US Navy Awards Lockheed Martin Nearly $10 Million to Design New Surface Ship Electronic Warfare System
The US Navy recently selected Lockheed Martin to provide its next-generation of electronic warfare (EW) systems for surface ships, which will significantly improve the Navy’s ability to detect threats to the fleet.
Under an initial $9.9 million contract award, the company will produce a preliminary design for the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 2 Upgrade by June 2010. The contract includes options, if exercised, totaling nearly $167 million.
Under SEWIP, the Navy is pursuing an evolutionary series of enhancements to its SLQ-32 EW system. This contract is part of a series of block upgrades intended to provide technological advances and add functional capabilities incrementally.
Lockheed Martin will provide a modular solution for Block 2, based on its Integrated Common Electronics Warfare System, demonstrated at sea last summer.
This approach uses commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) electronics and provides the Navy with the latest surface ship EW capabilities, as well as enhanced flexibility to upgrade the technology to address emerging threats.
“This is a proven solution that will improve the surface navy’s electronic warfare system,” said Carl Bannar, vice president and general manager of the Lockheed Martin Radar Systems business in Syracuse, N.Y. “By choosing Lockheed Martin in this competition, the Navy has endorsed our technical approach, which includes COTS components for proven cost savings and ease of maintenance.”
More from Naval Warfare
-
US Coast Guard enhances Arctic protection with a new Fast Response Cutter
After commissioning, FRC Frederick Mann will operate in Alaska and perform multiple missions.
-
US Coast Guard announces measures to further implement Force Design 2028 strategy
The US Coast Guard (USCG) created new units, including five Programme Executive Offices (PEOs), to facilitate and speed up the procurement of new capabilities.
-
Future of the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke programme remains unclear
The US Navy does not have a precise date for the award of the procurement contract for the third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer despite having the funds to advance with the programme in FY2025.
-
US Navy may look to foreign suppliers to accelerate shipbuilding programmes
The US Navy (USN) is currently reassessing its acquisition efforts and seeking ways to reduce the multiple delays across the shipbuilding initiatives.
-
Italy orders two ships as work begins on others along with deliveries and updates
The Italian Navy is being refreshed with two new ships ordered, while in the past six months steel was cut for a new frigate, an enhanced frigate was delivered and Horizon-class frigates passed a design review.