Tue, Jul 01, 2003
Making the Special C-130s Harder to Find, Hit
BAe Systems has been selected by Boeing to provide the
AN/ALQ-196 Low Band Jammer for the U.S. Air Force's Special
Operations Command (AFSOC). BAe will work with the prime
contractor, Boeing (in Fort Walton Beach, FL), to integrate the
ALQ-196 Low Band Jammer onboard AFSOC's MC-130H Talon II and
AC-130U gunship aircraft.
The ALQ-196 gives aircrews a highly effective defense
against current and future radio frequency (RF) missile threats.
The ALQ-196 system has been in operation on AFSOC MC-130E Talon I
aircraft since 1994 and a similar system onboard on the Air Force's
U-2 Dragon Lady aircraft has proven its effectiveness for more than
two decades.
"The unique and critical mission of our Special Operations
forces demands the highest level of electronic protection available
today," said Don Donovan, IEWS vice president and general manager
for the Electronic Warfare/Electronic Protection line of business.
"By outfitting these AFSOC aircraft with the ALQ-196, we are proud
to provide the Air Force with the outstanding capability that these
forces both demand and deserve."
MC-130 aircrews work closely with
Army, Navy, and Air Force Special Operations forces. Primary
missions are day and night, all weather infiltration, exfiltration,
and resupply of special operations forces in hostile or denied
territory. AC-130 primary missions include close air support, armed
reconnaissance and air interdiction.
The Low Band Jammer award follows an earlier award from Boeing
last November, in which BAE SYSTEMS was also selected to develop
and produce a high-powered fiber optic towed decoy (HPFOTD) system
for the U.S. Air Force's MC-130 E/H and AC-130 U/H aircraft. BAe
will provide a system with up to eight retrievable decoys. With
this system, the decoy will be deployed when needed and retrieved,
instead of being severed like current towed decoy systems. The
HPFOTD converts, amplifies and radiates techniques that are used to
defeat radar-guided missiles. That contract is expected to be worth
in excess of $100 million over the next five years.
More News
Aero Linx: International Business Aviation Council Ltd IBAC promotes the growth of business aviation, benefiting all sectors of the industry and all regions of the world. As a non->[...]
"During the annual inspection of the B-24 “Diamond Lil” this off-season, we made the determination that 'Lil' needs some new feathers. Due to weathering, the cloth-cove>[...]
Also: Bushcat Woes, Hummingbird 300 SL 4-Seat Heli Kit, Carbon Cub UL The newest Junkers is a faithful recreation that mates a 7-cylinder Verner radial engine to the airframe offer>[...]
Also: Seaplane Pilots Association, Rotax 916’s First Year, Gene Conrad After a decade and a half of struggling with the FAA and other aero-politics, G100UL is in production a>[...]
Also: Martha King Scholarship, Montaer Grows, Textron Updates Pistons, FlySto The FAA is hiring thousands of air traffic controllers, but the window to apply will only be open for >[...]