The company said the MMM is a radio-frequency receiving antenna that allows submarines to detect, identify and direction-find adversary communications signals before surfacing. It added that the system provides a secondary means of detecting nearby threats alongside radar and sonar, supporting situational awareness in modern naval operations.
Michael Rottman, programme area director for Maritime Sensors and Systems at BAE Systems, said: “In dynamic and contested environments, stealth is key, and submarines rely on accurate communications signal information to make decisions quickly.” He continued: “The Multifunction Modular Mast system equips U.S. Navy submarines with critical capabilities to locate and identify potential threats, enabling them to analyze and respond accordingly.”
BAE Systems explained that the antenna sits within a composite radome designed to withstand pressure and resist corrosion in the undersea environment. The configuration is meant to maximise signal-gathering performance while minimising the mast’s visibility, and it includes a payload module that allows the Navy to add further sensors for other missions.
The company said it has produced maritime and communications systems for more than 65 years, including antennas, acoustic transducers and sensors built to operate at depth. Work on the MMM systems will be carried out at BAE Systems’ facilities in Hudson, Merrimack and Nashua in New Hampshire.
