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BAE Systems ALE-55 Fibre Optic Towed Decoy Completes Development Testing

08 Aug 2005

NASHUA, New Hampshire -- BAE Systems and the U.S. Navy have successfully completed development testing of the AN/ALE-55 Fibre Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD) on the Navys F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet.

The Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures (IDECM) Block 3 program, which includes the AN/ALE-55 FOTD, will now begin formal development and operational testing. A contract award for the Low Rate Initial Production of the ALE-55 is planned for early 2006. Contract award for Full Rate Production is expected to follow the successful completion of Operational Evaluation.

"The ALE-55 development program will bring the Super Hornet superior RF self-protection capabilities for many years to come," said Captain Dwight Cousins, U.S. Navy program manager, "The Navy and BAE Systems team met demanding requirements in completing this development program."

During the flight tests, conducted at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, the FOTD was subjected to more than 60 risk reduction flights to test the safe employment, endurance, and reliability of the FOTD under simulated combat maneuvers.

"The ALE-55 FOTD is the first fibre optic decoy ready now to protect Navy and Air Force pilots," said Joe Mancini, BAE Systems' AN/ALE-55 program manager in Nashua, New Hampshire. "The team has completed technology breakthroughs in performance and has greatly reduced unit production baseline costs."

The BAE Systems ALE-55 FOTD is an integral component of the joint U.S. Navy – U.S. Air Force IDECM Radio Frequency Countermeasures (RFCM) system.

The ALE-55 FOTD system includes a high-power FOTD and deployment canister. Currently, the ALE-55 is slated for deployment on the F/A-18E/F aircraft.

About BAE SYSTEMS:

BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery, and support of advanced defence and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea, and in space. The company designs, manufactures, and supports military aircraft, combat vehicles, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years and is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defence systems. BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company employs nearly 100,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately $25 billion through its wholly owned and joint-venture operations.

For further information, please contact:

Marianne Murphy, BAE Systems
Tel: +1 603-885-2812
Mobile: +1 603-315-1536
marianne.murphy@baesystems.com