Northrop Wins US Navy Surface Electronic Warfare Contract

Northrop Grumman has won a $267 million contract by the U.S. Navy to develop and manufacture the next-generation surface electronic warfare system.

The Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 3 will enhance the AN/SLQ-32 electronic warfare attack system through a series of upgrades that add new technologies and capabilities for early detection, signal analysis, threat warning and protection from anti-ship missiles, the company announced in its press release on Thursday.

"This is the first simultaneous multi-mission enabler to be developed and deployed on Navy surface ships," Teri Marconi, vice president and general manager, Navigation and Maritime Systems Division, Northrop Grumman said in press release.

"We are building on our rich heritage of AESA radar and electronic warfare technology by delivering an affordable system with the improved performance, high reliability, enhanced flexibility and war fighting capability required by the SEWIP. We are proud to be the Navy's selected partner to safeguard sailors in defense of freedom for our nation and its allies", Marconi added.

Northrop Grumman's SEWIP Block 3 solution features active and passive arrays, performing electronic warfare and communications functions with continuous 360-degree coverage. The system interfaces with the ship's combat management system and multi-mission technology provides unprecedented situational awareness to effectively detect, track and engage threats in high-clutter environments.