The U.S. Navy has issued a multiple-award delivery order contract to manufacture sonobuoys for the service, international partners and foreign military sales clients.
Multiple vendors will compete for sonobuoy delivery orders under MADOC to enable the Navy to replenish its expendable sonar systems used in anti-submarine warfare operations on a daily basis and maintain inventory levels in compliance with the military branchâs munitions requirements process, Naval Air Systems Command said Wednesday.
The ordering period will kick off in fiscal year 2023 and run through FY 2027.
Capt. Dennis Lloyd, anti-submarine warfare systems program manager, said sonobuoys are critical to supporting the Navy and its allies in executing air ASW missions and the contract award is key to the future of sonobuoy production.
The ASW Systems Program (PMA-264) oversees the production and delivery of sonobuoys, which are air-launched acoustic sensors designed to transmit underwater sounds to remote processors aboard MH-60R Seahawk, P-3C Orion and P-8A Poseidon aircraft.
The Department of Defense uses the other transaction authority process to enable companies to conduct research, build prototypes and qualify new sonobuoy designs.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Erapsco are the current sonobuoy suppliers to the Navy under a $222 million contract modification awarded in March.
