Raytheon Lands $28 Million Deal with U.S. Navy for Cutting-Edge Variable Depth Sonar Technology
The United States Navy has selected Raytheon Company on April 23rd to provide the innovative Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) class. The agreement, valued at $27.9 million, followed a comprehensive assessment period during which Raytheon illustrated that the solution’s attributes and functionalities met all of the Navy’s specifications and performance criteria. As a vital asset for anti-submarine warfare, the VDS will be utilized from LCS to detect and track enemy submarines.
“We drew upon decades of sonar system proficiency and our acclaimed innovation capabilities to create this groundbreaking technology,” stated Paul Ferraro, vice president of Integrated Defense Systems’ Seapower Capability Systems division at Raytheon. “Raytheon’s reliable and economical variable depth sonar will allow the Navy to swiftly incorporate this new anti-submarine capability to execute the LCS mission efficiently.”
This sonar system is tailored for ship deployment and is compatible with both LCS models, featuring a lighter weight to minimize effects on the vessel, enhanced maneuverability, and prospects for improved warfighting capabilities. Its user-friendly nature enhances crew productivity and operational effectiveness. These benefits were validated by fleet sailors who employed the system during a full-scale demonstration at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in August 2016.
Raytheon’s VDS is supported by a skilled consortium, including Curtiss Wright-Indal, Adaptive Methods, Inc., Purvis Systems, and Harbor Branch.
Having secured the contract, Raytheon will advance its design towards a complete Pre-Production Test Article, expected to be completed by late 2018. The contract includes production options which, if exercised, could increase the total contract value to over $300 million.
