L-3 KEO photonics masts for Virginia SSNs
L-3 KEO, the electro-optics business of L-3 Communications, has won a contract to develop the new version of its photonics mast for US Virginia-class submarines, as announced on 26 May.
The $48.7 million contract was awarded by the US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) as part of the Block 4 Low Profile Photonics Mast (LPPM) programme. Under the contract, L-3 KEO will design and develop the lower-profile mast in the first year of the contract. The NAVSEA can exercise options to have L-3 KEO produce up to 29 masts over a four-year period. The contract also covers engineering services and provisioning item orders, with a maximum value of $157 million.
The non-hull-penetrating LPPM will have a sleek profile that reduces the periscope signature and makes it appear similar to existing periscopes, thereby making it less identifiable as a US navy submarine.
Steve Kantor, president, L-3 Electronic Systems, said: ‘We are extremely pleased to collaborate with the US navy on the Block 4 LPPM programme, which will significantly enhance Virginia-class submarines in deployments around the globe.
‘This is a great opportunity to build on our long-standing partnership with the navy by delivering sophisticated imaging technologies to a valued customer with well-defined, mission-critical requirements.’
Matthew Richi, president, L-3 KEO, said: ‘We are very pleased to have been selected to provide the US navy with a photonics mast that combines the enhanced situational awareness capability it wants with the more stealthy footprint it needs to avoid detection in international waters.
‘As the leading submarine imaging provider in the world, we look forward to focusing on the interoperability of our systems to explore export licensing opportunities with international navies.’
L-3 KEO plans to develop the LPPM for the NAVSEA to support new submarines and also retrofit existing ones under a modernisation programme.
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![Artificial intelligence: the hope, the hype and the real-world reality]()
Artificial intelligence: the hope, the hype and the real-world reality
Artificial intelligence has supported C2 systems and decision-making for more than two decades. It has gradually built up a head of steam in the 2020s, but what is it achieving today and what role could it play in the future?
-
![SOF Week 2026: How SOF Teams Are Powering Radios, Drones and Battlefield Networks (video)]()
SOF Week 2026: How SOF Teams Are Powering Radios, Drones and Battlefield Networks (video)
At SOF Week 2026, Sean O’Neill, Senior Business Development Manager with Iris Technology, discusses the growing importance of tactical power management systems for modern military operations.
-
![SOF Week 2026: How SOF Operators Are Driving the Future of Battlefield Communications (video)]()
SOF Week 2026: How SOF Operators Are Driving the Future of Battlefield Communications (video)
At SOF Week 2026, Austin Farnham, President of Octane Wireless, discusses how direct feedback from special operations forces is helping shape the next generation of battlefield communications technology.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: Northrop Grumman to present improved C2 management system]()
World Defense Show 2026: Northrop Grumman to present improved C2 management system
The Northrop Grumman Integrated Battle Command System is in service with Poland and the US Army with another 20 countries believed to have expressed an interest.
-
![Thales looks to boost DigitalCrew system through AI and human-machine teaming trials]()
Thales looks to boost DigitalCrew system through AI and human-machine teaming trials
The Thales DigitalCrew package, first unveiled at last year’s Defence IQ International Armoured Vehicles conference, is designed to merge imaging and apply a layer of decision-making and observation algorithms to support crew and other personnel.
-
![Babcock nears first customer for Nomad AI translation tool]()
Babcock nears first customer for Nomad AI translation tool
Nomad can provide militaries with real-time intelligence, saving critical time on the battlefield.
