BALTIMORE - The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Mission Systems Sector in Linthicum Heights, Md., a $334,419,034 firm-fixed-price contract modification to produce up to nine additional Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 3 systems, including the first shipset to be installed on an aircraft carrier.
The award modifies a previously issued contract (N00024-20-C-5519) and covers production of SEWIP Block 3 Hemisphere and Quadrant electronic attack subsystems. The contract includes options that, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract action to $783,025,378. Fiscal 2025 Navy shipbuilding and construction funds in the full amount were obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
SEWIP Block 3 is a U.S. Navy program of record focused on advanced electronic attack capabilities to protect surface ships from anti-ship missile threats. The system uses onboard electronic warfare techniques to detect, deceive, and disrupt adversary sensors and seekers, improving ship survivability in contested electromagnetic environments. With this award, Northrop Grumman is now under contract to deliver up to 24 SEWIP Block 3 systems.
Related: Northrop Grumman to build electronic warfare (EW) shipboard electronics for (GaN) based SEWIP Block 3
Program milestone
A key milestone in this procurement is the planned deployment of SEWIP Block 3 on an aircraft carrier, expanding the system’s operational footprint beyond smaller surface combatants and into capital ships with more complex electromagnetic and mission system integration requirements.
"The SEWIP Block 3 technology transforms the future of electronic warfare by enhancing the adaptability and resilience of our fleet in a rapidly evolving threat landscape," said Lara Kopf, vice president of land and maritime systems at Northrop Grumman.
Northrop Grumman is also leveraging SEWIP Block 3 technologies to develop Scaled Onboard Electronic Attack (SOEA), a lower size, weight, and power variant intended for platforms that cannot support the full SEWIP Block 3 configuration. SOEA is designed to provide electronic attack capabilities, such as jamming and disrupting incoming missile threats, for smaller or less power-capable vessels. The company is currently under contract with the Navy and in the rapid prototyping phase for SOEA.
Work under the contract modification will be performed in Baltimore, Md.; Tampa, Fla.; Chelmsford, Mass.; Sykesville, Md.; San Diego; Hudson, N.H.; Woburn, Mass.; Rochester, N.Y.; Nashua, N.H.; Glendale, Ariz.; Denver; Washington, N.C.; Longmont, Colo.; Cincinnati; and other locations each below 1%. Work is expected to be completed by December 2029 and could continue through April 2030 if all options are exercised.
