MARION, Mass., May 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin
(NYSE: LMT) will provide the U.S. Navy the latest advancements in
sonar systems under a contract valued at up to $425 million for guidance and control systems for
the MK 48 Mod 7 torpedo, part of a five-year effort to increase the
inventory of the MK 48 Mod 7 heavyweight torpedoes for the
submarine fleet.
The Lockheed Martin guidance and control systems will equip the
heavyweight torpedoes with increased bandwidth and streamlined
targeting and tracking capabilities. These systems will increase
the MK 48's effectiveness and provide advanced counter-measure
capabilities.
"The latest guidance and control technologies for MK 48 torpedo
are thanks in part to Lockheed Martin's $10
million investment in manufacturing efficiencies,
facilities, and laboratories to ensure navies can pace the threats
in littoral and deep sea environments," said Tom Jarbeau, Lockheed Martin MK 48 program
director. "We are building on our five decades of experience in
undersea systems and our strong record of providing complex
electronic systems to our customers on schedule and on budget."
Under this new contract, Lockheed Martin will provide fully
integrated guidance and control sections to increase the inventory
of MK 48 torpedoes over several years. There is potential for
production orders of more than 250 torpedoes over the next five
years for the U.S. Navy, which are used by all classes of
submarines as their anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface
warfare (ASuW) weapon.
These new guidance and control systems for new-construction MK
48 torpedoes include the same section of the Navy's existing
heavyweight torpedoes that Lockheed Martin is upgrading under the
MK 48 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) awarded by the
U.S. Navy in 2011. Lockheed Martin delivers to the U.S. Navy at
least 20 Mod 7 CBASS kits per month and is on track to deliver all
kits on schedule. Lockheed Martin also performs intermediate
maintenance of these torpedoes for fleet training, giving the Navy
a critical combat advantage.
Lockheed Martin employees in Marion,
Massachusetts, will perform the work on the MK 48 torpedoes'
guidance and control systems, with additional support from
employees at the company's locations in Manassas, Virginia, Palm Beach, Florida, and Syracuse, New York.
Channel Technology Group (CTG) in Santa Barbara, California, is providing the
acoustic array.
For additional information, visit our website:
www.lockheedmartin.com/us/mst/mk-48.html.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a
global security and aerospace company that employs approximately
125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the
research, design, development, manufacture, integration and
sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and
services.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin