Navy awards contract for submarine combat system hardware

The Navy awarded defense contractor Leonardo DRS a contract worth more than $417 million today for "critical electronic combat control" and sonar systems to be installed in the service's submarine fleet, according to a news release.

The contract will provide design, procurement, production, installation and more, according to the release. Funding will also go toward producing subsequent systems, kits and enclosures.

“We are very proud to again be selected as the design agent on TI-26 and are honored to support this critical submarine combat control and sonar system hardware program for the U.S. Navy and allied partners,” Leonardo DRS’ Senior Vice President and General Manager of the naval electronics business unit Cari Ossenfort said in a statement. “DRS is uniquely qualified for this program because of our agility, proven engineering processes and experienced team, and that is also the reason we remain a trusted partner to Naval Sea Systems Command and Program Executive Office Submarine.”

The new system -- Technology Insertion Hardware TI-26 -- is the “latest generation” of a family of display, processor and network systems that support requirements of Navy submarines, the release added. The contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy, the foreign military sales program as well as the Royal Australian Navy.