SYRACUSE, N.Y., July 29 (UPI) -- A preliminary design by Lockheed Martin for a system to protect surface combat ships from cruise missiles has passed U.S. Navy scrutiny, the company reported.
"Successfully completing this critical milestone further validates our low-risk path for improving the surface navy's electronic warfare capabilities," said Carl Bannar, vice president of Lockheed Martin Radar Systems. "By using commercial-off-the-shelf components, Lockheed Martin will provide additional cost savings and ease of maintenance to the Navy."
The review for the Navy's Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Block 2 upgrade program was performed as part of an initial $9.9 million design contract awarded to Lockheed Martin last November.
The contract, with options, has a total value of close to $167 million, if the extension options are exercised.
Under the SEWIP Block 2 upgrade program, the Navy is pursuing evolutionary enhancements to its AN/SLQ-32 electronic warfare system. A series of block upgrades will allow for the incremental addition of new technologies and capabilities.
Lockheed Martin is providing a modular solution for Block 2, based on its Integrated Common Electronics Warfare System, demonstrated at sea in 2008.
