Navy Plans F-35 Mission Planning Redesign
The U.S. Navy is preparing a major redesign of the ground-based mission planning environment supporting the F-35 Lightning II, seeking industry assistance for a follow-on engineering effort that could run for five years.
The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, or NAWCWD, published a sources sought notice on October 2, 2026, for systems engineering, analysis, operational expertise and program management support for the F-35 Mission Planning Environment Integrated Product Team. The notice is part of market research and does not represent an awarded contract or a final solicitation.
The planned effort is expected to support development of a next-generation F-35 Mission Planning Environment. Navy acquisition documents place the estimated value of the future requirement above $50 million and below $100 million over 60 months.
The planning system behind an F-35 sortie
Mission planning is an important part of F-35 operations but is less visible than the aircraft’s radar, electronic warfare systems, sensors and weapons.
Before an aircraft launches, planners must prepare the information needed for a particular mission. That work involves translating operational requirements, available intelligence, threat information, routes, weapons employment considerations and other mission parameters into data that can be transferred to the aircraft.
The F-35 Mission Planning Environment provides the ground-based architecture supporting this preparation. The Navy’s requirement is therefore focused on the software, systems engineering and supporting architecture around the aircraft rather than a modification to the F-35 airframe itself.
That distinction matters. Improving the aircraft’s onboard systems is only part of increasing combat capability. The information needed to use those systems has to be prepared, secured and delivered before the aircraft enters the mission.
A five-year engineering effort
The Navy is seeking approximately 278,800 labor hours for the follow-on requirement, according to procurement information associated with the sources sought notice. The existing engineering support effort was listed at approximately 280,050 labor hours, indicating that the Navy is planning a substantial continuation of technical support rather than a small software maintenance project.
The anticipated period of performance is May 20, 2027, through May 19, 2032. The Navy’s current acquisition schedule anticipates a final request for proposals in early 2027 and a possible award in May 2027.
The acquisition remains at the planning stage. Industry responses to the sources sought notice will help the Navy refine its acquisition approach before a formal solicitation.
NAWCWD’s fiscal year 2026 long-range acquisition forecast separately lists the F-35 Mission Planning Environment requirement at more than $50 million but less than $100 million. The forecast identifies concept development, requirements development and systems engineering for the F-35 NextGen Mission Planning Environment as core elements of the work.
Why the architecture matters
The redesign is significant because the F-35 is increasingly operated as part of a wider digital combat network rather than as an isolated fighter.
F-35 mission preparation has to account for information moving between aircraft, mission planners, intelligence organizations, weapons and communications systems. Security and interoperability are consequently central engineering requirements.
The Navy’s acquisition documents identify high security requirements for the work. That reflects the sensitivity of the information and systems involved in preparing aircraft for operational missions.
The broader F-35 program is also moving toward additional software and weapons capabilities under its modernization plans. As the aircraft’s configuration changes, the ground infrastructure used to prepare missions has to keep pace.
This creates a software problem that is different from simply adding a new function to the aircraft. New weapons, sensors and mission capabilities can generate corresponding requirements for planning tools, data management, cybersecurity, testing and operational support.
Mission planning is separate from mission data reprogramming
One distinction is important when discussing the F-35’s digital architecture.
Mission planning and mission data reprogramming are related but separate functions.
Mission planning concerns preparation for a particular sortie. Mission data reprogramming, by contrast, involves developing and maintaining data that enables the aircraft to interpret and respond to specific threat environments.
The two processes interact operationally. An aircraft can have sophisticated onboard sensors and electronic warfare capabilities, but mission planners still need appropriate information and data before the aircraft enters a particular operating environment.
The Navy’s redesign effort therefore should not be interpreted as replacing the F-35’s combat systems. It is aimed at improving the ground-based environment that supports their operational use.
Distributed operations raise the planning challenge
The operational requirement becomes more demanding when aircraft operate from dispersed locations or under contested communications conditions.
A centralized planning process can be difficult to sustain when units have limited connectivity, restricted access to networks or rapidly changing mission requirements. Future air operations may require planners to work with less time and greater uncertainty while maintaining the security of sensitive mission information.
That does not mean the planned redesign will automatically solve those problems. The Navy has not publicly disclosed a complete set of future system capabilities, and the sources sought notice is not a statement that specific performance improvements have already been achieved.
The more defensible conclusion is that the Navy is investing engineering resources in the architecture that supports F-35 mission preparation as the aircraft and its operating environment become more complex.
An F-35 fleet issue, not simply a Navy issue
Although the requirement originates with the U.S. Navy, the notice refers to the F-35 program rather than restricting the effort to the Navy’s carrier-based F-35C.
That is consistent with the nature of the F-35 program, which is operated by the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps as well as international partners.
The F-35’s value to coalition operations depends partly on the ability of different operators to exchange information and conduct missions using compatible systems and procedures. Mission planning infrastructure therefore has implications beyond individual aircraft squadrons.
The Navy’s existing acquisition planning also shows that mission planning equipment and next-generation mission planning hardware and software are already part of the wider F-35 support architecture.
What the Navy has actually committed to
The current evidence supports a more limited conclusion than some early reports suggest.
The Navy has identified a future requirement, conducted market research and forecast a five-year effort potentially worth more than $50 million but less than $100 million. It has not yet awarded the follow-on contract.
The next major milestone is the transition from market research to a formal solicitation. If the current schedule remains unchanged, the Navy expects to seek final proposals in early 2027 and could award the follow-on effort in May 2027.
For the F-35 program, the underlying issue is straightforward: combat capability increasingly depends on the software and information architecture surrounding the aircraft as much as on the aircraft itself. The planned Mission Planning Environment redesign is an effort to keep that supporting architecture aligned with the fighter’s expanding mission set.
USS Donald Cook 5-Inch Gun Restored After 2 Years
A two-year weapons casualty aboard the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Donald Cook has been resolved after maintenance technicians identified an undocumented electronic fault that had resisted earlier troubleshooting efforts.
The repair restored the ship’s Mk 45 5-inch lightweight gun to operational status while Donald Cook was deployed in support of ongoing U.S. operations involving Iran, according to a U.S. Navy account published by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, or MARMC, on October 1, 2026. The repair was subsequently validated through a live-fire exercise that produced what the Navy described as highly satisfactory results.
A problem that survived routine troubleshooting
The failure had persisted for about two years. Earlier maintenance teams had followed the troubleshooting procedures and component checks identified in standard technical documentation, but those efforts did not resolve the problem.
The breakthrough came when MARMC Code 294 technicians Brian Hall and Adam Harlan examined the gun’s electronic control system from a different angle. They disabled the compensation circuit inside the Electronic Servo Control Unit and found that the gun mount immediately returned to its commanded position.
That led the technicians to a missing 25-volt direct-current signal and ultimately to a failed Fire Control Interface Circuit Card. Replacing the card, together with correcting secondary electrical faults, restored the gun system.
The episode illustrates a less visible part of naval readiness. A warship can remain deployed with most of its major combat systems functioning while a single failed subsystem removes a specific capability from its weapons inventory. In Donald Cook’s case, the ship remained equipped with its other weapons, but the 5-inch gun was unavailable for its intended missions during the casualty period.
Repairing a deployed warship
The technical solution was only part of the challenge. The two MARMC technicians left Norfolk on July 7 carrying tools, replacement parts and specialized test equipment. Their journey took them through Detroit, Amsterdam and Djibouti before they traveled aboard a CMV-22B Osprey to an aircraft carrier operating in the region.
They then transferred to Donald Cook. An initial MH-60S Seahawk transfer was abandoned because rough seas made a safe landing on the destroyer’s flight deck impossible. An MH-60R subsequently carried out three separate flights to move the technicians and equipment aboard the ship.
Once aboard, the technicians had to troubleshoot the weapon while the destroyer remained underway. MARMC said work was generally limited to a daily window from 0900 to 1800, while rough weather restricted topside work because of the risk of sea spray affecting exposed electronics.
The replacement circuit card also had to move through the Navy’s logistics network. Instead of waiting for the normal delivery timeline for an underway ship in the Indian Ocean, logistics personnel expedited the component to Singapore. Donald Cook’s supply department then arranged its movement to Diego Garcia. The replacement reached the ship within 12 days.
What the restored gun adds
The Mk 45 is a fully automatic naval gun designed for surface warfare, air-defense applications and naval surface fire support. The Navy lists a conventional-ammunition range of 13 nautical miles and an automatic firing rate of 16 to 20 rounds per minute. The Mk 45 Mod 2 is fitted to the earlier Flight I and Flight II Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, including DDG 75.
That makes the restoration more than a maintenance milestone. The gun provides a type of immediate, relatively short-range fires capability that is distinct from the destroyer’s vertical-launch missile battery.
Donald Cook’s official Navy information lists its Mk 41 Vertical Launching System as capable of employing Standard missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles and vertically launched anti-submarine rockets. The ship also carries other defensive and underwater-warfare systems.
The 5-inch gun therefore should not be viewed as the destroyer’s primary strike system. Its value is complementary. It provides conventional naval gunfire for appropriate surface and land targets and can be employed repeatedly without consuming a missile from the ship’s vertical-launch inventory.
The Navy’s broader description of the Mk 45 specifically identifies naval surface fire support as one of its intended missions. Live-fire exercises on other Arleigh Burke-class destroyers continue to use the system for this purpose.
A readiness issue, not a loss of combat capability
The two-year casualty should also be put in perspective.
The failure did not leave Donald Cook without its principal combat systems. The ship continued to carry its Mk 41 vertical launch system, Aegis combat system, Phalanx close-in weapon systems, torpedoes and other armament. The Navy’s description of the destroyer identifies it as a multi-mission platform intended for air, surface, subsurface and land operations.
What was lost was one specific layer of that capability.
That distinction matters when assessing the readiness implications. The restoration did not transform Donald Cook into a new type of combatant. Instead, it returned a longstanding weapon system to the configuration expected of the ship and restored an option for naval surface fire support that had been unavailable for an extended period.
Why the repair matters beyond one destroyer
The more important lesson is the maintenance challenge created when aging electronic and mechanical systems remain in service on deployed warships.
Donald Cook is an early Flight I Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, commissioned in 1998. Its Mk 45 Mod 2 gun belongs to an earlier generation of the destroyer program, while the Navy’s broader surface fleet increasingly operates with upgraded sensors, combat systems and weapons.
The repair also shows why technical reachback remains important for ships operating far from U.S. maintenance facilities. The Navy was able to send specialists to the ship, identify a fault that had escaped earlier troubleshooting, and move a replacement component across multiple locations while the destroyer remained deployed.
The final test was operational rather than simply administrative. After the circuit card and secondary electrical problems were addressed, Donald Cook’s crew conducted a live-fire exercise with the Mk 45. The Navy said the results returned the ship’s naval gunfire support capability to the fleet commander.
The Navy has not publicly disclosed whether the gun experienced other major problems during the two-year casualty period, nor has it indicated that the fault was representative of the entire Mk 45 fleet. The available information supports a narrower conclusion: technicians resolved a persistent Donald Cook-specific electronic problem and restored the destroyer’s gun to service.
For a deployed destroyer, that restoration closes a significant maintenance gap without changing the ship’s broader role. The case also demonstrates how a relatively small circuit-card failure can remove a complete weapon system from a warship and require a global maintenance effort to put it back into the fight.
BAE Systems Wins $70.5M Trident II D5 Support Deal
BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc. has received a potential $70.52 million U.S. Navy contract to provide technical support and facilities engineering services for the Trident II D5 Strategic Weapon System, extending the company’s support role through September 2031.
The cost-plus-fixed-fee award, issued by the Navy’s Portfolio Acquisition Executive Strategic Systems Programs (PAE SSP) in Washington, D.C., has a potential value of $70,524,268 when all optional line items are exercised. The Navy is obligating $18,408,391 at award using fiscal 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act funds. The department said none of those funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
The contract is also identified as benefiting a Foreign Military Sale, although the award announcement does not identify the foreign customer.
Where the work will take place
The largest share of the work will be performed in Washington, D.C., which accounts for 68% of the effort. Another 16% will take place at Kings Bay, Georgia, while Bangor, Washington, accounts for the remaining 16%.
The geographic distribution is significant because Kings Bay and Bangor are the two U.S. Navy locations associated with the Atlantic and Pacific fleets of Ohio class ballistic missile submarines. The Navy’s Trident II D5 Strategic Weapon System is deployed aboard Ohio class SSBNs, while the system is also part of the United Kingdom’s sea based strategic deterrent under the Polaris Sales Agreement.
The Navy describes the Trident II system as consisting of the Trident II D5 submarine launched ballistic missile, reentry system, and supporting shipboard systems. The D5 is a three stage, solid fuel, inertially guided missile that entered operational service in 1990.
The new BAE Systems award is focused on the broader technical and facilities support needed to sustain that strategic weapons enterprise rather than on the production of a new missile.
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A support contract tied to a longer modernization cycle
The timing of the award is important because the Navy is managing both continued operation of the existing D5 system and the transition toward a second life extension.
The Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs organization has responsibility for the life cycle support of the sea based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad. That includes systems, equipment, facilities, personnel, training, logistics and other activities supporting the Trident II D5 Life Extension, or D5LE, system.
The current D5LE system is expected to remain in service into the 2040s. It is also being integrated with the first Columbia class ballistic missile submarines as those boats replace the aging Ohio class fleet.
That creates a long transition period in which the Navy must maintain the existing weapon system while preparing infrastructure and technical processes for newer configurations.
A 2024 congressional hearing document described the Navy’s plan to sustain the D5 and D5LE Strategic Weapon System through 2042 and install the D5LE system on the initial Columbia class submarines.
Why facilities engineering matters
The contract’s facilities engineering component is notable because the Trident system depends on more than the missile itself.
Strategic weapon facilities support activities such as maintenance, testing, storage, handling and integration of weapon system components. The Navy has continued investing in infrastructure associated with the D5 program as modernization proceeds.
In February 2026, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command reported construction of new facilities at the Naval Ordnance Test Unit to support maintenance and storage of key Trident II D5 components. The Navy said those facilities would support the launcher systems associated with the program.
Strategic Systems Programs also brought the Strategic Weapons Systems Ashore facility into operation in 2025. The facility provides a land based environment for testing modernizations and alterations to the Trident II D5 Strategic Weapon System and related support equipment before fleet deployment.
The BAE Systems award therefore fits into a wider effort to maintain the engineering and infrastructure base surrounding the D5 system while the Navy moves toward its next configuration.
D5LE2 is already shaping the future program
The Navy is developing the Trident II D5 Life Extension 2 (D5LE2) as the longer term successor to the current D5LE configuration.
PAE SSP states that D5LE2 will combine proven components with redesigned and updated elements, including changes to avionics, guidance and system architecture. The program reached Milestone B in 2025 and is in the engineering and manufacturing development phase, with initial fleet introduction planned for fiscal 2039.
Congressional testimony has also highlighted an industrial base challenge behind the effort. Some components used by the existing system have become obsolete, with suppliers either leaving the market or ending production. That has made long term sustainment increasingly dependent on modernization and replacement of aging components.
This means technical support contracts are relevant to the transition even when they do not directly procure missiles or submarines. Engineering expertise, testing, facilities and system integration are required to keep the existing weapon system operational while newer elements are developed.
Sole source award and funding profile
The BAE Systems contract was awarded as a sole source acquisition under 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) and had previously been synopsized through SAM.gov.
The $70.52 million figure represents the potential contract value including optional line items. The $18.41 million obligation at award is therefore not equivalent to the full contract value.
The cost-plus-fixed-fee structure also differs from a firm-fixed-price procurement. Under this type of arrangement, the government pays allowable contract costs plus a negotiated fixed fee, subject to the terms of the contract. The award therefore provides support capacity over the performance period rather than representing a single procurement of $70.5 million worth of hardware.
The Navy expects the work to continue until September 30, 2031.
Sustaining the system while the fleet changes
The award comes during a period when the Navy is simultaneously sustaining the Ohio class fleet, introducing Columbia class submarines and developing the D5LE2 weapon system.
The current Trident II D5 remains a central component of the U.S. sea based strategic deterrent. The Navy’s own planning documents show that sustaining this capability requires an extensive technical and infrastructure enterprise alongside the missiles and submarines themselves.
For BAE Systems, the new contract places technical and facilities engineering work across the Navy’s strategic weapons infrastructure in Washington, Georgia and Washington state. For the Navy, the award supports continuity of the existing system while the larger D5LE2 modernization effort moves through development.
The contract does not itself announce a new missile capability or a change to the Trident II D5’s operational specifications. Its importance is instead in maintaining the engineering and facilities support needed to keep the existing Strategic Weapon System available during a lengthy transition between submarine classes and weapon system generations.
Takeaways
Key facts from the contract announcement
1. $197 Million Navy Award
MSI Defence Systems US LLC received a $197 million firm-fixed-price contract for MK88 MOD4 gun mounts, MK48 MOD2 electro-optical sights, associated hardware and spares.
2. Deliveries Through January 2031
Work will be performed primarily in Norfolk, United Kingdom, with additional production activity in South Carolina, Montana and Pennsylvania.
MSI Defence Systems Wins $197M U.S. Navy Gun Contract
The U.S. Navy has awarded MSI Defence Systems US LLC a $197 million firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of MK88 MOD4 gun mounts, MK48 MOD2 electro-optical sights, associated hardware and spares.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense contract announcement, the award will support production and delivery of the naval weapon and sighting equipment, with deliveries scheduled for completion by January 2031. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
The award is a follow-on production requirement for prototypes that were developed and successfully completed under an other transaction agreement. The Navy said the procurement was not competitively awarded under the cited statutory and regulatory exception for follow-on production associated with prototype projects.
Scope of the MK88 MOD4 MSI Defence Systems Contract
The contract covers four principal categories of equipment:
- MK88 MOD4 gun mounts
- MK48 MOD2 electro-optical sights
- Associated hardware
- Spares
The announcement does not disclose the number of gun mounts or electro-optical sights being procured. It also does not identify the specific Navy ships that will receive the equipment.
The $197 million figure represents the contract award value. It should not be confused with the amount immediately obligated at award. The Navy is initially obligating approximately $61.29 million from several fiscal-year appropriations.
MK88 MOD4 and MK48 MOD2 Technical and Operational Context
The MK88 MOD4 is a naval gun mount, while the MK48 MOD2 is an electro-optical sighting system included in the same procurement.
Electro-optical sights provide a shipboard weapon system with a sensor-based means of observing and engaging targets. Depending on system configuration and integration, electro-optical systems can support target detection, identification, tracking and fire-control functions.
The contract announcement does not provide detailed technical specifications for either system, including gun caliber, ammunition capacity, effective engagement range, sensor bands, stabilization characteristics or specific fire-control interfaces. Those details therefore should not be inferred from the award notice.
The inclusion of associated hardware and spares indicates that the procurement extends beyond individual weapon mounts and sights to the supporting equipment required for fielded systems.
Operational Impact on U.S. Navy Naval Warfare Missions
For the U.S. Navy, naval gun systems remain relevant to a range of surface warfare and maritime security missions. Gun mounts can provide a ship with a reusable onboard weapon capability without relying exclusively on limited inventories of more expensive guided weapons.
The precise operational role of the MK88 MOD4 in this procurement cannot be established from the contract announcement alone because the Navy did not identify the receiving ship classes or mission packages.
The procurement does, however, demonstrate continued Navy investment in shipboard gun and electro-optical equipment through a production pathway that follows successful prototype development.
Contract Breakdown: MSI Defence Systems Award Details
Contract Value
MSI Defence Systems US LLC was awarded a $197,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract.
The initial obligation totals approximately $61.29 million, drawn from multiple Navy fiscal-year appropriations.
Contractor
MSI Defence Systems US LLC, based in Rock Hill, South Carolina, is the contractor.
Contract Type
The award is a firm-fixed-price contract.
The procurement was not competitively awarded under the cited exception in 10 U.S. Code 4022 and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 206.001-70 covering follow-on production requirements associated with successful prototype projects.
The Navy stated that the requirement follows prototypes developed and successfully completed under an other transaction agreement.
Work Locations
Contract performance is divided among four locations:
| Location | Share of Work |
|---|---|
| Norfolk, United Kingdom | 73% |
| Rock Hill, South Carolina | 19% |
| Bozeman, Montana | 4% |
| Eagleville, Pennsylvania | 4% |
The largest share, 73%, will be performed in Norfolk, United Kingdom, while 19% will take place at MSI Defence Systems US LLC’s Rock Hill, South Carolina, location.
Performance Period
Deliveries are expected to be completed by January 2031.
The announcement does not provide an individual delivery schedule for the gun mounts, electro-optical sights, hardware or spares.
Funding
The Navy will initially obligate funds from several appropriations:
- Fiscal 2026 weapons procurement, Navy: $36,022,024, or 59%
- Fiscal 2024 shipbuilding and conversion, Navy: $16,119,408, or 26%
- Fiscal 2023 shipbuilding and conversion, Navy: $5,373,136, or 9%
- Fiscal 2026 shipbuilding and conversion, Navy: $2,686,568, or 4%
- Fiscal 2024 weapons procurement, Navy: $1,085,368, or 2%
Of the amount obligated at award, $1,085,368 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, according to the announcement.
Follow-On Production Work
The award is particularly notable from an acquisition perspective because the Navy describes it as a follow-on production requirement.
The contracting authority cited an exception to competitive procurement for prototype follow-on production. The underlying prototypes were developed and successfully completed through an other transaction agreement before this production award.
That structure allows the government to move from prototype development into production under the applicable statutory framework without treating the award as a conventional competitive procurement.
MSI Defence Systems Defense Industrial Base and Acquisition Impact
The contract connects U.S. Navy procurement with an industrial network spanning the United States and the United Kingdom.
Most of the contracted work, 73%, is assigned to Norfolk in the United Kingdom. Additional work is distributed among MSI Defence Systems US LLC in South Carolina and suppliers or production activities in Montana and Pennsylvania.
The multinational distribution of work also illustrates how naval weapon procurement can involve multiple industrial sites rather than a single manufacturing location.
Because the award is tied to successfully completed prototypes, it also provides an example of an acquisition pathway in which prototype development under an other transaction agreement precedes production contracting.
The announcement does not disclose the identities of the prototype program’s original participants or provide additional information about the testing that preceded the production award.
Program Milestones and Next Steps
The immediate milestone is production and delivery of the contracted MK88 MOD4 gun mounts, MK48 MOD2 electro-optical sights, associated hardware and spares.
Deliveries are scheduled to conclude by January 2031.
The announcement does not identify specific ships, fleet units or deployment schedules associated with the equipment. It also does not disclose production quantities or individual unit prices.
Takeaways
Key facts from the contract announcement
1. $511.5 Million Radar Contract
Raytheon Missiles & Defense received a $511,533,484 modification to produce AN/SPY-6(V) family radar hardware and associated spares.
2. Production Extends Through 2031
The announcement states that the work is expected to be completed by November 2031, with the same date applying if all stated options are exercised.
Raytheon Wins $511.5M Navy SPY-6 Radar Contract
The U.S. Navy has awarded Raytheon a $511.5 million contract modification for continued hardware production of the AN/SPY-6(V) family of naval radars and associated spares.
According to the Sept. 28, 2026 contract announcement, Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C., awarded Raytheon Missiles & Defense a $511,533,484 modification to previously awarded contract N00024-22-C-5500. The action combines fixed-price incentive, firm-fixed-price and cost-only contract elements.
The award is part of the Navy’s continuing procurement of the SPY-6 radar family, which is being introduced across multiple classes of surface ships. The Navy describes AN/SPY-6(V)1 as an integrated air and missile defense radar for the DDG 51 Flight III destroyer program.
Scope of the AN/SPY-6 Raytheon Contract
The Sept. 28 modification covers options and the purchase of spares for hardware production of the AN/SPY-6(V) family and associated hardware.
The announced value of $511,533,484 represents the value of this contract modification. It should not be interpreted as the total value of the underlying N00024-22-C-5500 contract or as an amount that has already been spent on the entire SPY-6 program.
The announcement states that work is expected to continue through November 2031. It also says that if all options are exercised, work will continue through November 2031.
The procurement was conducted under 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), citing only one responsible source and a determination that no other supplies or services would satisfy the agency’s requirements. The announcement states that the modification was not competitively procured.
AN/SPY-6 Radar Technical and Operational Context
The AN/SPY-6 is a family of active electronically scanned array radars developed for U.S. Navy surface combatants and other ship classes. Raytheon has described the family as supporting air, surface and ballistic missile threat detection and tracking.
The Navy’s AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar is central to the DDG 51 Flight III configuration. Navy documentation states that the Flight III design incorporates electrical power and cooling improvements associated with the radar and is intended to provide increased detection and tracking capacity for integrated air and missile defense.
The broader SPY-6 family also includes variants intended for different ship configurations. Raytheon has identified SPY-6(V)4 as the variant designed for the modernization of Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. In August 2026, the company reported installation of the first SPY-6(V)4 array at the Navy’s Wallops Island test facility ahead of planned integration with USS Pinckney, DDG 91.
The radar’s architecture is based on modular radar assemblies, allowing the SPY-6 family to be configured for different ship applications. Raytheon has said its production facilities use this modular approach across multiple SPY-6 variants.
Operational Impact on the U.S. Navy Surface Fleet
For the United States Navy, continued SPY-6 production supports the transition from legacy shipboard radar systems to newer sensors designed for integrated air and missile defense missions.
The capability is particularly important to the DDG 51 Flight III destroyer fleet. The Navy identifies AN/SPY-6(V)1 as the centerpiece of the Flight III sensor upgrade, while the broader family is being adapted for other ship classes.
Raytheon’s previous production activity also shows that SPY-6 procurement has continued through successive contract actions. In July 2026, the company announced a separate $1.8 billion hardware production and sustainment contract extension for the SPY-6 family.
The latest September modification therefore fits within an established production and sustainment effort rather than representing a new radar development program.
Contract Breakdown: Raytheon SPY-6 Award Details
Contract Value
The modification is valued at $511,533,484.
The announcement separately identifies the funds obligated at award:
- $499,876,573, or 98%, from fiscal 2025 shipbuilding and conversion, Navy funds
- $9,640,327, or 2%, from fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance, Navy funds
- $2,016,584, less than 1%, from fiscal 2026 other procurement, Navy funds
Of the obligated funding, $9,640,327 will expire at the end of the fiscal year.
Contractor
The contractor is Raytheon Missiles & Defense, based in Marlborough, Massachusetts.
Raytheon is an RTX business responsible for the company’s naval radar portfolio, including the SPY-6 family.
Contract Type
The modification uses a combination of:
- Fixed-price incentive, firm-target
- Firm-fixed-price
- Cost-only
This structure allows different portions of the procurement to use different pricing and cost mechanisms. The announcement does not provide a line-by-line breakdown showing which contract type applies to each hardware or option element.
Work Locations
The largest share of the work will be performed in Andover, Massachusetts, at 30%.
Other major locations include:
- San Diego, California, 10%
- Scottsdale, Arizona, 10%
- Syracuse, New York, 8%
- Stafford Springs, Connecticut, 6%
- Sykesville, Maryland, 4%
- Tulsa, Oklahoma, 3%
- Indianapolis, Indiana, 2%
- Cerritos, California, 2%
- Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, 2%
- Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 2%
- Riverside, California, 2%
- Portsmouth, Rhode Island, 2%
- Chantilly, Virginia, 1%
- Bloomfield, Connecticut, 1%
Another 15% will be performed at various locations across the United States, with each individual location accounting for less than 1%.
The concentration of work in Andover is consistent with Raytheon’s established SPY-6 radar production infrastructure. The company has identified its Andover Radar Development Facility as a major site for SPY-6 production.
Performance Period
Work is expected to be completed by November 2031.
The announcement states that the same November 2031 endpoint applies if all options are exercised.
Funding
The contract uses Navy funding from shipbuilding and conversion, operations and maintenance, and other procurement accounts.
The largest portion of the award is funded through fiscal 2025 shipbuilding and conversion funds, reflecting the connection between the radar hardware procurement and Navy shipbuilding activity.
Options Or Follow-On Work
The modification exercises options under the existing contract and includes procurement of spares.
The announcement does not provide a separate quantity of radar systems, arrays or spare components associated with the $511.5 million action. It therefore would be inappropriate to convert the contract value into an estimated number of radars without additional procurement data.
Raytheon Defense Industrial Base and Acquisition Impact
The award extends a production effort that requires a geographically distributed supplier and manufacturing network.
The work locations listed in the announcement span radar manufacturing, electronics, engineering and associated hardware activities across numerous U.S. states. This structure illustrates how a major naval sensor program can distribute procurement activity beyond the prime contractor’s principal production site.
Raytheon has also reported investment in its radar manufacturing infrastructure. In 2026, the company said it had invested more than $800 million to modernize radar manufacturing facilities and expand production capacity, while targeting increased SPY-6 output. Those statements are company-reported production plans rather than Navy delivery commitments.
From an acquisition perspective, the use of an existing contract modification and options allows the Navy to continue production without establishing a separate procurement vehicle for each hardware requirement. The sole-source determination cited in the announcement also reflects the government’s conclusion that another source could not satisfy the specific requirement.
Program Milestones and Next Steps
The immediate focus of the Sept. 28 award is continued production of AN/SPY-6(V) hardware and associated spares.
The Navy’s SPY-6 effort is also moving through different stages of ship integration. The first Flight III destroyer, USS Jack H. Lucas, was built around the AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar, while the Navy’s Flight IIA modernization effort is incorporating the SPY-6(V)4.
The announcement does not disclose a specific number of radar systems or spare units tied to the September modification. It also does not identify individual ships receiving hardware under this particular action.
The contract therefore represents a continued production and support step within the Navy’s broader SPY-6 modernization effort, with work scheduled to extend through November 2031.
Takeaways
Key facts from the contract announcement
1. $9 Billion IDIQ Construction Contract
NAVFAC Northwest awarded a combined-maximum-value $9 billion multiple-award IDIQ contract covering new construction, renovation and repair projects.
2. $76.161 Million Initial Task Order
Walsh Federal LLC received a $76.161 million task order to construct the P939 Launcher Equipment Processing Building at Naval Base Kitsap, Bangor, Washington.
3. Work Extends Through September 2034
The IDIQ contract supports facility projects within the NAVFAC Northwest area of operations and is scheduled to run through September 2034.
Navy Awards $9B Northwest Construction Contract
The U.S. Navy has awarded a combined-maximum-value $9 billion indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to multiple construction companies for facility construction, renovation and repair across the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Northwest area of operations.
According to the contract announcement, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Northwest, based at Naval Base Kitsap in Washington, awarded the multiple-award contract to 15 companies. The contract covers new design, construction, supervision, equipment, materials and labor for projects at various government locations. The contract period runs through September 2034.
Scope of the NAVFAC Northwest Construction Contract
The $9 billion figure represents the maximum combined value of the IDIQ contract framework, rather than an immediate $9 billion expenditure.
Under an IDIQ structure, the Navy establishes a pool of qualified contractors and places individual task orders as specific construction requirements arise. The announcement therefore provides a long-term contracting mechanism for projects rather than committing the full ceiling at award.
The work can include new construction, renovation and repair of government facilities within the NAVFAC Northwest area of operations. The announcement also identifies supervision, equipment, materials and labor as part of the potential work.
The contract was competitively procured through SAM.gov, with 21 proposals received.
Naval Base Kitsap Infrastructure and Military Construction Context
The first identified task order under the award goes to Walsh Federal LLC for construction of the P939 Launcher Equipment Processing Building at Naval Base Kitsap, Bangor, Washington.
That task order is valued at $76.161 million in military construction Navy funds.
The announcement does not disclose the building’s detailed design, dimensions, equipment configuration, processing capacity or other technical specifications. Those details should therefore not be inferred from the contract award.
Naval Base Kitsap is a major Navy installation in Washington state, and the Bangor area supports strategic naval infrastructure. The specific role and operational requirements of the P939 facility beyond its designation as a Launcher Equipment Processing Building were not disclosed in the announcement.
Operational Impact on U.S. Navy Infrastructure
The contract gives NAVFAC Northwest a multi-year mechanism for executing construction requirements across its area of responsibility.
From an acquisition perspective, the IDIQ structure allows the Navy to compete individual projects among the contract awardees rather than conducting a separate full procurement for every requirement. The value of future work will depend on task orders issued during the contract period.
The announcement also illustrates the connection between military construction and broader force infrastructure. Facilities supporting naval operations require construction, modernization and maintenance alongside the procurement of ships, aircraft, weapons and other military systems.
The current award does not, by itself, establish the Navy’s future spending level under the $9 billion ceiling.
Contract Breakdown: Walsh Federal and NAVFAC Northwest Award
Contract Value
The combined maximum value of the multiple-award IDIQ contract is $9 billion.
Walsh Federal LLC received an initial task order valued at $76.161 million.
Contractor
Walsh Federal LLC, based in Chicago, Illinois, received the task order for the P939 Launcher Equipment Processing Building.
The broader contract includes 15 awardees identified in the announcement:
- Alberici Constructors Inc., St. Louis, Missouri
- Caddell Nova JV, Montgomery, Alabama
- CDM Constructors Inc., Boston, Massachusetts
- Clark Orion JV, Seattle, Washington
- Contrack Watts Inc., McLean, Virginia
- ECC Expeditionary Constructors LLC, Burlingame, California
- Garney Federal-Obayashi JV, North Kansas City, Missouri
- Hensel Phelps Construction Co., Bellevue, Washington
- Kiewit Infrastructure West Co., Vancouver, Washington
- Korte Construction Co., St. Louis, Missouri
- RQ Construction LLC, Carlsbad, California
- SLSCO Ltd., Galveston, Texas
- Tutor-Perini Corp., Framingham, Massachusetts
- Walsh Federal LLC, Chicago, Illinois
- Whiting Turner Contracting Co., Baltimore, Maryland
Contract Type
The award is an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple-award construction contract.
The announcement describes work covering new design, construction, supervision, equipment, material and labor for renovation, repair and new facility construction.
Work Locations
Projects will be performed at various government locations within the NAVFAC Northwest area of operations.
The identified initial task order will be performed at Naval Base Kitsap, Bangor, Washington.
Performance Period
The contract is scheduled to run through September 2034.
The announcement does not provide a detailed schedule for the individual projects that may be ordered under the IDIQ.
Funding
Walsh Federal’s $76.161 million task order will use military construction Navy funds.
The announcement does not identify the funding amounts for future task orders under the $9 billion contract ceiling.
Options or Follow-On Work
The IDIQ framework provides for future task orders during the contract period. The announcement does not specify the value, timing or scope of future projects.
Defense Industrial Base and Acquisition Implications
The award establishes a sizable construction contracting vehicle for NAVFAC Northwest and creates a pool of companies that can compete for individual projects.
For the defense industrial base, the structure can provide a mechanism for distributing future facility work among multiple large construction firms and joint ventures. It also allows the Navy to place requirements as individual projects are defined and funded.
The $9 billion ceiling should not be interpreted as guaranteed revenue for the contractors. Actual spending will depend on task orders issued by the Navy during the contract period.
The initial Walsh Federal award provides the first specifically identified project in the announcement, with the P939 Launcher Equipment Processing Building representing $76.161 million of the broader contracting framework.
Program Milestones and Next Steps
The immediate documented milestone is the award of the NAVFAC Northwest multiple-award IDIQ contract and the initial Walsh Federal task order.
Future milestones will depend on individual task orders issued under the contract. The announcement does not provide a schedule for additional awards or identify the number of projects expected to be placed through the vehicle.
The current contract is scheduled to remain in effect through September 2034, giving NAVFAC Northwest a long-term mechanism for facility construction, renovation and repair requirements.
Takeaways
Key facts from the contract announcement
1. $10.75 Million Contract Modification
L3 Technologies received a $10,754,610 modification to existing firm-fixed-price contract N0001921C0064.
2. 176 Modernized Radios
The option covers 176 additional Modernized Radios, including 38 for the U.S. Navy and 138 for Foreign Military Sales customers.
L3 Technologies Wins $10.75M Navy Radio Contract
L3 Technologies Inc., through its L-3 Telemetry & Radio Frequency Products business in San Diego, California, has received a $10.75 million modification from the U.S. Navy for additional Modernized Radios.
According to the Department of Defense contract announcement, Naval Air Systems Command awarded the $10,754,610 modification under previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract N0001921C0064. The action exercises an option for 176 additional radios, with 38 allocated to the Navy and 138 designated for Foreign Military Sales customers.
The work is scheduled to continue in San Diego through November 2028.
Scope of the L3 Technologies Modernized Radios Contract
The P00035 modification adds 176 Modernized Radios to the existing production effort. The Navy portion covers 38 radios, while the remaining 138 units are intended for FMS customers.
The announcement does not identify the individual foreign customers receiving the radios. It also does not disclose the specific aircraft, missile, or other platform allocations associated with this modification.
The contract is a modification rather than a new standalone award. It therefore expands the scope or quantity supported under an existing procurement arrangement.
The contract is also firm-fixed-price. Under this structure, the government generally agrees to pay a specified price for the contracted deliverables, subject to the terms of the contract and any applicable modifications.
Modernized Radios Technical and Operational Context
The Modernized Radio program is associated with navigation and communications equipment procured through NAVAIR. Earlier government procurement records identify the radios as Modernized Radio for Navigation and Communications equipment and link contract N0001921C0064 to production requirements for Tactical Tomahawk Block V All-Up-Round missiles.
The original 2021 contract provided for production and delivery of 285 Modernized Radios along with engineering support associated with calibration and maintenance of special test equipment. That award was not competitively procured.
Subsequent modifications have continued to expand production quantities. For example, a 2022 option covered 255 radios, while a 2025 modification covered another 179 units.
These earlier actions provide useful context for the latest modification. They show that the Navy has continued to use the same contract vehicle for additional radio production rather than treating each procurement as a separate new contract.
The available government material does not disclose detailed specifications for the Modernized Radio, including its frequency coverage, communications waveforms, navigation functions, weight, dimensions, power requirements, or resistance to electronic warfare. Those characteristics should therefore not be inferred from the contract announcement.
Operational Impact on U.S. Navy Navigation and Communications
For the U.S. Navy, the procurement supports continued production of a radio capability associated with weapon-system navigation and communications requirements.
The connection to Tactical Tomahawk Block V is significant from a program perspective. Public procurement records identify the Modernized Radio requirement as supporting installation in the Block V All-Up-Round configuration.
Tomahawk is a long-range cruise missile family used by the U.S. Navy, and the Block V modernization effort includes changes to the missile’s capabilities and supporting systems. The radio component is one element within the broader missile architecture rather than a standalone communications program.
The latest modification also has a substantial FMS component. Of the 176 radios being procured, 138 are for FMS customers. That means nearly four-fifths of the quantity covered by this specific option is associated with international customers.
The announcement does not identify the countries involved, so the procurement should not be attributed to any particular foreign military without additional official documentation.
Contract Breakdown: L3 Technologies Award Details
Contract Value
The modification is valued at $10,754,610.
This figure represents the value of the current contract modification. It should not be described as the total value of contract N0001921C0064.
Contractor
The contractor is L3 Technologies Inc., L-3 Telemetry & Radio Frequency Products, based in San Diego, California.
Earlier procurement documentation identifies L3 as the designer, developer, and manufacturer of the Modernized Radios and describes the company as the qualified source for the requirement.
Contract Type
The action is a modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract.
The latest action exercises an option for additional production.
Work Locations
All work identified in the announcement will be performed in San Diego, California.
Performance Period
The Navy expects the work to be completed in November 2028.
Funding
The Navy will obligate $2,322,018 from fiscal 2025 weapons procurement funds at the time of award.
An additional $8,432,593 in FMS funds will also be obligated at award.
The combined obligations equal the full $10,754,611 when rounded from the individual figures provided. The published contract value is $10,754,610, creating a one-dollar difference in the reported component figures. The contract announcement should therefore remain the controlling figure for the stated modification value.
Options Or Follow-On Work
The current action exercises an option under the existing contract.
Previous modifications demonstrate a continuing production pattern under N0001921C0064. In March 2026, for example, the Navy announced a $38.3 million modification covering 627 additional Modernized Radios for the Navy, Marine Corps, and FMS customers.
The existence of earlier options does not establish future procurement quantities. Any additional production beyond the current action would require a separate contract action or modification.
L3 Technologies Defense Industrial Base and Acquisition Implications
The award provides another example of how established defense suppliers support recurring production of specialized military electronics through existing contracts.
The noncompetitive nature of the procurement is also consistent with the history of N0001921C0064. The original contract was awarded without competition, and subsequent government notices have continued to use the same contract vehicle for Modernized Radio production.
From an acquisition perspective, continuing with an existing qualified supplier can support production continuity when a specialized component has established technical documentation, production infrastructure, and qualification requirements. The government’s earlier presolicitation notice specifically identified L3 as the designer, developer, and manufacturer and cited the company’s technical documentation and production capabilities as factors in the planned sole-source procurement.
At the same time, the latest announcement does not provide enough information to determine the broader industrial-base capacity, production rate, inventory position, or supply-chain risks associated with the Modernized Radio program.
The FMS share of the current procurement also illustrates the international dimension of U.S. defense production. Foreign Military Sales funding supports 138 of the 176 radios covered by this option, although the announcement does not identify the recipient countries.
Program Milestones and Next Steps
The immediate milestone is production of the 176 radios covered by modification P00035, with work expected to conclude in November 2028.
The latest action follows multiple earlier production modifications under N0001921C0064. These include a 2022 option for 255 radios, a 2024 option for 285 radios, a 2025 option for 179 radios, and a 2026 modification covering 627 radios.
The continuing sequence of modifications indicates an established production effort, but the latest contract announcement does not provide a future procurement schedule beyond the current action.
Further information on individual FMS recipients, platform allocations, radio specifications, delivery schedules, and future options would require additional Navy, NAVAIR, or government procurement documentation.
Takeaways
Key facts from the contract announcement
1. $244.96 Million F/A-18 IRST Modification
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control received a $244.96 million firm-fixed-price modification for Full Rate Production 2 of F/A-18E/F Infrared Search and Track Block II systems.
2. Production Includes 48 Infrared Receivers
The procurement includes 48 infrared receivers, with 45 for the U.S. Navy and three for the Royal Australian Air Force, along with 74 processors and 27 Navy inertial measurement units.
Lockheed Martin Wins $245M F/A-18 IRST Block II Contract
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control has received a $244.96 million U.S. Navy contract modification to expand production of the F/A-18E/F Infrared Search and Track Block II system, including equipment for both the U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Air Force.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense contract announcement, the firm-fixed-price modification P00004 was issued against previously awarded contract N0001925C0009. The action adds scope for Full Rate Production 2, covering infrared receivers, processors, inertial measurement units, test equipment maintenance and lay-in material.
Scope of the F/A-18E/F IRST Block II Contract
The production scope includes 48 infrared receivers, of which 45 are allocated to the U.S. Navy and three to the Royal Australian Air Force.
The Navy portion also includes 74 processors and 27 inertial measurement units. The announcement does not identify the specific aircraft allocation for the Navy components.
The contract also covers maintenance associated with test equipment and lay-in material needed to support production.
The award is a modification rather than a new standalone contract. It therefore adds work to the existing N0001925C0009 agreement.
F/A-18E/F IRST Block II Technical and Operational Context
Infrared Search and Track, or IRST, provides an aircraft with a passive method of detecting and tracking targets using infrared energy. Unlike an active radar, an IRST sensor does not need to transmit radio-frequency energy to perform its basic sensing function.
For a fighter such as the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, an IRST system can complement the aircraft’s radar and other onboard sensors. Passive infrared sensing can provide another source of target information, particularly in situations where maintaining a low electromagnetic signature is operationally relevant.
The contract announcement identifies the equipment as IRST Block II, but does not disclose specific detection ranges, sensor sensitivity figures, processor performance, target-tracking limits or other classified or program-specific technical characteristics.
Those figures should therefore not be inferred from the production quantity or contract value.
Operational Impact on U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Air Force Fighter Fleets
The award supports continued fielding and production of IRST capability for the F/A-18E/F fleet. The inclusion of three infrared receivers for the Royal Australian Air Force also demonstrates that the production scope has an international component through U.S. Foreign Military Sales funding.
For the Navy, the procurement combines sensor receivers with associated processing and inertial measurement equipment. Together, these components form part of the equipment architecture required to operate and support the IRST capability rather than representing a standalone sensor purchase.
The announcement does not disclose the aircraft tail numbers, squadrons or specific deployment schedules associated with the equipment.
Contract Breakdown: Lockheed Martin Award Details
Contract Value
The modification is valued at $244,960,024.
Contractor
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Florida, is the awardee.
Contract Type
The action is a firm-fixed-price modification, designated P00004, to previously awarded contract N0001925C0009.
Work Locations
Work will be performed at:
Location Share of Work Orlando, Florida 79.42% Santa Barbara, California 11.70% Ocala, Florida 5.70% Archbald, Pennsylvania 3.18% Performance Period
The work is scheduled for completion in February 2031.
Funding
The announcement states that the following funds will be obligated at the time of award:
- $232,545,493 in fiscal 2026 aircraft procurement funds for the Navy
- $1,603,143 in fiscal 2026 Navy working capital funds
- $10,811,388 in Foreign Military Sales customer funds
The combined obligations total the announced $244,960,024 modification value.
Options Or Follow-On Work
The announcement does not identify additional options associated with this modification. It specifically describes the action as adding scope for Full Rate Production 2.
Lockheed Martin Defense Industrial Base and Acquisition Impact
The award provides production funding for a specialized airborne infrared sensing capability while extending work across four U.S. locations.
The largest share of the work, 79.42%, will be performed in Orlando, Florida, where Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is based. Additional work is assigned to facilities in California, Florida and Pennsylvania.
The use of a firm-fixed-price structure places the agreed contract price and performance requirements within the terms of the existing procurement framework. The announcement states that the contract was not competitively procured.
Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
Program Milestones and Next Steps
The immediate milestone is the execution of the Full Rate Production 2 scope under the existing contract. Production and associated support work are expected to continue through February 2031.
The procurement covers both U.S. Navy requirements and three infrared receivers for the Royal Australian Air Force. The Foreign Military Sales portion is funded separately through customer funds identified in the announcement.
The contract notice does not provide a detailed delivery schedule for individual receivers, processors or inertial measurement units. It also does not disclose when the equipment will enter operational units.
Takeaways
Key facts from the contract announcement
1. $975 Million Construction Ceiling
The Navy awarded 11 contracts under a multiple-award IDIQ framework with a combined maximum value of $975 million through September 2031.
2. Camp Lejeune Armory Awarded
Sauer Construction received the first task order, valued at $22.901 million, for construction of a new Special Operations Forces armory at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
The U.S. Navy has awarded a combined maximum-value $975 million multiple-award construction contract to 11 companies for general construction work primarily supporting Marine Corps installations in the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Mid-Atlantic area.
According to the Department of Defense contract announcement, the awards establish an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, or IDIQ, framework running through September 2031. Sauer Construction LLC has received the first task order, a $22.901 million award for a new Special Operations Forces armory at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
The $975 million figure represents the maximum combined value of the 11 contracts over the base period and four option years. It is not an amount immediately obligated or spent under the awards.
Scope of the Navy and Marine Corps Construction Contract
The contracts cover general construction services primarily within the Marine Corps Installations East area of responsibility. Additional work may be ordered elsewhere within the NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic area of responsibility.
The 11 awardees are:
- The Haskell Co., Jacksonville, Florida
- Walsh Federal LLC, Chicago, Illinois
- The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., Baltimore, Maryland
- Environmental Chemical Corp., Burlingame, California
- BL Harbert International LLC, Birmingham, Alabama
- RQ Construction LLC, Carlsbad, California
- Sauer Construction LLC, Jacksonville, Florida
- Caddell Construction Co. (DE) LLC, Montgomery, Alabama
- W.M. Jordan Co., Wilmington, North Carolina
- Harkins Builders Inc., Columbia, Maryland
- Consigli Construction Co. Inc., Durham, North Carolina
Under the multiple-award structure, the contractors can compete for individual task orders issued under the terms and conditions of the overarching contracts.
The Navy said the procurement was conducted competitively through SAM.gov, with 15 proposals received.
Special Operations Forces Armory at Camp Lejeune
The first task order under the framework went to Sauer Construction for a new Special Operations Forces armory at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
The task order is valued at $22.901 million. Fiscal 2026 military construction, Navy funds are being used to finance the award, with the full amount obligated under the announcement.
The contract notice does not disclose the armory’s planned floor area, construction design, storage capacity, equipment requirements, completion date, or specific Special Operations Forces units that will use the facility.
Those details would be needed to assess the facility’s precise operational function beyond its stated role as a new armory.
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Construction Context
Camp Lejeune is a major Marine Corps installation and an important component of the service’s East Coast force structure. Infrastructure projects at the installation can support facilities, training, logistics, maintenance, readiness, and other military requirements.
In this case, the announced project is specifically identified as a Special Operations Forces armory. The available contract information does not identify whether the facility will replace an existing structure, expand existing capacity, or support a new organizational requirement.
From an acquisition perspective, the IDIQ framework gives NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic a mechanism for placing future construction orders without conducting a separate full contract competition for every project among the broader construction industry. Individual task orders can instead be competed among the 11 contract holders.
Contract Breakdown: Navy NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Award Details
Contract Value
The combined maximum value of the 11 contracts is $975 million, including the base period and four option years.
The initial Sauer Construction task order is valued at $22.901 million.
The remaining 10 awardees each receive a $5,000 minimum contract guarantee, resulting in $50,000 in minimum guarantees across those companies.
The maximum $975 million ceiling should not be interpreted as current spending. Future obligations will depend on task orders issued during the contract period.
Contractor
Sauer Construction LLC received the first task order for the Camp Lejeune armory.
The other 10 companies will participate in the multiple-award framework and may compete for subsequent task orders.
Contract Type
The awards are firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple-award contracts.
The IDIQ structure establishes the contracting framework and ceiling for future requirements. Actual construction work will be authorized through individual task orders.
Work Locations
The primary area of performance is the Marine Corps Installations East area of responsibility within NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic.
Additional work may be required elsewhere within the NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic area of responsibility.
The initial Sauer Construction task order will be performed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Performance Period
The contracts are expected to run through September 2031, including the base period and four option years.
The announcement does not provide a separate completion date for the Camp Lejeune armory project.
Funding
The $22.901 million Sauer Construction task order is funded with fiscal 2026 military construction, Navy funds.
The 10 remaining contractors receive $5,000 each as minimum guarantees. A total of $50,000 in fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance, Navy funds is obligated for those guarantees.
Future task orders are expected to be funded primarily through operations and maintenance and military construction appropriations.
Options Or Follow-On Work
The contract includes four option years, with the combined maximum value of all 11 contracts reaching $975 million.
Future construction requirements will be issued as task orders. Contract holders may compete for those orders under the terms established by the IDIQ contracts.
U.S. Navy Defense Industrial Base and Acquisition Implications
The award creates a standing pool of 11 construction companies that NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic can use for future requirements across its area of responsibility.
This structure separates the overall contract ceiling from individual construction projects. Rather than committing the full $975 million at award, the Navy can place task orders as specific requirements are identified and funded.
For the contractors, participation provides eligibility to compete for future NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic construction work during the contract period. The actual distribution of work among the 11 companies will depend on future task-order competitions and requirements.
The award also illustrates the role of military construction and operations and maintenance funding in supporting the physical infrastructure required by U.S. military installations.
Program Milestones and Next Steps
The immediate milestone is the $22.901 million Sauer Construction task order for the new Special Operations Forces armory at Camp Lejeune.
The broader IDIQ framework will remain available for future construction requirements through September 2031, subject to the exercise of its option periods and the issuance of task orders.
The announcement did not disclose a schedule for additional task orders or identify specific future construction projects under the framework.
Stark Aerospace Wins $114M MK 41 VLS Canister Contract
The U.S. Navy has awarded Stark Aerospace Inc. a $114,006,160 contract modification to exercise options for MK 41 Vertical Launching System MK 25 Mod 1 canister requirements, extending procurement work through February 2030.
The U.S. Department of Defense contract announcement identifies Stark Aerospace, based in Columbus, Mississippi, as the contractor. Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
Takeaways
Key facts from the contract announcement
1. $114 Million MK 41 VLS Modification
Stark Aerospace received a $114,006,160 firm-fixed-price modification to exercise options for MK 41 Vertical Launching System MK 25 Mod 1 canister requirements.
2. Work Runs Through February 2030
The contract work will be performed across facilities in Mississippi, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, with completion expected in February 2030.
The action modifies previously awarded contract N00024-25-C-5314. It is a firm-fixed-price modification rather than a new standalone contract, and the announcement does not disclose the number of MK 25 Mod 1 canisters covered by the option exercise.
Scope of the MK 41 Vertical Launching System Contract
The $114 million modification covers MK 25 Mod 1 canister requirements associated with the MK 41 Vertical Launching System.
The announcement describes the action as an exercise of contract options. It does not identify specific ships, deployment schedules, missile quantities, or individual production lots associated with the current modification.
The MK 41 is a below-deck vertical launch system used aboard surface combatants. Its modular architecture allows different missile canisters to be integrated into launch cells according to the requirements of a particular ship and weapon configuration. Lockheed Martin, the MK 41 system manufacturer, describes the system as supporting multiple mission areas, including air defense, anti-surface warfare, ballistic missile defense, anti-submarine warfare, and land attack.
MK 41 VLS and MK 25 Canister Technical Context
The MK 25 is a quad-pack canister associated with the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile, or ESSM. A quad-pack configuration allows four compatible ESSMs to be loaded into a single MK 41 VLS cell, according to Lockheed Martin documentation.
This arrangement increases the number of relatively compact defensive missiles that can be carried within a fixed number of launcher cells. The MK 41 architecture is designed around modular canisters that provide the mechanical and launch interface between the weapon and the shipboard vertical launching system.
The contract announcement, however, does not state that every canister covered by the modification will be loaded with ESSM, nor does it identify the specific ships or combat systems that will receive the procured hardware. Those details should therefore not be inferred from the award alone.
Operational Impact on U.S. Navy Fleet
For the U.S. Navy, MK 41 VLS canister procurement supports an established naval launch architecture used on surface combatants and other compatible platforms.
The MK 25 configuration is particularly relevant to the ESSM family. Lockheed Martin has previously described the MK 25 as a quad-pack canister for ESSM, while the broader MK 41 system supports a range of missile types through different canister configurations.
The option exercise therefore represents procurement of launcher hardware rather than the announcement of a new missile capability. The supplied contract notice does not identify a new missile integration effort, a new MK 41 variant, or a change to the Navy’s operational employment concept.
Contract Breakdown: Stark Aerospace Award Details
Contract Value
The modification is valued at $114,006,160.
The award is a firm-fixed-price modification. Under this contract structure, the agreed price is established for the defined work, subject to the terms of the contract.
Contractor
Stark Aerospace Inc. is headquartered in Columbus, Mississippi.
Contract Type
The action is a modification to previously awarded contract N00024-25-C-5314 and exercises options for MK 25 Mod 1 canister requirements.
It should not be described as a completely new contract award.
Work Locations
The work will be performed at four locations:
| Location | Share of Work |
|---|---|
| Columbus, Mississippi | 54% |
| Clackamas, Oregon | 21% |
| Johnstown, Pennsylvania | 21% |
| Fairfield, New Jersey | 4% |
The distribution indicates that more than half of the contracted work is expected to take place at Stark Aerospace’s Columbus, Mississippi, location, while additional work will be performed across facilities in three other states.
Performance Period
The work is expected to be completed by February 2030.
The announcement does not provide individual delivery dates within that period.
Funding
The Navy and other customer funding sources will finance the modification.
The obligated funds at award are:
| Funding Source | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fiscal 2026 Weapons Procurement, Navy | $55,674,294 | 49% |
| Other customer funds | $48,522,292 | 42% |
| Fiscal 2025 Weapons Procurement, Navy | $8,929,212 | 8% |
| Fiscal 2024 Weapons Procurement, Navy | $880,362 | 1% |
| Total | $114,006,160 | 100% |
Of the total amount obligated at award, $880,362 in fiscal 2024 funding will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, according to the contract announcement.
Options Or Follow-On Work
The modification exercises options under the existing contract. The announcement does not disclose additional unexercised option values, future quantities, or separate follow-on awards beyond the current action.
Stark Aerospace Defense Industrial Base and Acquisition Impact
The contract distributes work across four U.S. states, providing a concrete example of how naval weapons procurement can involve multiple industrial locations rather than a single manufacturing site.
For Stark Aerospace, the modification extends work under the existing MK 41 VLS canister contract through 2030. For the Navy, the procurement provides additional hardware for an established shipboard launching architecture without requiring the service to introduce a new launcher design.
The funding mix also shows that the procurement is not supported exclusively by one fiscal year’s Navy weapons procurement account. Nearly half of the award, $55.7 million, comes from fiscal 2026 Navy weapons procurement funds, while $48.5 million is identified as other customer funding.
The announcement does not identify the other customers or provide enough information to determine which specific naval or international programs are associated with those funds.
Program Milestones and Next Steps
The immediate milestone is the exercise of options under contract N00024-25-C-5314. Work is expected to continue through February 2030.
The contract notice does not provide a specific delivery schedule, production quantity, ship allocation, or installation timeline. Those details may be disclosed through later contract modifications, Navy procurement documents, or program announcements.
The current award is therefore best understood as a procurement action for MK 25 Mod 1 canister requirements supporting the broader MK 41 Vertical Launching System infrastructure, rather than as an announcement of a new naval missile or launcher program.