BAE Systems, a global leader in electronic warfare, has announced that it has been acquired by Lockheed Martin Corp. has received an order to manufacture seekers for the long-range anti-ship missile.
The contract, announced Tuesday by BAE Systems Electronic Systems, is valued at more than $ 60 million.
The finder includes long-range sensors and targeting technology that enable the stealth missile to find and attack protected maritime targets in challenging electromagnetic environments.
“Our warfighters require resilient, long-range, precision striking capabilities to keep up with modern adversaries,” said Bruce Konigsberg, product area manager for radio frequency sensors at BAE Systems. “We are proud to partner with Lockheed Martin to give US war fighters this distinct competitive advantage.”
LRASM combines extended range with increased survivability and lethality to achieve long range precision striking abilities. LRASM is designed to detect and destroy specific targets within groups of ships using advanced technologies that reduce reliance on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, network connections, and GPS navigation in competitive environments.
This LRASM search agreement continues the program’s transition from accelerated acquisition to low-rate production. BAE Systems has delivered more than 50 systems to date that have demonstrated excellent technical performance in multiple test events. The company is also working to make the finder system smaller, more powerful and more efficient.
BAE Systems’ LRASM finder technology builds on the company’s decades of experience designing and manufacturing the latest electronic combat technology and expertise in small form factor design, signal processing, target acquisition and identification.
Work on the LRASM sensor will be performed at BAE Systems’ facilities in Wayne, New Jersey. Greenlawn, New York; and Nashua, New Hampshire.
Pentagon officials said LRASM will play an important role in ensuring military access to open ocean / blue water operations due to its enhanced ability to discriminate and conduct tactical operations from greater distances.