L-3 subsidiary gets Navy contract for submarine mast

L-3 has been awarded a $48.7 million Navy contract to develop a photonic mast for subs.

The contract, with L-3 subsidiary L-3 KEO, calls for the company "to develop and build a new, slimmer version of its photonics mast for the Block 4 Low Profile Photonics Mast (LPPM) program for use on Virginia-class submarines," according to a L-3 news release. The contract provides for options to produce up to 29 masts over four years, which would boost the contract to a maximum of $157 million.

"We are very pleased to have been selected to provide the U.S. Navy with a photonics mast that combines the enhanced situational awareness capability it wants with the more stealthy footprint it needs to avoid detection in international waters," said L-3 KEO president Matthew Richi.

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