BAE Systems will deliver an upgraded minehunting sonar system to the U.S. Navy for the detection and classification of bottom and moored sea mines. BAE Systems will provide four systems under a $14 million contract.
The AN/SQQ-32(V)4 minehunting sonar set with the high frequency wide band upgrade replaces the existing SQQ-32(V)3 detection sonar currently employed aboard the MCM-1 Avenger Class mine countermeasures ships. This upgrade improves detection performance in the littoral environment and against stealth mines.
“This is a key win for us and we now have a new customer, a new mission and a new product. We look forward to partnering with the Navy to deliver this improved minehunting capability to the fleet,” said Howie Weinstein, director of Persistent Surveillance for BAE Systems.
In addition to new detection sonar in the towed body, the upgrade replaces the operator consoles located in the Combat Information Center. In order to process the extensive data from new high speed optical channels within the system, these modernized operator consoles implement a multiple computer server layout interfaced via a 10Gbit communications network. With the extensive use of COTs open system components within the consoles, life cycle costs are reduced and incorporate a means for rapid technology insertion.
The initial base contract requires deliveries of four build-to-print production systems, with two options for an additional 10 systems and one battlespare. The base award value plus these options along with engineering services total $42 million. The AN/SQQ-32(V)4 system was designed by the teaming of the government laboratory Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City and the Applied Research Laboratory: University of Texas.
BAE Systems is a global defense, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US $36.2 billion).
