Article Posted on : - Jul 13, 2010

USS Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to get the next Aegis weapons system

TEWKSBURY (BNS): The US Navy has awarded a $59.2 million contract to Raytheon for the advanced procurement of critical components of the Aegis weapons system for its next two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, DDG 114 and DDG 115.

Under the contract, Raytheon will provide advanced procurement materials and associated services for the AN/SPY-1D (V) transmitter group and MK99 Mod 8 Fire Control System of US Navy, which have been in continual production for 30 years as part of US Navy's Aegis shipbuilding programme.

The fire control system of the Aegis weapon system has the ability to track and defend against multiple threats, including planes and missiles.

"For three decades, Raytheon has provided highly capable naval radar components and world-class support for Aegis-equipped ships worldwide, this contract validates the quality and effectiveness of our systems and provides an opportunity for us to continue our long history of reliable performance," Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems' (IDS) John Kelly, director of Sensor Systems, said in a company news release.

The AN/SPY-1 and the MK99 are currently installed in the US Navy's fleet of Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, as well as Japanese Kongo-class destroyers and Spanish F100-class frigates.

The work on the Aegis programme is performed at the Raytheon IDS' Surveillance and Sensors Center, Sudbury, Mass, at the Seapower Capability Center, Portsmouth, Rhode Island and at the Integrated Air Defense Center, Andover, Massachusetts.