The US Navy has awarded a contract to Boeing subsidiary Argon ST to deliver additional torpedoes for navy vessels.

The $6.5m agreement forms part of the navy’s surface ship torpedo defence (SSTD) programme.

Production will take place at the company’s Lemont Furnace and Smithfield facilities and includes five AN/SLQ-25C systems, also known as Nixie.

"For more than 20 years, Nixie has provided sailors with protection and peace of mind."

Aimed at offering a fully integrated defence capability, the Nixie-towed decoy system is capable of communicating with a host ship’s network and directs torpedoes away from intended targets by mimicking a vessel’s acoustic signature.

Argon ST Maritime Defensive Systems director Mark Bock said: "For more than 20 years, Nixie has provided sailors with protection and peace of mind, and this contract ensures our partnership with the US Navy will continue to grow.

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"With a new, state-of-the art, streamlined production line for the towed body component, we continue to maximise Nixie’s capability and affordability for our global customers."

Currently deployed on all US Navy combatant ships and 20 other naval forces worldwide, the latest delivery is expected to improve integrated command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance defence capabilities.

Argon ST has been the sole contractor for the design, development and manufacture of the electro-acoustic decoy system.