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Parent of local company awarded Navy contract

3 min read

The parent of a local company has been awarded a $20 million order for work on a Navy anti-torpedo defense system. U.S. Rep. John Murtha announced Wednesday that the Fayette County Division of Argon ST has been awarded the order for work on the system, which is a major focus of the company.

Under the order, Murtha said, Argon ST will procure components for a major system upgrade to the AN/SLQ-25A (NIXIE) Towed Torpedo Countermeasure, part of the Navy’s Surface Ship Torpedo Defense (SSTD) program.

The AN/SLQ-25A is a digitally controlled countermeasure decoy system that defends ships against wake homing, acoustic homing and wire-guided torpedoes. The system is installed onboard most U.S. Navy surface combatant ships, as well as those of 26 allied navies.

Argon ST was created in October 2004 with the merger of SenSyTech Inc. and Argon Engineering Associates.

Argon ST has 650 employees nationwide, with approximately 15 percent employed in the Fayette County Division. The division has multiple projects, the largest of which is the AN/SLQ-25A. Argon ST has two Fayette sites: one in the Fayette Business Park near Smithfield and another in North Union Township. The two local sites employ about 100 people.

Murtha, a longtime supporter of the SSTD program, said he is pleased that the entire AN/SLQ-25A system is being manufactured in the 12th Congressional District.

“I’m proud, because this system directly supports the safety of the sailors and Marines who serve on our ships at sea,” Murtha said, “and I’m delighted to see this work coming to southwestern Pennsylvania because it strengthens the district’s economy by creating and retaining jobs.”

Also benefiting from the work are subcontractors such as Shumar Industries and Gerome Manufacturing in Fayette County, Kuchera Defense Systems in Somerset County, and Johnstown Welding and Fabrication in Cambria County, Murtha said.

“We are working with the U.S. Navy in Washington and the Navy Underwater Warfare Center in Newport, R.I., in upgrading the AN/SLQ-25A for compatibility with the U.S. Navy’s shipboard modernization program,’ said Joel Denney, vice president and general manager of the Fayette County facility.

“Upgrades will be taking place as operational requirements and technological improvements change over time. This equipment will incorporate Navy initiatives regarding open architecture that will enable the system to be interoperable with other shipboard elements within the individual ship and task force battle group,’ he added.

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