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U.S. Navy awards $59 million contract to BAE SYSTEMS

26 Mar 2001

Ref: 042/2001

The U.S. Navy has awarded a $59 million contract to BAE Systems for Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) of an Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures (IDECM) Radio Frequency Countermeasures (RFCM) system which will be deployed initially on Navy F/A-18E/F aircraft, followed by U.S. Air Force B-1B and F-15 aircraft.

The system incorporates high sensitivity receivers and off-board countermeasures that provide a highly effective electronic warfare defence for U.S. military aircraft against current and future RF missile threats.

Under phase one, the Information & Electronic Warfare Systems (IEWS) business unit of BAE Systems North America, will deliver six onboard systems, 30 fibre optic towed decoys (FOTD) plus spares.

An option for Phase 2 would provide an additional 14 onboard systems, 30 fibre optic towed decoys, spares, and provisions for foreign military sales. Total value of the contract, including options, could reach $145 million.

“We are pleased to award BAE Systems this contract,” said Commander Scott Howe, the Navy’s IDECM Integrated Product Team Leader. “The entire team worked extremely hard to reach this milestone and we look forward to the time when our fighter aircraft will be protected by this highly effective countermeasure capability.”

Walt="" Havenstein, President of the Nashua, New Hampshire based BAE Systems unit, said: “The system promises to greatly bolster the protection for our military aviators who must fly in harm’s way. We’re proud to move this advanced electronic warfare defence into initial production.”

Steve Morais, BAE Systems’ programme manager said the programme’s development met a number of major milestones in the past year to reach the point of production. “We successfully completed operational assessment, development test and assist, and delivered the Block 5 software – all critical steps toward LRIP. The tests proved that BAE Systems will be providing exceptional defensive capabilities to the navy and the air force,” said Steve Morais.

IDECM RFCM incorporates avionics, including the on-board receiver and processing system developed and manufactured by ITT Industries' Avionics Division, and the off-board countermeasures which include the high power FOTD and deployment canister developed by BAE Systems.

Information & Electronic Warfare Systems, part of BAE Systems North America, employs 4,400 people at eight major facilities in five states of the USA. The business unit is a major producer of aircraft self-protection systems and tactical surveillance and intelligence systems for all branches of the armed forces. Other major business areas include microwave, mission and space electronics; infrared imaging; and automated mission planning systems.

BAE Systems North America employs 22,000 people in the design, development, integration, manufacture and support of a wide range of advanced aerospace products and intelligent electronic systems for government and commercial customers.