The State Department this week approved a potential $207 million Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Expeditionary (SURTASS-E) mission systems for Vessels of Opportunity (VOO) to Australia .
The DoD’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the sale on May 4.
Australia’s request includes the SURTASS-E for VOO as well as a shore processing mission system, a spare SURTASS passive acoustic array; containers; communications parts and various training and support equipment and services.
The SURTASS provides mobile detection, tracking and reporting of submarine targets to help tactical weapon platforms target them.
It specifically includes a low-frequency passive and active acoustic surveillance system consisting of a towed passive sonar array line that in the U.S. military is installed on tactical auxiliary general ocean surveillance ships.
The primary contractor for this FMS would be Lockheed Martin [LMT], specifically its Syracuse, N.Y. and Manassas, Va. facilities.
DSCA said the SURTASS-E would help provide Australia’s tactical platforms with the ability to better detect and cue enemy submarines.
“The ability to provide acoustic Wide Area Surveillance and generate Indications and Warnings to Australian Commands will significantly improve shared maritime security,” the agency said in a statement.
DSCA noted Australia is one of the U.S.’ most important allies in the region and this will help to meet current and future maritime threats.
This request comes in the wake of the U.S., U.K., and Australian officials unveiling the AUKUS plan to help Australia procure and ultimately build its own nuclear-powered attack submarines (Defense Daily, March 13).