BALTIMORE, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman has received a $20.4 million U.S. Navy contract to supply its high-resolution, X-band AN/SPQ-9B radar system for three ships.
The radar systems -- for two amphibious ships and one Arleigh Burke-class destroyer -- boost a ships' ability to defend against small high-speed threats, such as sea-skimming missiles.
Northrop said they will be delivered in 2015.
"This is a significant step for Northrop Grumman because it leads the way for a potential of more than 60 DDG-51 (destroyer) radar backfits as well 16 forward fits on the next Flight III destroyers," said Bill Hannon, vice president of Northrop Grumman's Maritime Systems business unit. "The AN/SPQ-9B's performance supplies greater radar capability to surface ships, and represents another milestone in our long term legacy of supplying radars to the Navy."
The three systems are in addition to 53 systems ordered by the Navy under an earlier contract.
The AN/SPQ-9B entered full-rate production in 2004.
