General Dynamics’ (NYSE: GD) subsidiary Electric Boat has won a $32.9 million contract modification with the U.S. Navy to provide three backup photonics masts for Virginia-class submarines.
Cameras in the mast digitally record infomation, then transmit data through fiber optics into the ship where they are processed with on-board image processors.
Each photonics mast has an HDTV digital color camera, an infrared camera and a laser rangefinder.
Photonics masts are non-hull-penetrating masts that do not extend physically into the control room. They have replaced traditional periscopes in Virginia-class submarines.