SSDS

Ship's Self Defense System (SSDS) is an integrated weapons system used aboard large U.S. Navy ships, such as Nimitz class supercarriers and various amphibious assault ships, such as LHDs and LSDs. SSDS has similar attributes to the combat system used aboard DDGs and CGs, in that it is an integrated Combat Direction System (CDS). The combat direction systems aboard DDGs and CGs, Aegis, are purpose built integrated designs from the outset. SSDS follows a different approach and uses existing shipboard radars and weapons systems, integrated under a COTS framework, to provide a cohesive CDS. The first SSDS designs were backfit onto existing U.S. Navy ships.

The Aegis system is based on earlier generation (circa 1980s) computing environments and is currently run primarily on AN/UYK-43 computers. This has impacted the flexibility of Aegis to adapt to new roles, but has also kept the code base lean, efficient and reliable.Fact|date=July 2007 SSDS is run on current generation COTS, PC-based computers and has a core operating system of Linux. While offering more flexibility due to its COTS and open architecture basis than current Aegis designs, additional complexity and the larger overall size of modern operating systems may negate hardware performance differences between SSDS and Aegis designs.

Initial SSDS configurations were installed on LSD amphibious ships and were designated Mk 1 (Mark One). Follow-on designs being installed on aircraft carriers and other amphibious ships are being called Mk 2, with different modification (MOD) numbers denoting the type on each class of ship.

Delivered and integrated with SSDS is the Battle Force Tactical Trainer (BFTT). BFTT is the Navy's premier shipboard combat system training system and brings an integrated single and multi-ship combat system training capablity to the SSDS ship.