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Sperry Marine, a Charlottesville, VA-based unit of Northrop Grumman, received a $20.9 million firm-fixed-price contract (N00024-09-C-5304) to supply AN/BPS-16(v)5 navigation radar systems for 8 US Navy Virginia-class Block III nuclear attack submarines.
The AN/BPS-16(v)5 is an X-band submarine navigation radar and electronic navigation system that provides navigation surface surveillance. The radar includes a naval electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS-N) which runs on Sperry Marine’s voyage management system (VMS) software.
The Virginia-class Block III submarines are being built by General Dynamics Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding.
The Virginia-class Block III submarines run from SSN 784 through SSN 791. The lead submarine in the Block III build, USS North Dakota [SSN 784], is scheduled to be delivered in 2014; SSN 791 has an expected delivery date of 2019.
“Virginia Block III: The Revised Bow” has more information on the changes being incorporated into the Block III subs.