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.
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