BAE Systems secures US Army next-gen 2CAWS contract
BAE Systems has received a $62 million contract from the US Army to deliver the next-generation 2-Colour Advanced Warning System (2CAWS).
Above:
A Blackhawk helicopter and two other US Army rotary aircraft in midflight.
Courtesy BAE Systems
The system provides aircrews with advanced threat detection capabilities, improving survivability and mission effectiveness in contested environments. This latest award is part of the Limited Interim Missile Warning System (LIMWS) and encompasses the third of four production lots.
“We are excited to leverage our expertise on Quick Reaction Capability programmes to support the US Army - protecting their aircraft and the aircrews who fly them,” said Chris Austin, director of Threat Detection Solutions at BAE Systems. “2CAWS offers new capabilities that are revolutionising protection, for both the enduring and future US Army fleets.”
Optimised for size, weight and power, 2CAWS features an open system architecture, two-color infrared sensors for increased range and a fibre optic A-kit for faster data transmission. The system processor serves as the high-bandwidth digital backbone of the system. It houses advanced machine learning missile warning algorithms specifically designed for complex, high-clutter environments and rapid threat updates. 2CAWS is compatible with existing US Army aircraft survivability equipment, including pilot interfaces and countermeasure systems, allowing for faster installation and integration timelines.
2CAWS builds on BAE Systems’ experience delivering combat-proven aircraft survivability equipment to the US and its allies. The company’s Common Missile Warning System, a member of its aircraft survivability portfolio, is currently fielded on thousands of US Army platforms and has saved dozens of aircraft and their crews since it was first fielded in 2005.
Work on the LIMWS programme will be conducted in BAE Systems’ facilities in Huntsville, Alabama and Nashua, New Hampshire.