BAE Systems’ RF sensors offer guidance capabilities for the stealthy LRASM. Credit: © BAE Systems.

BAE Systems has been awarded a contract from Lockheed Martin, to supply additional radio-frequency (RF) sensors for the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) to enhance its stealth and guidance capabilities.

The contract, received in December 2024, stipulates BAE Systems to provide these RF sensors until 2030.

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Since 2018, BAE Systems has been supplying RF sensors for the LRASM programme.

The large-scale procurement allows the US government to enhance its maritime strike arsenal while lowering acquisition costs.

BAE Systems LRASM sensor programme director Vanessa Varrati said: “BAE Systems is dedicated to its work with Lockheed Martin to provide discriminating capabilities to the warfighter.

“This contract recognises our technical and operational expertise that brings this critical deterrence and strike capability to the US Navy and US Air Force.”

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A precision-guided anti-ship missile, LRASM is intended to provide the US Navy with the capability to strike high-value targets from long range while evading counter-fire.

The LRASM sensor utilises semi-autonomous guidance and target cueing data to accurately locate and hit targets, lowering dependence on airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, networking links, and GPS navigation.

BAE Systems Small Form Factor Solutions director Ed Leonard said: “We’re anticipating the need for small, powerful, multi-function hardware that can work on a variety of platforms, and we’re building the core elements today.”

With an eye on future advancements, the company is developing modular and scalable systems designed to address the evolving requirements of warfighters in a dynamic battlefield landscape.

In 2020, Lockheed Martin awarded a $60m contract to BAE Systems for the production of advanced missile seekers for LRASM.

This was followed by another contract in 2021 valued at $117m for manufacturing next-generation missile seekers.

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