SEWIP Block 1B3 Enters Low Rate Initial Production

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS120802-20
8/2/2012

From Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems Public Affairs Office

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy's Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 1B3 was approved to enter low-rate initial production, July 23.

SEWIP - managed by the Navy's Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems - is an evolutionary development upgrade program for the AN/SLQ-32 electronic warfare system installed on aircraft carrier and surface and amphibious warships.

The SEWIP program is made up of four block upgrades. The Block 1B3 upgrade provides improved battlefield situational awareness and is the final component of the first block upgrade.

"SEWIP Block 1B3 provides a huge capability gap filler in the form of an upgrade to the Navy's AN/SLQ-32(V) electronic warfare system product line" said Capt. Ted Zobel, principal assistant program manager for Electronic Warfare. "Often referred to as 'high gain, high sensitivity,' the upgrade is based on an advanced development model that was developed by the Naval Research Laboratory."

The SEWIP program was established in July 2002, and development of SEWIP Block 1A, 1B1 and 1B2 are complete, and these upgrades in full rate production and fleet installations are in-progress. The SEWIP Block 2 contract, which will provide an upgraded antenna, receiver and combat system interface, was awarded in September 2009 and development is in progress. The SEWIP Block 3 program, which will provide an upgraded electronic attack capability, is being established.

PEO IWS, an affiliated program executive office of the Naval Sea Systems Command, manages surface ship and submarine combat technologies and systems.