Raytheon awarded LCS sonar contract

150707-N-ZZ786-143 TIMOR SEA (July 7, 2015) Sonar Technician 3rd Class (Surface) Ralph Manuel, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89), stands watch in the ship’s sonar control center during an anti-submarine warfare exercise as part of Talisman Sabre 2015. Talisman Sabre 2015 is a bilateral training exercise intended to maintain a high level of interoperability between U.S. and Australian forces. (U.S. Navy illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David Flewellyn/Released)

Raytheon has been awarded a Navy contract for variable-depth sonar for the littoral combat ship.

Under the $27.9 million contract, which will rise to $300 million if all options are exercised, Raytheon will produce a full preproduction test article by late 2018. 

“This ship-deployed sonar system design, identical for both LCS variants, features reduced weight to minimize ship impact, increased maneuverability and it provides the opportunity for increased warfighting payloads,” accoridng to a Raytheon news release. “These features were validated by the fleet sailors who operated the system at a full-scale demonstration at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in August 2016.”