Lockheed Martin to Upgrade U.S. Navy's SEWIP Shipboard Electronic Warfare Systems

: Posted On Thursday, 06 October 2016 16:16

Naval Defense Industry News - USA

Lockheed Martin to Upgrade U.S. Navy's SEWIP Shipboard Electronic Warfare Systems

Lockheed Martin continues to make technological advances in its electronic warfare portfolio that will keep the warfighter a step ahead. The U.S. Navy awarded the company an initial $148.9M contract for full rate production of Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 2 systems with four additional option years to upgrade the fleet's electronic warfare capabilities so warfighters can respond to evolving threats.

Cobham recently received a Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) award for the production of Antenna Array Panel Assemblies (AAPAs) from Lockheed Martin Corporation, Liverpool, N.Y. The AAPAs are used in the Block II configuration of the Navy’s Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP). Work under this contract will be performed by Cobham Integrated Electronic Solutions, a business unit of the Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions sector, in Lansdale, Pa.

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

Under this full-rate production contract, Lockheed Martin will provide additional systems to upgrade the AN/SLQ-32 systems on U.S. aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers and other warships with key capabilities to determine if the electronic sensors of potential foes are tracking the ship.

"The SEWIP Block 2 System is critically important to the Navy's operation, and we are proud to continue to provide this capability to the warfighter," said Joe Ottaviano, electronic warfare program director. "Threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Our electronic warfare systems give the warfighter information to enable a response before the adversary even knows we're there."

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.

Block 2 is the latest deployed improvement in an evolutionary succession of "blocks" the Navy is pursuing for its shipboard electronic warfare system, which will incrementally add new defensive technologies and functional capabilities. Block 2 provides an upgraded antenna, receiver and improved interface with existing ship combat systems.

Lockheed Martin was awarded the design and development contract for this program in September 2009. Since then Lockheed Martin has been awarded Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract for an additional 38 units and 22 of these units have been delivered to the Navy on schedule so far.