The U.S. Navy has expanded its contract with BAE Systems, awarding the company additional funds to upgrade and overhaul the Mk 45 naval gun systems to enhance their long-range strike and air defense capabilities, the company announced Monday.
According to the company’s press release, BAE will receive an extra $23.5 million, bringing the total project cost to over $70 million, including the original $47 million contract awarded last July.
Under the contract, BAE Systems will modernize the Mk 45 systems by extending the barrel length to 62 calibers to increase range and firing energy. The upgrades will also include reinforcing the gun mounts for durability and integrating a fully digital control system that can support advanced targeting and fire control.
According to BAE, these upgrades are a cost-effective alternative to developing entirely new gun systems while still ensuring U.S. Navy sailors have advanced firepower to meet current and future mission demands.
The decision to modernize these systems comes amid heightened global security concerns.
Brent Butcher, vice president of weapon systems at BAE Systems, referenced recent attacks in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on commercial and naval ships in late 2023 and 2024 as evidence of the need for improved naval firepower.
“Equipped with the latest configuration of the Mk45 gun system, the men and women in the Navy have the capabilities to protect themselves at sea. We continue our commitment to providing the latest naval gun technology, including advanced munitions, to U.S. Sailors and their allies,” said Butcher.
The modernization work will be carried out at BAE Systems’ production facility in Louisville, Kentucky, with an expected completion date of late 2028.
