Navy taps BAE Systems for communications gear to help submarines keep in touch with uncrewed aircraft
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – U.S. Navy submarine warfare experts needed a way for Navy fleet submarines to communicate with nearby uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). They found a solution from the BAE Systems Electronic Systems segment in Nashua, N.H.
Officials of the Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support activity in Mechanicsburg, Pa., announced a $34.3 million sole-source contract to BAE Systems on Monday for six multifunction module mast (MMM) tactical modules and MMM payload modules.
The MMM payload system is a subsystem of the MMM and the AN/BLQ-l0 electronic warfare (EW) system that provides communication for UAV command and control for U.S. Navy fleet submarines, line-of-sight communications, and EW.
BAE Systems will handle manufacture, upgrades, and sustainment of software, hardware, and systems spares, hardware repair, software troubleshooting, cyber security, and management for U.S. Navy submarines.
The MMM is a non-rotating omni-directional communications-acquisition and direction finding antenna with a removable payload module that capitalizes on the existing design deployed on the Block IV and V Virginia-class fast-attack submarine with minimal design changes.
The MMM will be installed on either the Virginia Block I/II/VI or Seawolf class submarines. The system consists of an above-deck sensor unit; tactical module; payload module; protective cap; outboard cables; tactical outboard cable; augment outboard cable; electrical hull, tactical, and augment electrical hull penetrators; and junction box units.
The AN/BLQ-10 submarine EW system helps Virginia-, Los Angeles-, and Seawolf-class fast-attack submarines, Ohio-class conventional guided-missile submarines, and future Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarines detect enemy radar and communications. It is not for existing Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarines.
On this contract BAE Systems will do the work in Nashua, N.H., and should be finished by June 2028. For more information contact BAE Systems Electronic Systems online at /www.baesystems.com/en-us/our-company/inc-businesses/electronic-systems, or the Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support activity-Mechanicsburg at www.navsup.navy.mil/NAVSUP-Enterprise/NAVSUP-Weapon-Systems-Support.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
