Article Posted on : - Dec 24, 2010

AN/SQQ-32 mine-hunting sonar. A file photo.

HUDSON, NEW HAMPSHIRE (BNS): BAE Systems will deliver an upgraded mine-hunting sonar system to the US Navy for the detection and classification of bottom and moored sea mines. The company will provide four systems under a $14 million contract.

The AN/SQQ-32(V)4 mine-hunting sonar, set with the high-frequency wide band upgrade, replaces an existing SQQ-32(V)3 detection sonar that is employed aboard the MCM-1 Avenger Class mine countermeasures ships.

The upgrade will improve detection performance in the littoral environment and against stealth mines, BAE Systems said.

"This is a key win for us and we now have a new customer, a new mission and a new product," said Howie Weinstein, director of Persistent Surveillance for BAE Systems. "We look forward to partnering with the Navy to deliver this improved mine-hunting capability to the fleet."

In addition to new detection sonar in the towed body, the upgrade replaces the operator consoles located in the Combat Information Center. In order to process the extensive data from new high speed optical channels within the system, these modernized operator consoles implement a multiple computer server layout interfaced via a 10Gbit communications network. With the extensive use of COTs open system components within the consoles, life cycle costs are reduced and incorporate a means for rapid technology insertion.

BAE Systems will supply four build-to-print production systems, with two options for an additional 10 systems and one battle spare. The base award value plus these options along with engineering services total $42 million.

The AN/SQQ-32(V)4 system was designed by the teaming of the government laboratory Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City, and the Applied Research Laboratory, University of Texas.