L3Harris Lands $205M Navy Contract for Passive Persistent EO/IR Capability

The U.S. Navy has awarded L3Harris Technologies a $205 million contract to deliver electro-optic and infrared technology for fleet protection.

L3Harris said the contract for the Shipboard Panoramic Electro-Optic/Infrared system could be worth as much as $593 million if all options are exercised through March 2031. The Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems 2.0 is the contracting activity.

SPEIR will serve as an upgrade over existing 360-degree EO/IR situational awareness sensors, providing a “full passive mission solution capability,” L3Harris said Tuesday.

Sean Stackley, president of integrated missions systems at L3Harris, said that passive persistent surveillance is a major milestone in fleet protection as it will enable operations in an emission-controlled environment.

According to Stackley, the SPEIR program will take advantage of L3Harris’ expertise in EO/IR and technology that has been demonstrated under a Navy effort called Combined EO/IR Surveillance and Response Systems.

Defense contractors Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems will also participate in SPEIR, L3Harris said. The duo will provide a scalable 360-degree EO/IR passive and tracking solution called SPATIAL.

BAE will provide an automated image processing detection capability developed under CESARS to reduce operator workload, L3Harris said.

Frank Crispino, director of active protection solutions at BAE, said the company will use machine learning and automation technologies to support the Navy.

Lockheed Martin will use its experience with combat system interfaces to support SPEIR’s integration with current ship systems. The goal is to install the system on a range of vessels, including destroyers, carriers and frigates, L3Harris added.