$62 million award from U.S. Army for the next-generation missile warning system

BAE Systems has received a $62 million contract from the U.S. Army to deliver the next-generation 2-Color Advanced Warning System (2CAWS). The system provides aircrews with advanced threat detection capabilities, improving survivability and mission effectiveness in contested environments. This latest award is part of the Limited Interim Missile Warning System (LIMWS) and encompasses the third of four production lots.

“We are excited to leverage our expertise on Quick Reaction Capability programs to support the U.S. Army – protecting their aircraft and the aircrews who fly them,” said Chris Austin, director of Threat Detection Solutions at BAE Systems. “2CAWS offers new capabilities that are revolutionizing protection, for both the enduring and future U.S. Army fleets.”

Optimized for size, weight, and power, 2CAWS features an open system architecture, two-color infrared sensors for increased range, and a fiber optic A-kit for faster data transmission. The system processor serves as the high-bandwidth digital backbone of the system. It houses advanced machine learning missile warning algorithms specifically designed for complex, high-clutter environments and rapid threat updates. 2CAWS is compatible with existing U.S. Army aircraft survivability equipment, including pilot interfaces and countermeasure systems, allowing for faster installation and integration timelines.

2CAWS builds on BAE Systems’ experience delivering combat-proven aircraft survivability equipment to the U.S. and its allies. The company’s Common Missile Warning System, a member of its aircraft survivability portfolio, is currently fielded on thousands of U.S. Army platforms and has saved dozens of aircraft and their crews since it was first fielded in 2005.

Work on the LIMWS program will be conducted in BAE Systems’ state-of-the-art facilities in Huntsville, Alabama, and Nashua, New Hampshire.