U.S. Navy Awards General Dynamics Production Contract for SEWIP 1B3 Electronic Warfare System

: Posted On Tuesday, 12 January 2016 04:10

Naval Defense Industry News - USA

U.S. Navy Awards General Dynamics Production Contract for SEWIP 1B3 Electronic Warfare System

The U.S. Navy has awarded a production contract for its Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 1B3 to General Dynamics Mission Systems. General Dynamics will deliver Block 1B3 system upgrades over the next five years. The upgrades will be integrated into new and existing Navy ships providing significantly improved situational awareness of the tactical environment surrounding the ship.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a $91.7 million engineering, manufacturing and development (EMD) contract from the U.S. Navy to further mature system designs for the AN/SLQ-32(V)7 (SEWIP B3) electronic warfare system. Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will finalize integration modeling and test plans, and produce two prototype models for laboratory and field testing.

AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare (EW) system aboard the USS MCFAUL

Carlo Zaffanella, a vice president and general manager for General Dynamics Mission Systems, said, “This award continues our strong, trusted partnership with the Navy to provide affordable, mission-critical electronic warfare capabilities for combat ships deployed worldwide.”

General Dynamics has been involved with the SEWIP Block 1 program since 2003 and received a low-rate initial production contracts for the SEWIP Block 1B3 in 2014. Work on the contract will take place in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

SEWIP is comprised of capability improvements divided into production blocks. This contract is part of Block 1, which provides enhanced electronic warfare capabilities to Navy ship combat systems improving anti-ship missile defense, counter targeting and surveillance. The block 1B3 system is the final upgrade for Block 1, providing high-gain/high-sensitivity electronic capability.