Navy adds $155M contract for electronic warfare systems

The Navy is continuing to expand its upgrades of electronic warfare systems aboard the fleet’s ships, most recently with a $154.9 million contract modification awarded to Lockheed Martin.

The modification, announced July 10, is to a maximum $158.8 million contract awarded in September 2014 to Lockheed for low-rate initial production of Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program Block 2 systems. The award follows another contract given in late June to Lockheed under the SEWIP program, that one for $8 million, with options that could take its value to $59 million.

SEWIP was started in 2002 to provide a series of refreshes to upgrade and replace the Navy’s AN/SLQ-32 electronic warfare systems, which date to the 1970s and currently are out of production. The upgrades come in blocks that, in addition to replacing the AN/SQL-32, add capabilities. Each block has different designations within it, depending on its capabilities.

SEWIP Block 2, for example, provides improved electronic support receivers and combat system interface and upgrades the systems’ receiver/antenna group. The contract awarded in June was for systems under Block 1—developed by General Dynamics, which also produced the AN/SQ-32—which boosts anti-ship missile defense, counter targeting and counter surveillance, and is in full-rate production.

Block 3, being developed jointly by Lockheed and Raytheon, will add an electronic attack capability and ensure that all ships have the same attack capability. Eventually Block 4 will add advanced electro-optical and infrared capabilities.