15:51 GMT, November 18, 2008 Melbourne, Australia | BAE Systems announced today that its Nulka Anti-Missile Decoy System has achieved yet another significant milestone – installation on the 100th US Navy warship.

Nulka is a rocket propelled active decoy designed to lure anti-ship missiles away from the intended target. Originally conceived in Australia, and developed under a joint Australian and United States program, it provides warships with a highly effective all-weather defence against anti-ship missiles, bringing together hovering rocket, autonomous system and electronic technologies.

The USS Higgins (DDG-76) was the 100th USN ship to be fitted with the system.

BAE Systems is the prime contractor responsible for system design and integration. Two major US sub-contractors, Lockheed Martin and Aerojet, manufacture the electronic warfare (EW) payload and the rocket motor respectively.

To date approximately 800 Nulka rounds have been produced for the Australian, United States and Canadian Navies and the system has been deployed on some 120 surface combat ships, with deployment on further ship classes planned. The US warship installations are managed by US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) with support from branches of the Navy Surface Warfare Centre (NSWC) and Naval Research Laboratory (NRL).

The potential threat to shipping posed by sea-skimming missiles is very real, according to BAE Systems Program Manager Simon Forrest.

“When navies send warships and sailors into harm’s way it is essential that they have the very best protection available. Nulka has the capability to defeat the threat from anti-ship missiles, providing vital protection to those who work to protect us”.

“BAE Systems’ Australian business, which employs some 5 500 people across more than 50 sites, has played a leading role in the development and production of Nulka for some 20 years, and is proud of its contribution towards the establishment of such a capable missile defence system,” Simon adds.