DRS Technologies has been awarded a contract from the US Navy to deliver command and control hardware products for ship self-defence system mark two (SSDS) on its aircraft carriers and amphibious assault vessels.

Under the $31.8m indefinite-delivery / indefinite-quantity contract, DRS will be responsible for the provision of hardware production, assembly, configuration, alignment, integration, testing and shipping of the SSDS hardware.

"The command and control hardware integrates radars as well as other sensors with weapons systems to secure the carriers and amphibious ships from threats."

Designed to defend against surface and airborne threats such as low-flying cruise missiles, SSDS is a ship-borne battle management system that incorporates aspects of other combat systems and delivers flexible detect-control-engage potential. The system also complies with the vessel’s self-defence and tactical situational awareness needs.

DRS Technologies and Finmeccanica North America CEO William Lynn said: "DRS has a long heritage of supporting the US Navy and is proud to provide our technology to protect our carriers and amphibious ships, especially as the Navy broadens its stated focus in the Pacific region."

In addition to interface and networking devices, peripheral systems, displays and processors, the command and control hardware integrates radars as well as other sensors with weapons systems to secure the carriers and amphibious ships from threats.

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When deployed on vessels, the system will also support secondary mission areas such as fleet support operations and search and rescue operations.

DRS will execute the work at its facilities in Chesapeake in Virginia, and Johnstown in Pennsylvania through 2017.

Defence Technology