General Dynamics receives U.S. Navy electronic warfare contract

PITTSFIELD, Mass., Jan. 11 (UPI) -- General Dynamics has received a contract by the U.S. Navy to support its Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program for its ships.

Under the contract, General Dynamics Mission Systems will deliver Block 1B3 system upgrades to the Navy over five years. The systems will be installed on existing Navy ships, and aim to enhance situational awareness.

"This award continues our strong, trusted partnership with the Navy to provide affordable, mission-critical electronic warfare capabilities for combat ships deployed worldwide," General Dynamics Mission systems vice president Carlo Zaffanella said in a statement.

The Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program, or SEWIP, supports the integration of the AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare system introduced in the late 1970's. The system provides combat ships with detection, signal analysis, threat warning, and protection from anti-ship missiles.

SEWIP Block 1 provides electronic warfare capabilities to existing and new ship combat systems, and includes counter targeting and counter surveillance. Block 13B is currently in Low Rate Initial Production.

General Dynamics has been involved with the program since 2003, and began receiving production contracts for the block 1B3 system in 2014. The company's work on the contract will be performed in Pittsfield, Mass.