The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a $153 million U.S. Navy contract to design and develop the Countermine System (CMS) for the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City, Fla. The CMS, part of the Navy's effort to field a comprehensive Assault Breaching System, will help minimize mine-related combat losses during amphibious landings.

"The CMS will neutralize mines in the beach and surf zone in advance of an amphibious assault by the Marines," said Keith Burns, Boeing CMS acting program manager. "This capability will greatly enhance the sea service's ability to project power and successfully complete a Ship-to-Objective maneuver."

The unique CMS warhead uses the combat-proven Joint Direct Attack Munition guidance set to accurately position the weapon above the mines. The warhead is designed to dispense its payload of more than 4,000 neutralizer "darts" at a predetermined altitude, clearing the way for safe beach landings. U.S. Air Force strategic bombers will use the CMS to clear assault lanes while Navy tactical fighters perform localized mine neutralization.

The technology, developed in conjunction with the Office of Naval Research's Mine Obstacle Defeat System program, has allowed the Navy to proceed with the CMS System Design and Development phase. The Navy plans to field the system in 2016.

The Boeing-led team includes General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems for mine neutralizer testing, alternate neutralizer design and the modular payload system; Lockheed Martin for the baseline explosive neutralizer; and Nammo-Talley Defense Systems for the dispenser system.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32.1 billion business with 71,000 employees worldwide.