Saab recently completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) on schedule for its MK 9 Transmitter Illuminator Subsystem. PDR, the initial review of the product design by the customer, ensures that technical needs are on track to be met as the work continues. The MK 9 tracker illuminator is a computer-operated fire-control system that provides automatic acquisition and tracking of a designated target, generates launcher and missile orders, and in the automatic mode initiates the firing command when the target comes into range. Saab engineers will capitalize on an existing qualified design, develop the MK 9 TIS interface modifications, produce the MK 9 TIS replacement CWTI, and deploy it as part of the MK 57 MOD 14/15 surface-to-air missile system.
Saab Inc., East Syracuse, New York, was awarded a $32,245,366 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed fee and cost-only contract for the Seasparrow MK 9 Tracker Illuminator System (TIS) Replacement Continuous Wave Tracking Illuminator (CWTI) development and production effort. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $104,840,812. Work is expected to be completed by August 2023. If all options are exercised, work will continue through March 2030.
“The completion of the preliminary design review is a vote of confidence by the customer in Saab’s martime offering. We look forward to working with the customer to complete the intial phase of the contract,” said Erik Smith, President and CEO of Saab in the U.S.
The tracking illuminator is a computer-operated fire-control system that provides automatic acquisition and tracking of a designated target, generates launcher and missile orders, and in the automatic mode initiates the firing command when the target comes into range. The MK 57 NATO Seasparrow is a medium-range, rapid-reaction missile that uses a semi-active radar-guidance, which uses reflected memory local area network fiber optic cable. It consists of the tracking illuminator and the MK 29 guided missile launching system (GMLS). The MK 57 system fires the RIM-7 Seasparrow radar-guided missile, which helps protect big-deck naval surface warships from enemy aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship cruise missiles, and similar threats.
