U.S. Navy undersea warfare experts are ordering additional non-penetrating, electro-optical sensor submarine masts from L-3 KEO in Northampton, Mass., for Virginia-class fast-attack submarines, and for other kinds of modern submarines without traditional periscope wells. Officials of the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington announced a $14.5 million order to L-3 KEO (formerly Kollmorgen) to provide an undisclosed number Universal Modular Mast (UMM) systems for Navy submarines. L-3 acquired Kollmorgen in 2012. The Virginia-class is one of the first submarines without a traditional optical periscope that penetrates the vessel's pressure hull and extends upward to enable commanders of submerged submarines to view the scene on the surface. The UMM serves as a lifting mechanism for five different sensors, including the photonics mast program, high-data-rate mast, multifunctional mast, multifunctional modular mast, and integrated electronics support measures mast.
