The U.S. Army has awarded BAE Systems a contract to deliver the next-generation 2-Color Advanced Warning System (2CAWS). The 2CAWS provides aircrews with advanced threat detection capabilities, improving survivability and mission effectiveness in contested environments.
Valued at $62 million, this latest award is part of the Limited Interim Missile Warning System (LIMWS) and is the third of four production lots.
“We are excited to leverage our expertise on Quick Reaction Capability programs to support the U.S. Army – protecting their aircraft and the aircrews who fly them,” said Chris Austin, director of Threat Detection Solutions at BAE Systems.
“2CAWS offers new capabilities that are revolutionizing protection, for both the enduring and future U.S. Army fleets.”
Optimized for size, weight, and power, 2CAWS features an open system architecture, two-color infrared sensors for increased range, and a fiber optic A-kit for faster data transmission.
The system processor serves as the high-bandwidth digital backbone of the system. It uses advanced machine learning missile warning algorithms specifically designed for complex, high-clutter environments and rapid threat updates.
2CAWS is compatible with existing U.S. Army aircraft survivability equipment, including pilot interfaces and countermeasure systems, allowing for faster installation and integration timelines.
BAE’s Common Missile Warning System, a member of its aircraft survivability portfolio, is currently fielded on thousands of U.S. Army platforms and has saved dozens of aircraft and their crews since it was first fielded in 2005.
