According to information released on July 26, 2021, BAE Systems has received a $117 million contract to produce next-generation missile seekers for the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), a precision-guided anti-ship missile designed to give the U.S. Navy the ability to strike high-value targets from long range while avoiding counter-fire.
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LRASM combines extended range with increased survivability and lethality to deliver long-range precision strike capabilities. (Picture source BAE Systems)
The seeker technology enables LRASM to detect and engage specific maritime targets in contested environments with less dependence on traditional navigation systems. The next-generation seeker design reduces overall missile costs.
“We’re committed to providing affordable systems that deliver unmatched capabilities to the U.S. and its allies,” said Bruce Konigsberg, Radio Frequency Sensors product area director at BAE Systems. “We’ve designed efficient seeker systems that are easier to build and test without compromising on performance.”
Following design improvements conducted under a Diminishing Sources/Affordability contract, BAE Systems is producing next-generation seekers for Lots 4 and 5 that are more capable and easier to produce, with less-complicated manufacturing processes. The next-generation seekers have replaced obsolescent and limited-availability parts, dramatically reducing the system cost.
LRASM combines extended range with increased survivability and lethality to deliver long-range precision strike capabilities. LRASM is designed to detect and destroy specific targets within groups of ships by employing advanced technologies that reduce dependence on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, network links, and GPS navigation in contested environments.
The LRASM sensor uses semi-autonomous guidance and target cueing data to precisely locate and attack targets, reducing reliance on Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, networking links, and GPS navigation.
