The new system will be integrated with US Navy’s carriers, destroyers, frigates, amphibious and landing helicopter assault vessels.

The US Navy has selected a team led by L3Harris Technologies to deliver Shipboard Panoramic Electro-Optic/Infrared (SPEIR) system for enhancing fleet protection.

The initial value of the contract is $205m, with a ceiling value of $593m, if all the options are exercised until March 2031.

The SPEIR programme marks a generational leap in the use of 360-degree electro-optic and infrared (EO/IR) imagery and situational awareness, as well as  improved EO/IR sensors – from a weapon support sensor to a completely passive mission solution capability.

This programme was awarded by the Programme Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) 2.0.

Under the latest contract, the prime contractor L3Harris will serve as a system integrator to provide several mission area capabilities.

The capabilities include counter-uncrewed aerial systems, anti-terrorism/force protection, anti-ship cruise missile defence, mobility, operational tasking visual information and counter-fast attack craft/fast in-shore attack craft.

The new system will be installed on the US Navy’s carriers, destroyers, frigates, amphibious and landing helicopter assault ships.

L3Harris Integrated Mission Systems president Sean Stackley said: “The SPEIR programme leverages the technologies demonstrated as part of the Office of Naval Research’s Future Naval Capability effort called Combined EO/IR Surveillance and Response System (CESARS) and a heritage of maritime EO Systems combined with L3Harris internal investment to provide a SPEIR capability to the fleet faster, with less risk and cost than other solutions.”

Other members of the L3Harris-led team are BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin .

Together, the team will provide an L3Harris solution called SPATIAL, which delivers a scalable 360-degree EO/IR passive automatic detection and tracking solution to improve the US Navy’s combat systems and navigation capabilities.

Lockheed Martin will ease the process of integration of new system into the US Navy’s ship systems, while BAE Systems will provide a fully automated image processing detection capability to minimise operator workload.

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