIFORNIA, Md.—The U.S. Navy today conducted groundbreaking ceremonies for the Special Communications Requirements Engineering Facility and the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operating Facility at Webster Field Annex in St. Inigoes, St. Mary's County.
Special Communications Requirements Engineering Facility
The facility will provide additional workspace for the Special Communications Requirements Division to accommodate expanding communications work. The Division is engaged in the design, development, integration, test and evaluation, installation, fielding, certification, maintenance, life cycle and logistic support of electronic and communications systems, subsystems, and equipment used by Navy, Army, Air Force, Joint Special Operations Forces (SOF), and other DoD or Government agencies.
The approximately 18,000 square-foot facility will provide expanded capacity and consolidates functions critical to the Division's mission. The building will include a high-bay Mechanical Integration Area for communications installation, Secure SCIF Lab and office spaces, mechanical engineering and CAD space. Exterior amenities will include site access road, staff parking, pedestrian walkways, simulated C-130 loading ramp and paved vehicular staging area.
The project is estimated to cost $9.6 million and is scheduled for completion in August 2013.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operating Facility
The facility is being constructed for the Maryland Army National Guard Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (MDARNG TUAS).
The approximately 10,000 square-foot facility will support the administration training, mission and flight operations, sustainment and equipment maintenance functions of the Maryland Army National Guard TUAS. The completed facility will consist of administrative offices, a classroom, an operational planning facility, a maintenance bay and personnel support spaces. Supporting infrastructure will include hangar aprons, vehicle parking, site and runway access roads, security lighting, fencing, utilities and other items required to make the facility complete and usable.
The project is estimated to cost $4.3 million and is scheduled for completion in summer 2013.