ERAPSCO awarded contract boost for sonobuoy production
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
ERAPSCO in Columbia City is one of two companies to receive contract extensions from the U.S. Department of Defense totaling up to $222 million. The extensions call for the production and delivery of up to 36,000 sonobuoys for the U.S. Navy.
Virginia-based Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT) also received a contract boost. The DoD says the companies will have an opportunity to compete for individual orders.
ERAPSCO is a joint venture between Columbia City-based Ultra Maritime, a subsidiary of Ultra Electronics Holdings plc formerly known as USSI, and Illinois-based Sparton Corp.
A sonobuoy is a device used to detect and identify objects moving in the water, particularly submarines, according to ERAPSCO’s website. The device uses active detection by bouncing a sonar “ping” off the surface of the sub or passive detection by listening for the sounds of propellers and machinery.
The company’s work will be performed in De Leon Springs, Fla. and Columbia City. Meanwhile, the majority of Lockheed Martin’s work will be performed in Virginia, with about 10% performed in Clearwater, Fla.
Work on the sonobuoys is expected to be completed in September 2025.
The Naval Air Systems Command in Maryland is the contracting activity.