The US Army has awarded BAE Systems $179 million worth of contracts as part of its Limited Interim Missile Warning System (LIMWS) Quick Reaction Capability (QRC) program.
This award includes orders for the first two production lots and funding to enable fielding of the next-generation missile warning system (MWS). The MWS is designed to improve threat detection capabilities and survivability for aircrews.
The foundation of LIMWS is BAE Systems’ 2-Color Advanced Warning System (2CAWS) processor which will allow the army to outpace the threat. 2CAWS features an open system processor, two-color infrared sensors for increased range, and a fiber optic A-kit for faster data transmission. The system processor serves as the high-bandwidth digital backbone of the system and houses machine learning missile warning algorithms specifically designed for complex, high-clutter environments and rapid threat updates.
LIMWS is compatible with existing US Army aircraft survivability equipment, including pilot interfaces and countermeasure systems, allowing for accelerated installation and integration timelines.
“Threats are evolving and proliferating at a rapid pace and our aircrews who fly into harm’s way need the most advanced protection systems available,” said Chris Austin, director of Threat Detection Solutions at BAE Systems. “These orders follow an intensive two-year development and qualification program, made possible by a strong industry-government partnership focused on achieving an aggressive schedule.”
The awards will continue the fielding of LIMWS systems in support of US Army requirements. It follows a December 2017 development contract and an initial production order in May 2018. Work on the LIMWS program will be conducted in BAE Systems’ facilities in Merrimack, New Hampshire, and Huntsville, Alabama, where the company is building a new facility.
