BAE Nabs Sensor Contract

BAE Systems has received a $49 million US Navy contract to develop a system that can rapidly identify and track camouflaged or concealed objects and targets.

BAE Systems will develop aircraft sensors that enable passive, nonintrusive detection of submerged and concealed targets under the joint multimission electro-optical system (JMMES) contract. The effort is funded jointly by the Navy, the deputy undersecretary of Defense Advanced Systems and Concepts, and the Canadian Ministry of National Defence.

JMMES will detect, classify, identify and track otherwise hard-to-find objects to support tactical operations and homeland security missions. Using sensors compatible with naval aircraft, JMMES will demonstrate automatic processing and a targeting capability intended for joint, coalition and interagency surveillance needs, BAE said.

"The project continues BAE Systems’ research and development efforts to extend antisubmarine warfare capabilities into areas such as mine countermeasures, maritime interdiction operations, surface warfare, search and rescue, and detection of illicit crops and other concealed targets," the company said in a statement.

The first increment of funding, awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command, is $6.7 million. All work will be performed in Honolulu and is expected to be completed in June 2012. BAE Systems’ Honolulu site has served as a Department of Defense technology incubator for more than 10 years.

For more information, visit: www.baesystems.com