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. |
