McDonnell Douglas Unit Lands Navy Contract

HUNTINGTON BEACH —  McDonnell Douglas Corp.’s space systems division has received a U.S. Navy contract to build five surveillance and targeting systems for use on surface ships. All work on the contract will be done at the Huntington-Beach-based space division’s unit in Monrovia.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed, but a McDonnell Douglas spokeswoman said it is not expected to boost hiring at the plant.

McDonnell Douglas developed the Thermal Imaging Sensor System and sold the prototype to the Navy as an off-the-shelf product last year. This contract marks the first multiple-unit sale to the military.

The sensor system provides Navy ships with long-range, all-weather capability to identify small targets and objects such as mines, periscopes, swimmers, cruise missiles and small surface craft. It also can be adapted for use in navigation, the company said.