General Dynamics unit awarded Navy ship-upgrade contract

General Dynamics Mission Systems has been granted a U.S. Navy production contract for the Navy’s Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP), Block 1B3, General Dynamics said this week.

The contract, the value of which was unspecified at press time, will see General Dynamics delivering Block 1B3 system upgrades for Navy ships over the next five years. The SEWIP upgrades will be added onto existing Navy ships and incorporated into new ships as they roll off the production line.

The SEWIP program consists of tech-capability improvements for the entire Navy, divided into timed production blocks. This most recent contract is a part of SEWIP Block 1, which is designed to give Navy ships better electronic warfare capabilities, more advanced combat systems, more accurate anti-ship missile defense, enhanced counter targeting and improved surveillance abilities.

The Block 1B3 contract is the final Block 1 project. The Block 1B3 tech upgrades are designed to give Navy vessels significant situational awareness improvements in the ships' surrounding tactical environments.

"This award continues our strong, trusted partnership with the Navy to provide affordable, mission-critical electronic warfare capabilities for combat ships deployed worldwide,” Carlo Zaffanella, a vice president and general manager for General Dynamics Mission Systems, said.

Work on the five-year contract will be done in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.