Navy gives $4.4 Billion contract to Johns Hopkins Physics Lab

.

The Pentagon has announced that the Navy had awarded $4.4 billion to the Advanced Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University, for work in defense and strategic system design.

The contract will be performed at APL facilities located in Laurel in Maryland. It is part of work which could amount to $10.6billion through 2027,, the Pentagon stated in a contract statement.

The contract is used to conduct research, develop, engineer, test, and evaluate for Pentagon programs. The contract does not provide details about the work.

The statement stated that the work would include testing and evaluating strategic systems, submarine security, survivability, space science, engineering, combat systems, guided missiles, air and missile defence and power projection, information technology and simulation, modeling and operations analysis.

A spokesperson for APL did not respond immediately to a request of comment.

The APL website stated that the laboratory is currently working on the Ground-based Strategic Deterrent. This new intercontinental ballistic weapon will take the place of Minuteman III ICBMs.

The Air Force will be able to assist with the accuracy of its new strategic missile. The Air Force will be able to achieve its accuracy goals using 11 simulations instead of traditional 30 testing.

The funds will also be used to fund APL’s unmanned surface vehicle kit swarming that transforms boats into unmanned, autonomous units that travel at speeds up to 40 kph.

APL maintains a program to ensure that submarines are kept hidden, regardless of changing technology or mission requirements.

This program focuses on studying submarine detection and counter-detection using sea tests that study submarine stealth.