U.S. Navy officials needed electro-optical components and submarine sensor systems for the U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class fast attack submarines. They found the needed electro-optics at the Kollmorgen Corp. Electro-Optical Division in Northampton, Mass.

Kollmorgen won a $7.4 million U.S. Navy contract modification to build electro-optics and sensors, as well as eight universal modular masts (UMM) and one UMM interface box unit for the submarines.

The UMM submarine technology program produces a non-hull-penetrating mast that serves as a lifting mechanism for electro-optical sensor suites and other submarine systems configurations: the photonics mast, the multi-function mast, the integrated electronic mast, the high-data-rate mast, and the photonics mast variant on the Virginia-class attack submarines and Ohio-class cruise missile submarine. Each sensor is mounted on one UMM.

Twenty percent of the work will be performed in Kollmorgen’s facility in Northampton, Mass., whereas 80 percent of the work will be in Bologna, Italy.

Kollmorgen officials anticipate completion of the submarine mast work by March 2012. Awarding the contract were officials of the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington.

For additional information, visit Kollmorgen’s Electro-Optical Division online at www.eo.kollmorgen.com.