L-3
Communications announced today that its electro-optics business, L-3
KEO, was awarded a $48.7 million, competitively bid contract from the
Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to develop and build a new, slimmer
version of its photonics mast for the Block 4 Low Profile Photonics
Mast (LPPM) program for use on Virginia-class submarines. Under the
terms of the contract, L-3 KEO will perform engineering and design work
for the lower-profile mast during the first year, with options to produce
up to 29 photonics masts over a subsequent four-year period, as well
as engineering services and provisioning item orders with a contract
maximum ceiling value of $157 million. |
“We
are extremely pleased to collaborate with the U.S. Navy on the Block
4 LPPM program, which will significantly enhance Virginia-class submarines
in deployments around the globe,” said Steve Kantor, president
of L-3 Electronic Systems. “This is a great opportunity to build
on our long-standing partnership with the Navy by delivering sophisticated
imaging technologies to a valued customer with well-defined, mission-critical
requirements.”
“We are very pleased to have been selected to provide the U.S.
Navy with a photonics mast that combines the enhanced situational awareness
capability it wants with the more stealthy footprint it needs to avoid
detection in international waters,” said Matthew Richi, president
of L-3 KEO. “As the leading submarine imaging provider in the
world, we look forward to focusing on the interoperability of our systems
to explore export licensing opportunities with international navies.”
Mr. Richi added that KEO plans to develop its LPPM so that NAVSEA can
support new construction submarines, as well as retrofits to existing
submarines, as part of a continuous modernization program that addresses
reliability, performance and affordability. |
