Beyond the Board: Early Engagement Means Faster Prototyping for Defense Programs
Defense Speak Interpreted: The Autonomous Plane Battle—Skyborg Vs. Loyal Wingman
American Made Advocacy: Congress Back from Break With Work To Do
U.S. Navy Awards L3Harris $205M Contract for New Passive EO/IR Capability to Protect Fleet
June 8, 2022 | Business WireEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
A team led by L3Harris Technologies has been selected to provide the Shipboard Panoramic Electro-Optic/Infrared (SPEIR) system to the U.S. Navy that will provide improved fleet protection. The initial $205 million contract has a potential value of $593 million if all options are exercised through March 2031.
The SPEIR program represents a generational leap forward in the use of 360-degree electro-optic and infrared (EO/IR) imagery and situational awareness, elevating EO/IR sensors - the eyes of the fleet - from a dedicated weapons support sensor to a full passive mission solution capability.
L3Harris will serve as systems integrator and prime contractor, delivering capabilities for mission areas including anti-ship cruise missile defense, counter-unmanned aerial systems, counter-fast attack craft/fast in-shore attack craft, mobility, anti-terrorism/force protection and operational tasking visual information. This new system is targeted for installation on destroyers, carriers, frigates, amphibious and landing helicopter assault ships to provide a critical warfighting capability.
The team includes Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems and will provide an L3Harris solution known as SPATIAL that provides a scalable 360-degree EO/IR passive automatic detection and tracking solution, enhancing combat systems and navigation capabilities to the U.S. Navy.
The program was awarded by the Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) 2.0.
“The SPEIR program leverages the technologies demonstrated as part of the Office of Naval Research’s Future Naval Capability effort known as CESARS (Combined EO/IR Surveillance and Response System) and a strong heritage of maritime Electro-Optical Sensor Systems combined with L3Harris internal investment to provide a SPEIR capability to the fleet faster, with less risk and cost than other solutions,” said Sean Stackley, President, Integrated Mission Systems, L3Harris. “Passive persistent surveillance capability is a significant step forward in protecting the surface fleet, safe navigation and force protection by enabling operations in an emissions-controlled environment.”
BAE Systems employs image processing development from CESARS that provides a fully automated image processing detection capability that reduces operator workload.
“BAE Systems is leveraging our expertise in machine learning and automation capabilities to maritime defense systems,” said Frank Crispino, Director of Active Protection Solutions for BAE Systems.
Lockheed Martin brings combat system interface experience to ease integration into existing ship systems.
“The SPEIR program builds on Lockheed Martin’s legacy of proven integrated combat system and electro-optical sensor solutions for PEO IWS,” said Rick Cordaro, Vice President, Lockheed Martin Advanced Product Solutions.
Share on:
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
Light-curable Solutions for Reliable Electronics in Space Applications
10/15/2025 | Virginia Hogan, DymaxDesigning electronics for space environments, particularly those in low Earth orbit (LEO), requires careful consideration of materials that can withstand extreme conditions while supporting long-term reliability. Engineers designing satellite systems, aerospace instrumentation, and high-altitude platforms face a familiar set of challenges: contamination control, mechanical stress, thermal cycling, and manufacturability.
Analog Devices Launches ADI Power Studio™ and New Web-Based Tools
10/14/2025 | Analog Devices, Inc.Analog Devices, Inc., a global semiconductor leader, announced the launch of ADI Power Studio, a comprehensive family of products that offers advanced modeling, component recommendations and efficiency analysis with simulation. In addition, ADI is introducing early versions of two new web-based tools with a modernized user experience under the Power Studio umbrella:
Elementary, Mr. Watson: High Power: When Physics Becomes Real
10/15/2025 | John Watson -- Column: Elementary, Mr. WatsonHave you ever noticed how high-speed design and signal integrity classes are always packed to standing room only, but just down the hall, the session on power electronics has plenty of empty chairs? It's not just a coincidence; it's a trend I've observed over the years as both an attendee and instructor.
Beyond Thermal Conductivity: Exploring Polymer-based TIM Strategies for High-power-density Electronics
10/13/2025 | Padmanabha Shakthivelu and Nico Bruijnis, MacDermid Alpha Electronics SolutionsAs power density and thermal loads continue to increase, effective thermal management becomes increasingly important. Rapid and efficient heat transfer from power semiconductor chip packages is essential for achieving optimal performance and ensuring long-term reliability of temperature-sensitive components. This is particularly crucial in power systems that support advanced applications such as green energy generation, electric vehicles, aerospace, and defense, along with high-speed computing for data centers and artificial intelligence (AI).
Bluepath Robotics Optimizes AMR Fleets with Inductive Charging Solution from Wiferion
10/09/2025 | WiferionIn a dynamic and highly competitive industry such as logistics, efficient and uninterrupted material flows are of crucial importance. To ensure maximum uptime for its robots, Bluepath Robotics, which specializes in autonomous mobile robots (AMR), needed a reliable and powerful power supply.