NASHUA, N.H. — BAE Systems has secured a $36 million contract from the U.S. Navy to produce and deliver Multifunction Modular Masts (MMM) for the fleet’s Virginia-class attack submarines.
The award underscores the Navy’s continued transition away from traditional, hull-penetrating periscopes toward advanced, non-penetrating photonics masts that preserve hull integrity while significantly expanding the sensor suite available to commanders.
The “Eye” of the Boat The Multifunction Modular Mast (MMM) serves as the primary sensor cluster for the submarine when operating at periscope depth. Unlike legacy optical periscopes that required a large tube to cut through the pressure hull—creating a potential structural weak point and limiting control room layout—the MMM is a telescopic, non-hull-penetrating system.
The mast houses a complex array of sensors, including:
- High-definition electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras for visual surveillance.
- Electronic Support Measures (ESM) sensors for detecting and classifying enemy radar and communications signals.
- Antennas for secure line-of-sight communications.
Under the terms of the contract, BAE Systems will manufacture the masts at its Electronic Systems facility. The technology allows the submarine to remain submerged while gathering critical Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) data in both open-ocean and littoral environments.
Strategic Implications:
“The Multifunction Modular Mast is critical to the Virginia-class submarine’s ability to see and hear in the battlespace without being detected,” said a BAE Systems program representative. “This contract ensures the fleet receives the latest generation of sensor packaging, providing the situational awareness dominance required for modern undersea warfare.”
This specific award focuses on the production of the mast assemblies, which are designed to be modular, allowing the Navy to swap out sensor payloads as technology evolves without redesigning the entire mast structure.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems, Inc. and its 35,000 people constitute the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace, and security company. The company provides some of the world’s most advanced, technology-led defense, aerospace, and security solutions, including electronic warfare systems, sensors, and undersea technologies.