BAE Systems has been awarded a contract to produce additional rounds for Nulka active missile decoy systems.
Under the $50m, 16th successive annual follow-on contract, BAE will produce and deliver Nulka active missile decoy rounds for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the US Navy, bringing the overall number of rounds supplied to more than 1,400.
BAE Systems aerospace director Steve Drury said: "This contract continues our provision of the world’s most advanced soft kill anti-ship missile defence system to the Royal Australian Navy and the US Navy."
Integrating a hovering rocket, autonomous system and electronic technologies, the Nulka rocket propelled active-decoy system offers effective all-weather defence capability for warships to direct anti-ship missiles away from their intended target.
Built by Australia and the US in the 1990s, the Nulka anti-ship missile defence system is currently deployed on more than 140 surface combat vessels in the US, Canadian and Australian navies.
The Nulka development team, led by BAE, includes Lockheed Martin Sippican and Aerojet Rocketdyne, who are responsible for electronic warfare payload and the rocket motor, respectively. Milspec Engineering, Thales Australia and Varley are also included.
In July, the Australian Government approved plans to upgrade the Nulka system, which involves updating the launch system with new technology, as well as improving its effectiveness, further bolstering protection against anti-ship missiles.
Image: Under the latest contract, BAE will produce and deliver Nulka rounds to the RAN and the US Navy. Photo: courtesy of BAE Systems.
