Masts that allow submarines to direct, identify and direction-track adversaries without surfacing will be fitted to U.S. Navy submarines after BAE Systems won a $36 million contract.
The Multifunction Modular Masts (MMMs), which use radio waves, will be fitted to the U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class submarines and dovetail with Lockheed Martin’s AN/BLQ-10 electronic warfare (EW) system, as per a BAE Systems press statement.
Michael Rottman from the firm’s Maritime Sensors and Systems commented: “In dynamic and contested environments, stealth is key, and submarines rely on accurate communications signal information to make decisions quickly.”
He went on: “The Multifunction Modular Mast system equips U.S. Navy submarines with critical capabilities to locate and identify potential threats, enabling them to analyze and respond accordingly.”
The firm’s release also explained: “The MMM system plays a critical role in electromagnetic spectrum dominance and strategic situational awareness. It provides operators with a reliable secondary source to detect nearby adversaries, in addition to radar and sonar.”
- You can read more details on the BAE Systems website