BAE Systems has secured a $36 million contract to produce advanced Multifunction Modular Mast (MMM) systems for the U.S. Navy’s submarine fleet, marking a critical step in enhancing undersea electronic warfare capabilities. The contract, awarded by prime contractor Lockheed Martin, will see these sophisticated masts integrated onto new Virginia-class submarines, where they will serve as a core component of the vessels’ AN/BLQ-10 electronic warfare suite.
In modern naval operations, maintaining stealth while gathering intelligence is paramount. The MMM system addresses this need directly. It is a high-sensitivity, radio frequency receiving antenna housed within a durable composite radome, designed to operate while the submarine is still submerged. This allows crews to detect, identify, and pinpoint the direction of adversary communications signals long before breaking the surface, providing a decisive informational advantage in contested waters.
“In dynamic and contested environments, stealth is key,” said Michael Rottman, program area director for Maritime Sensors and Systems at BAE Systems. “The Multifunction Modular Mast system equips U.S. Navy submarines with critical capabilities to locate and identify potential threats, enabling them to analyze and respond accordingly.”
The system’s design is engineered for the extreme conditions of the undersea domain. Its pressure-rated, corrosion-resistant construction ensures reliability and maximizes signal-gathering performance while minimizing the mast’s visibility. Beyond its primary electronic support measures (ESM) role, the MMM’s modular architecture features a payload module that allows the Navy to integrate additional sensors in the future, adapting the system for evolving mission requirements.
This contract underscores the growing importance of electromagnetic spectrum dominance in network-centric warfare. As adversaries advance their own technologies, systems like the MMM provide submarines with a vital secondary source of situational awareness, complementing traditional radar and sonar to create a more complete tactical picture.
BAE Systems will manufacture the MMM systems at its facilities in Hudson, Merrimack, and Nashua, New Hampshire, drawing on over 65 years of experience in developing ruggedized maritime communications and sensor solutions. This award represents not just a production order, but a continued investment in the silent, unseen capabilities that ensure U.S. undersea superiority.
