BAE Systems to upgrade missile decoy

BAE Systems has signed an AU$28 million contract with the Defence Materiel Organisation’s Maritime Electronic Warfare Systems Program Office for SEA 1397 Phase 5B, the upgrade of the Nulka launch subsystem.

Nulka is an Australian designed and developed active missile decoy built by an Australian/American collaboration. BAE Systems is the prime contractor responsible for design, development and integration of the Nulka system.

Under the contract, BAE Systems will design and qualify an upgrade to the existing Nulka launch subsystem for a series of existing and new Royal Australian Navy ships, including the ANZAC Class Frigates, the Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyers and the Canberra Class Amphibious Ships.

“This is a significant milestone for the Nulka program - the delivery of this capability will assure that the next generation of RAN warships will have the most effective soft-kill anti-ship missile defence,” said Steve Drury, director aerospace, BAE Systems.

The contract commenced on 1 October 2014 and work will be undertaken at BAE Systems Richmond facility through the Weapons Systems business.

Nulka is deployed on more than 140 surface combat ships in the US, Canadian and Australian navies and is also Australia’s largest and most successful regular defence export.

The Nulka system also relies on a strong Australian supply chain and supports high-tech manufacturing in regional centres through the involvement of suppliers including Milspec Engineering, Thales Australia and Varley.