WASHINGTON - The Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement
Program (SEWIP) Block 3 Program successfully completed the Preliminary Design
Review (PDR) for the next generation AN/SLQ-32 shipboard electronic warfare
system, Aug. 25.
Completed on schedule in conjunction with prime
contractor Northrop Grumman, the review assessed the state of the system
architecture and preliminary design. The PDR is a major program milestone,
validating technology maturity and technical development plans
"This ensures that the cutting-edge preliminary
design is on track to meet necessary technology improvements to the AN/SLQ-32
family of electronic warfare systems through specific enhancements to threat
identification, prioritization, defensive systems optimal assignment, and
active engagement," said Rear Adm. Jon A. Hill, Program Executive Officer,
Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS).
This system represents the Navy's investment of nearly a
decade in advanced electronic warfare through the Office of Naval Research
Integrated Topside prototype program. By
specifically augmenting and upgrading the current AN/SLQ-32(V)6, the
AN/SLQ-32(V)7 it will deliver improved,
fully integrated, threat detection and active radar-jamming capability, coupled
with critical enhancements in coordinated electronic warfare defense. Critical
Design Review is scheduled for 2016, and initial fielding is slated for 2019.
"This was a huge accomplishment for our SEWIP
team," said Capt. Seiko Okano, SEWIP program manager. "It is apparent
that proliferation of advanced technology will continue to challenge our forces
both at home and abroad. This upgrade
will provide increased protection to both our ships and their crews, and the
Navy is counting on us to deliver this critical electronic warfare capability
improvement on schedule and cost.
PEO IWS, an affiliated PEO of Naval Sea Systems Command,
manages surface ship and submarine combat technologies and systems and
coordinates Navy enterprise solutions across ship platforms.
-NAVSEA-