Officials of the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington announced a $7.1 million order Tuesday to the Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems segment in Liverpool, N.Y., to build additional Low-Cost Conformal Array (LCCA) sonar systems for high-frequency sonar coverage above and behind the submarine.
The LCCA is to be mounted on both sides of the submarine sail aboard Improved Los Angeles class fast attack submarines (SSN 688i), earlier-model 688-class boats, Seawolf-class attack submarines (SSN 21), Virginia-class attack submarines (SSN 774), and Ohio-class guided-missile submarines.
Combined with the legacy high frequency sail array mounted in the front of the sail, the system provides 360-degree detection capability and situational awareness with high frequency passive sonar.
The LCCA is designed to help submarine commanders navigate safely among conventional and nuclear submarines and surface warships, as well as civil and commercial surface vessels by alerting submarine crews of short-range contacts.
The submarine will process LCCA signals with the on-board AN/BQQ-10 Acoustic Rapid COTS Insertion sonar system, otherwise known as A-RCI, which is for sonar signal processing using rapidly upgradable commercial off-the-shelf signal-processing and computer equipment.
On this contract, Lockheed Martin engineers will do the work in Liverpool and Owego N.Y.; and Marion, Mass., and should be finished by March 2020. For more information contact Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems online at www.lockheedmartin.com, or Naval Sea Systems Command at www.navsea.navy.mil.
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