Navy's electronic warfare ship defense system to be upgraded by Lockheed Martin
NewsApril 02, 2013
SYRACUSE, NY. Lockheed Martin won a $57 million contract to modernize the U.S. Navy’s electronic warfare defenses for anti-ship missile threats. Lockheed Martin engineers will upgrade the AN/SLQ-32(V)2 system that is on all U.S. cruisers, aircraft carriers, destroyers and other warships that have the capability to determine if the electronic sensors from potential enemies are stalking the ship.
This low-rate production contract is for Block 2 of the Navy’s Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP). “The system is the first sensor to be fully compliant with the Navy’s Product Line Architecture strategy, which facilitates the rapid introduction of new technology into the fleet. By using commercial-off-the-shelf components, we provide additional cost savings and ease of maintenance for sailors,” said Joe Ottaviano, SEWIP program director for Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training.
The Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a contract back in 2009 to develop SEWIP Block 2 and company engineers recently completed integration and test activities for two engineering development models. SEWIP program work will be performed at the Lockheed Martin’s facility in Syracuse, N.Y.
Last year Lockheed Martin partnered with Raytheon, the original producer of the AN/SLQ-32, to go after the Navy’s competitive SEWIP Block 3 program, which will upgrade the system’s electronic attack electronic warfare capabilities. A formal Navy request for Block 3 proposals is expected later this year.
