The US Navy will invest $640m in the development and modernisation of a new SLQ-32 shipboard electronic warfare suite over the next ten years.

As part of the investment, the navy also intends to equip future warships, including the DDG-1000, with the SLQ-32 warfare suite, according to forecastinternational.com.

Modernisation of the system will be carried out in four phases, adding mission capabilities including electronic attack and infrared detection to the system, as well as an improvement of the underlying technology behind the system.

The block 1 upgrades to the SLQ-32 will be carried out by General Dynamics, which is expected to complete the upgrade work by 2012.