The U.S. Navy has awarded Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems Inc., based in Braintree, Massachusetts, a $83.8 million contract to produce AN/SPS-73(V) Next Generation Surface Search Radar systems.
The contract includes options that, if exercised, could increase the total value to $420.5 million. Work is expected to be completed by August 2027, with an extension through September 2031 if all options are exercised.
The AN/SPS-73(V) Surface Search Radar is a state-of-the-art navigation and surveillance system designed for shipborne and land-based applications. It integrates data from shipboard sensors, offering operators a comprehensive maritime environment overview. The system meets or exceeds International Maritime Organization and Radar Technical Commission for Maritime Services standards for an Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA).
Work on the contract will be distributed across three locations: Braintree, Massachusetts (73%), Wake Forest, North Carolina (17%), and Chantilly, Virginia (10%). Fiscal 2024 Navy procurement funds amounting to $57.8 million, along with additional funds from fiscal years 2023 and 2025, will finance the project. These funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
The radar system is currently installed on approximately 100 U.S. Navy ships, including aircraft carriers (CVN), guided missile cruisers (CG), destroyers (DDG), and amphibious assault ships (LHA, LHD). Its adaptability for various ship classes underscores its value to Navy operations. The system enhances situational awareness, providing reliable navigation and surveillance capabilities essential for modern maritime missions.
According to the Navy, the contract was not competitively procured due to statutory authorization under 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(5), which allows the procurement to be made through a specified source. The Naval Sea Systems Command, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is overseeing the contract.