U.S. Navy Awards SLCM-N Launcher and Canister Prototype Effort

On September 26^th, the U.S. Navy awarded two Nuclear-Armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM-N) launcher task area agreements to Northrup Grumman Mission Systems and Pacific Engineering, Inc. via the Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS) Other Transaction Authority (OTA) consortium. These agreements follow awards made via the OTA on August 22 for five SLCM-N missile task area agreements.

Within the launcher and canister task area, the awardees will begin development of the SLCM-N Launcher Subsystem. The Launcher Subsystem will integrate with a Virginia Payload Tube (VPT) and connect the Missile Subsystem to the submarine’s shipboard systems. SLCM-N is being developed to integrate on Virginia-class SSNs in the 2030s.

These efforts are a part of the first phase of the SLCM-N program’s flight system development strategy, focused on the flight system integration, missile subsystem solution, launcher subsystem solution, and missile technology design. A follow-on phase will further focus on technology maturation, risk reduction, and manufacturing development.

About S²MARTS

The Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS), managed by NSTXL, is the premier rapid OT contracting vehicle for the Department of War (DoW) in trusted microelectronics, strategic & spectrum mission, and other critical mission areas. The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division created S²MARTS to grow and engage an elite network of innovators, shorten the path to defense prototype development, and advance national security efforts.