BAE Systems to upgrade additional Mk 45 naval guns for US Navy

The US Navy has awarded BAE Systems over $70 million to upgrade Mk 45 five-inch naval gun systems and ancillary equipment.

On September 30, BAE Systems received a $23.5 million modification to a $47 million contract awarded at the end of July, bringing the total value to over $70 million.

Under the contract, BAE Systems will upgrade and overhaul existing systems to the Mk 45 Mod 4 configuration.

The upgrade to the Mk 45 Mod 4 configuration includes a 62-caliber barrel and a mechanically strengthened gun mount. It also features a fully digital control system that easily integrates targeting and fire control data.

Together, these upgrades allow the use of modernized munitions with 50 per cent greater firing energy and prepare for future precision-guided munitions with unprecedented ranges.

"Events in the Red Sea this year have underscored the importance of firepower aboard US Navy ships,” said Brent Butcher, Vice President of Weapon Systems at BAE Systems.

Work on the contract will take place at the BAE Systems production facility in Louisville, Kentucky, and will be completed by the end of 2028.