BAE Systems May 27 said it received a $28 million contract for the third-generation (Gen3) configuration of its Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) from the U.K. Ministry of Defense (MoD).
This is the first direct commercial sale of BAE’s Gen3 CMWS technology, and provides U.K. military aircrews with the latest CMWS survivability equipment.
“Our Common Missile Warning System has a long track record of success with more than 2 million combat hours. Its proven technology has saved countless aircraft and lives,” said Bill Staib, director of Threat Management Solutions at BAE. “Our engineers have now enhanced the system with third-generation technology, integrating hostile fire indication, missile warning, and data recording capabilities into a single unit. Through this purchase, the U.K. pilots will have enhanced detection of small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, improving their safety and mission effectiveness.”
BAE’s CMWS, which has nearly 10 years of in-theater combat experience, is a highly automated and tightly integrated survivability suite that locates threats and executes countermeasures to protect aircraft and personnel.
Recently delivered to the U.S. Army, the Gen3 system includes both hostile fire indication to detect and evade small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, and new data recording capabilities for detailed post-mission analysis.
The MoD award brings U.K. MoD procurement of CMWS units to more than 300. It also includes user data modules that enable user-defined parameter changes to customize aircraft installations as well as supporting data and services.
The new systems will be used to replace some previously purchased Gen2 CMWS units and to outfit new aircraft. The CMWS units will be installed on several U.K. platforms, including Apache, Chinook, Wildcat, and Merlin aircraft.
“The award of this contract for Common Missile Warning Systems to BAE Systems will ensure our Armed Forces continue to have the state-of-the-art equipment they need to protect our aircraft and helicopters,” said Philip Dunne, Minister for Defense Equipment Support and Technology and Member of Parliament. “The Ministry of Defense is committed to providing battle-winning technology to our military. This system provides proven detection of missile, rocket and small arms threats for tactical, fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.”