Australian, US Navies Order Nulka Decoy Rounds from BAE Systems

BAE Systems has secured a 15th successive annual contract to produce additional rounds for the Nulka active missile decoy.

Valued at approximately $35 million, the latest follow-on order will see production take place during 2014 in Edinburgh Parks, South Australia, and 2015 in Mulwala, New South Wales.

The rounds will be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy and the United States Navy, bringing the total number of rounds supplied by BAE Systems to more than 1200.

BAE Systems General Manager Weapons Systems Fran Murphy said: “This new production contract underscores another year of strong performance by our manufacturing group and US sub-contractors to produce the world’s most effective soft kill anti-ship missile defence.”

Nulka is a rocket propelled active decoy system designed to lure anti-ship missiles away from their intended target. It provides warships with a highly effective all-weather defence against anti-ship missiles, bringing together hovering rocket, autonomous system and electronic technologies.

Installed on more than 150 surface combat ships in the US, Canadian and Australian navies, Nulka is also Australia’s largest and most successful regular defence export.

BAE Systems is the prime contractor responsible for design, development and integration of the Nulka system.

US sub-contractors Lockheed Martin Sippican and Aerojet Rocketdyne manufacture the electronic warfare payload and the rocket motor respectively.

The Nulka system also relies on a strong Australian supply chain and supports high-tech manufacturing in regional centres through the involvement of suppliers including Milspec Engineering, Thales Australia and Varley.

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Press Release, October 11, 2013; Image: BAE