US Navy awards Boeing anti-submarine weapon contract

A new precision-guided weapon that Boeing will provide to the US Navy is said to fundamentally change anti-submarine warfare by incorporating technologies never before used on an anti-submarine weapon.

Through a recently awarded $19.2 million contract, Boeing will design and build the High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability (HAAWC).

The system will leverage combat-proven technologies from Boeing’s Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) so it can be launched from high altitudes and far from targets.

“A new era in anti-submarine warfare is about to begin,” James Dodd, vice president of Boeing Weapons & Missile Systems said.

“The capability HAAWC gives US Navy sub-hunters is unparalleled compared with what is available today.”

Adapting current JDAM and SDB technologies will also reduce development risk and cost for the Navy.

“Providing this advanced capability to Navy warfighters as soon as possible is vital to help protect the United States’ maritime interests around the world,” Scott Wuesthoff, director of Boeing Direct Attack Weapons said.