ST. CHARLES, Mo., April 8 (UPI) -- A new bomb that will "fundamentally change" anti-submarine warfare is to be designed and built by Boeing for the U.S. Navy under a $19.2 million award.
The glide weapon, called the High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability, will leverage proven technologies from Boeing's Joint Direct Attack Munition and Small Diameter Bomb for launch from high altitudes and at great distance from targets.
"A new era in anti-submarine warfare is about to begin," said James Dodd, vice president of Boeing Weapons & Missile Systems. "The capability HAAWC gives U.S. Navy sub-hunters is unparalleled compared with what is available today."
"Providing this advanced capability to Navy warfighters as soon as possible is vital to help protect the United States' maritime interests around the world," added Scott Wuesthoff, director of Boeing Direct Attack Weapons.
Additional details about the contract, including its length, were not provided but Boeing said that by adapting current JDAM and SDB technologies the cost of the weapon for the Navy will be reduced.
