Taiwan, By Any Other Name...

BAE Systems announced last week the comhas received a $9.3 million contract to provide upgraded software and hardware for the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) F-16 aircraft.

The Foreign Military Sales contract -- awarded by Warner Robins Air Force Base, GA -- covers upgrades to 185 central processing units and 170 backplanes on the AN/ALR-56M radar warning receiver systems currently on board ROCAF F-16s.

The AN/ALR-56M detects radar emissions and rapidly notifies the pilot when it detects a threat to the aircraft. More than 1,000 AN/ALR-56M radar warning receivers have been provided to the US Air Force and to international customers.

"The AN/ALR-56M has proven it is a durable and reliable system," said Howard Paul, BAE Systems’ AN/ALR-56M program manager. "The computer upgrade will allow the ROCAF to update its F-16 Operational Flight Program to include additional functions." The upgrade will provide a much more powerful central processing unit with greater speed and memory, and software enhancements will improve pilot situational awareness.

All production and test work will be performed at BAE Systems’ Greenlawn, NY facility. The contract will run through 2008.

BAE Systems delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With more than 100,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded $28 billion in 2005.

FMI: www.baesystems.com