
The U.S. Navy has just awarded a $106.4 million contract to Sparton DeLeon Springs LLC for the production of as many as 20,000 sonobuoys (sonar buoys).
Most of the work — 54 percent — will be done at Sparton’s plant in DeLeon Springs. The balance of the contracted production — 46 percent — will be performed at the company’s facilities in Columbia City, Indiana.
Sonobuoys are devices used in anti-submarine warfare. The items made under this latest work order will be employed in training, peacetime operations, testing and in stocking up for possible combat operations, according to information released by the U.S. Department of Defense.
About 750 people work at Sparton’s plant in DeLeon Springs. The plant has two shifts of workers and operates around the clock.
Sparton’s parent company is Elbit Systems of America LLC, which specializes in electronics for aviation, defense, homeland security, law enforcement and medical instruments. Elbit Systems of America’s headquarters are in Fort Worth, Texas.