Lockheed Martin was awarded a $35 million contract to deliver advanced, open-architecture combat systems that will modernize four Tupi-class submarines (1,440t U-209/1400 variant), one 1,550t Tikuna-class submarine (Improved version of Tupi Class submarines) and one shore-based trainer system for the The Marinha do (Brazilian Navy).

Under a contract administered by the U.S. Navy, as part of a foreign military sale for weapons and combat systems to the Brazilian Navy, Lockheed Martin will provide systems engineering, sensors, software and electronics for the modernization of the diesel submarines’ control, combat management, sonar and fire control and weapons launch systems.

The modernized systems will provide the Brazilian Navy tangible improvements in overall submarine performance with dramatically improved war fighting capability. At the same time, it will improve the Brazilian Navy’s ability to operate with naval forces of the U.S. and other allies.

The new, open-architecture submarine combat systems also will provide the Brazilian Navy with improved computer processing capacity, component redundancy and reconfiguration capability. This will increase availability with reduced spare parts requirements, thereby reducing the through life cost of ownership. This modernization effort also will enable the Brazilian submarine force to defer future obsolescence of its combat system.

This modernization effort complements the recent decision by the Brazilian Navy to acquire the MK 48 Mod 6AT heavyweight torpedo from the U.S. government as a replacement for existing torpedo inventories. Lockheed Martin was selected after a competition conducted by DGMM, the Brazilian Navy material acquisition agency.

The Government of Brazil had requested a possible sale of Integrated Combat Systems for five (5) submarines and one (1) shore-based training facility. The Integrated Combat System is the Lockheed Martin Corporation’s integrated submarine sensor, which includes fire control weapons control suites. Also requested are software and systems integration to interface the Integrated Combat System with the MK-48 AT torpedoes, weapon system software, support equipment, spare and repair parts, publications and technical data, training, contractor engineering and technical support services, and other related elements of logistics support.