Looking to the future, Lockheed Martin UK has been appointed by the UK Ministry of Defence as preferred supplier for Project Soothsayer, the next-generation electronic warfare (EW) programme for British land forces. The contract is expected to sustain and create up to 120 high tech jobs in the UK.
Worth in excess of £130 M, Soothsayer will provide integrated electronic support measures (ESM) and electronic countermeasures (ECM) capability for the British Army and Royal Marines. The system will intercept and monitor many types of enemy communications or signals in real-time, including radar, multi-frequency emissions and other electronic data. The system will give commanders better intelligence data over a wider spectrum, along with location information - with accuracy previously unavailable. Mobile and vehicle-mounted, Soothsayer will enable front-line forces to rapidly deploy the capability. Future upgrades will integrate the system with airborne platforms for enhanced network-enabled capability.
Commenting on the appointment, Steve Ramsey, vice president and general manager, Aerospace Solutions, Lockheed Martin Corp., said, "We are delighted the MoD has selected the Lockheed Martin team to provide British land forces with the world's most advanced electronic warfare capability." He continued, "Our Soothsayer team combines extremely advanced UK and US technology with proven systems integration and programme management skills. Together we will provide the MoD with a solution that is effective, affordable, supportable and low risk."