BAE Systems, General Dynamics Team On U.S. Navy System To Defeat Sophisticated Maritime Threats

HUDSON, New Hampshire — BAE Systems has teamed with General Dynamics to compete for the U.S. Navy’s upcoming Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 2 upgrade effort.

The next-generation electronic warfare system, called Sea Lightning, is designed to defeat increasingly sophisticated maritime threats by intercepting and classifying threat radars, particularly those on anti-ship cruise missiles. Sea Lightning also will integrate EW capabilities into the Navy’s combat direction and management systems.

“Sea Lightning will fulfill Block 2 requirements and future spiral developments in electronic attack, electro-optical, and infrared technology,” said Greg Smith, vice president of information dominance systems for BAE Systems. “Our combined technological knowhow and capabilities are aligned with the Navy’s vision and need for a system that can combat the latest enemy threats.”

The Sea Lightning team “combines General Dynamics’ expertise in open architecture, naval systems, and subsystems integration with BAE Systems’ expertise in electronic warfare,” said Mike Tweed-Kent, vice president and general manager of integrated combat systems for General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems. “Our team’s relevant Block 1 experience, leveraged with BAE Systems’ mature EW capabilities, will lower development cost and shorten the execution schedule.”

The Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program Block 2 is an upgrade to the Navy’s AN/SLQ-32 (V) electronic support measures system. The AN/SLQ-32(V) provides early warning of enemy threats and dispenses chaff decoys to defeat attacks by guided weapons, such as anti-ship cruise missiles. Block 2 will upgrade the system’s receiver, antenna and combat system interface. The Navy is expected to issue a request for proposal for SEWIP later this year and award a contract in 2009.

About BAE Systems

BAE Systems is the premier global defense and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With approximately 100,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems’ sales exceeded £15.7 billion (US $31.4 billion) in 2007.