DRS Technologies Inc. has become eligible to provide command-and-control hardware for the U.S. Navy's Ship Self-Defense System Mark 2.

DRS, a Finmeccanica company, said its eligibility comes under access to a $31.8 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity award of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division.

The Ship Self-Defense System, or SSDS, is a battle management system on aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships. It integrates elements of other combat systems to provide a flexible detect-control-engage capability against surface and airborne threats.

DRS said it expects to provide hardware production, assembly, configuration, alignment, integration, testing and shipping of the SSDS hardware under the contract, which runs through 2017.

Information on the potential value of the award was not provided by the company.

The command and control hardware to be provided includes interface and networking devices, peripheral systems, displays and processors.

"DRS has a long heritage of supporting the U.S. Navy and is proud to provide our technology to protect our carriers and amphibious ships, especially as the Navy broadens its stated focus in the Pacific region," said William J. Lynn, chief executive officer of DRS Technologies and Finmeccanica North America.