More Nulka missile decoys on way for Australian, U.S. warships

RICHMOND, Australia, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- BAE Systems says it is producing more Nulka active missile decoys for the Royal Australian Navy and U.S. Navy ships.

The decoys are being produced under a follow-on order worth nearly $44 million. The order is the 16th consecutive order for the system and brings the total of Nulka decoys delivered by the company to more than 1,400.

"This contract continues our provision of the world's most advanced soft-kill anti-ship missile defense system to the Royal Australian Navy and the United States Navy," said BAE Systems Director Aerospace Steve Drury. "I'm looking forward to continuing our long-term and strategically aligned partnership with both navies."

The Nulka comes from an Australia-U.S. collaborative effort. The rocket-propelled decoy hovers in mid-air and draws incoming missiles away from their surface vessel targets. It is deployed on more than 140 surface combat ships in the U.S., Canadian and Australian navies.

Australian companies Milspec Engineering, Thales Australia and Varley are involved in production of the system.