BAE Systems Successfully Demonstrates Contender for U.S. Navy Electronic Warfare System Upgrade.

HUDSON, N.H. -- BAE Systems has successfully demonstrated a surface-ship electronic warfare system as a proposed successor to the U.S. Navy's current primary electronic warfare suite. The system consistently detected, identified, and located enemy threat signals during demonstrations off the coast of Hawaii as a part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the world's largest international maritime exercise.

The equipment demonstrated at RIMPAC will form part of BAE Systems' proposed solution to the upcoming Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program, or SEWIP, Block 2 contract to upgrade the Navy's AN/SLQ-32 (V) electronic support measures system. The AN/SLQ-32(V) provides early warning of enemy threats and dispenses chaff decoys to defeat attacks by guided weapons, such as anti-ship cruise missiles. SEWIP Block 2 will upgrade the system's receiver, antenna, and combat system interface.

"The system performed flawlessly in sea tests, demonstrating its ability to provide the Navy with the world's most advanced maritime EW capability," said Greg Smith, vice president of information dominance systems for BAE Systems in Hudson, New Hampshire. "We demonstrated the maturity of a system that meets or exceeds the Navy's requirements for protecting our men and women at sea."

For the RIMPAC exercise, BAE Systems installed its proposed SEWIP Block 2 system on a ship and detected simulated threat signals over a period of two weeks. The system features an improved receiver and antenna group that uses digital signal processing to detect more targets at longer ranges. It also uses open-system architecture, minimizing the need for software changes, maximizing performance in complex maritime signal environments, and integrating seamlessly with existing shipboard combat systems.

About BAE Systems

BAE Systems is the premier global defense and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With approximately 100,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded 15.7 billion (US $31.4 billion) in 2007.