L-3 wins US Navy CDL Hawklink contract

L-3 Communications Communication Systems-West (CS-West) has been selected for the 2012 to 2017 full-rate production contract of CDL Hawklink.

L-3’s Ku-Band CDL Hawklink system is the high-speed digital data link that transmits tactical video, radar and acoustic sensor data from the US Navy’s MH-60 Romeo Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System helicopter to its host surface ships.

Comprising the AN/ARQ-59 airborne terminal and the AN/SRQ-4 shipboard terminal, the Ku-Band CDL Hawklink system will double the Hawklink’s current data rates for the MH-60R at ranges over 100 nautical miles and will support a full range of surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and recovery missions. Additionally, the system is suitable for a variety of platforms, providing extended range, high data rates and proven operational reliability. 

Susan Opp, president of L-3’s Communication Systems Group, said: ‘The US Navy’s helicopters just became even more capable with the delivery of the L-3 CDL Hawklink airborne and shipboard data link terminals. We are proud of our team; they worked very hard to deliver what we believe to be the most capable wideband data link ever employed on a helicopter.’

With the delivery of the 100th MH-60R to the Fleet in 2011, the introduction of L-3’s Ku-Band CDL Hawklink system will allow the Romeo to share all the increased sensor capability quickly, seamlessly and fully encrypted with warfare commands.

The production contract is valued at $181 million, with $28 million to be awarded this year. L-3 is the current prime contractor for the programme, and this award follows a prior initial production contract award in June 2009 of $141 million.