BAE Providing Advanced Defensive System For U-2 | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-10.20.25

AirborneUnlimited-
10.14.25

Airborne-Unlimited-10.15.25

Airborne-NextGen-10.16.25

AirborneUnlimited-10.17.25

Sat, Oct 22, 2005

BAE Providing Advanced Defensive System For U-2

Will Allow Spy Plane Pilots To See Even More

BAE Systems has announced deployment of the company's AN/ALQ-221 Advanced Defensive System (ADS) on US Air Force U-2S reconnaissance airplanes. The system will now be deployed in military operations, after achieving initial operating capability.

The AN/ALQ-221 consists of an integrated Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) and Electronic Countermeasures system (ECM) designed to give U-2 pilots additional situational awareness. The system also allows self-protection capabilities against numerous current and future threats, according to a company press release.

"Due to the hard work of many agencies, all of the necessary milestones have been satisfied and we declare the AN/ALQ-221 electronic warfare system initial operating capability," said Maj. Gen. Kenneth DeCuir, USAF director of air and space operations. 

The venerable U-2 routinely flies above 70,000 feet, providing US forces and their allies with surveillance and recon information. Last month, the airplanes also saw duty in mapping coastal areas, ahead of Hurricane Rita's advance on the Gulf Coast.

The ADS is the latest advancement in BAE Systems' 40-year work in electronic countermeasures (ECM) technology. The system was designed to be an integral part of the U-2S modernization program, and is tied in the aircraft's avionics and MFD cockpit displays.

"It is extremely rewarding for our team to be able to field such a capable system for protecting U-2 pilots," said John Normand, BAE Systems' U-2 program manager.

System production of the AN/ALQ-221 began in 2004 in the company's New Hampshire facility, and is nearly complete. The last systems are scheduled to be delivered to the Air Force by the end of the month.

FMI: www.baesystems.com, www.af.mil

Advertisement

More News

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (10.23.25)

“Sport Pilot 2.0 gives more people than ever the opening to pursue their dreams of putting themselves in the pilot seat and enjoying the unique perspectives of flight. This v>[...]

United Airliner Likely Hit Weather Balloon, Not Space Object

WindBorne’s CEO Cooperating In Investigation Of Mysterious Incident After a mysterious collision with what was thought to be either an asteroid or space debris, it’s lo>[...]

Atlanta Cops Block Attempted Shooting at Hartsfield-Jackson

Man Arrested After Attempting to Bring an Assault Rifle Into the World’s Busiest Airport A 49-year-old man was arrested by Atlanta police officers for allegedly planning a ma>[...]

Aviation Tracking Technology Bill Flies Through the Senate

Senate Commerce Committee Passes Cruz’s ROTOR Act The Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act, introduced by Chairman Ted Cruz and Ranking Member >[...]

ALPA Praises Bipartisan Bill To Mitigate Helicopter Risks

ROTOR Act Closes Loopholes And Mandate Safety Technology The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, issued a statement lauding a bipartisan bill introduced by Senators Ted Cruz >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC