BAE Systems awarded $97 million contract with U.S. Army

Merrimack facility will develop next-generation missile warning system for aircraft

The U.S. Army has awarded BAE Systems a contract worth up to $97.9 million to develop a Quick Reaction Capability next-generation missile warning system for aircraft that will protect pilots and crews from new and emerging threats. The missile warning system will be built out of the company’s facility in Merrimack, NH. 

Under the Limited Interim Missile Warning System contract, BAE’s 2-Color Advanced Warning System will provide the aircraft with missile warning and hostile fire protection to improve survivability and mission effectiveness in contested environments.

“Army aviators are facing an evolving threat environment that requires advanced detection capabilities,” said Paul Markwardt, vice president and general manager of Survivability, Targeting, and Sensing Solutions at BAE Systems. “Our system will provide the Army fleet with unmatched protection capability that helps warfighters execute their missions.”

BAE developed its 2-Color Advanced Warning System with Leonardo DRS and proposed the solution in response to the Army’s June solicitation for the Limited Interim Missile Warning System. Leonardo DRS will provide the 2-color infrared sensor as the eyes of the system.

The 2-Color Advanced Warning System provides a foundation for the Army’s future threat detection needs and is designed to be upgradeable to meet future needs. It will work with existing Army aircraft survivability equipment, including aircraft interfaces and countermeasure systems.

The Quick Reaction Capability next-generation missile warning system is an upgrade from BAE’s Common Missile Warning System, which is currently fielded on thousands of Army platforms and has saved dozens of aircraft and their crews since it was first fielded in 2005.