An $18.8 million contract awarded to Lockheed Martin in Owego by the U.S. Department of the Navy will help helicopter pilots detect submarines.
Lockheed Martin will procure 25 Digital Magnetic Anomaly Detection hardware kits as part of the contract, along with associated program management services.
“MH-60R operators now have the option to significantly upgrade their anti-submarine warfare capability using a small, removable device that senses changes in the Earth’s magnetic field caused by large metallic objects in the water,” Sikorsky Maritime Systems Vice President Tish Rourke said in a statement. “With recent upgrades to mission computer software, this non-acoustic digital MAD sensor can easily be installed into any operational MH-60R aircraft, and can operate independently or collaboratively with other mission systems, such as the aircraft’s sonobuoys or long-range active dipping sonar.”
In a statement, U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy said the contract will support both the U.S. Navy and the economy of the Southern Tier.
“This is a tremendous win for Lockheed Martin Owego and the hardworking men and women of the Southern Tier,” said Langworthy. “This investment not only strengthens our national defense capabilities — it fuels our local economy, supports good-paying jobs, and reinforces the critical role our region plays in keeping America safe.”
The project is expected to be completed in January 2027.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Lockheed Martin receives $18.8 million U.S. Navy contract for submarine detection devices
Reporting by Riccardo Monico, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
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