Argon ST gets U.S. Navy torpedo decoy contract modification

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Argon ST, a Boeing company, has received a $10.2 million U.S. Navy contract modification for procurement of torpedo defense systems.

The modification calls for the procurement of nine AN/SLQ-25A/C countermeasure decoy systems and spares that provide improved naval defense for current threat torpedoes in support of the Undersea Defensive Warfare program.

The decoy, also known as "Nixie," is a modular, digitally controlled, electro-acoustic soft-kill countermeasure system. It uses an underwater towed body acoustic projector, deployed astern by a fiber optic tow cable. The system defends ships against wake homing, acoustic homing and wire-guided torpedoes.

Work will be performed in Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of July 2018.

Naval Sea Systems Command is the contracting activity.