SGI awarded $27M systems contract with the Army Research Laboratory Defense Supercomputing Resource Center

On October 31, SGI of Milpitas, CA announced that the United States Department of Defense (DoD) has selected SGI® ICE™ XA for two of its Army Research Laboratory Defense Supercomputing Resource Center (ARL DSRC) systems. The upgrades are part of a technology insertion, known as TI-16, for their High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP).

HPCMP delivers world-class commercial, high-end, high-performance computational capabilities to DoD’s Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) community through its five DoD Supercomputing Resource Centers (DSRCs).

“We’re excited to partner with SGI for our TI-16 DoD program, and have full confidence in the system’s ability to provide excellent performance,” said Dr. Raju Namburu, director of ARL DSRC. “Choosing the right HPC partners is crucial, as we rely on supercomputing and large-scale analytics and predictive sciences to provide the competitive edge we need to maintain our position as the nation’s premier laboratory for land forces.”

With HPC technology, DoD scientists and engineers can utilize physics-based simulations to achieve better understanding of a variety of phenomena affecting national defense. The upgraded systems also allow quick data searches that are generated from field tests across a wide spectrum of military operations. Powerful supercomputers help with data quality, increasing situational awareness, and advancing soldier performance with live and virtual data analytics. The new SGI systems will be leveraged to scale algorithms, increase real-time experimental data processing and methods for live-virtual simulations.

The agreement for ARL DSRC system #1 values at $8.9 million, and ARL DSRC system #2 at $17.6 million.

SGI was also awarded four annual maintenance options over the next four years, allowing DoD to leverage its world-class professional services available 24/7. The work for both systems will be performed at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, with an estimated completion date of April 24, 2021.

“DoD’s annual, recurring investment in HPC is a testament to its belief in the power and strategic value of supercomputing,” said Jorge Titinger, president and CEO, SGI. “Expanding our partnership with ARL DSCR is the result of our record of exceptional HPC performance with previous DoD systems. We have had a healthy long-standing relationship with HPCMP over the last two decades, and we remain committed to delivering to DoD new innovative technology and the highest level of service and management. We look forward to continuing our partnership with one of the most important institutions in our nation.”

Source: SGI