Exelis Pens USD 91 Million Electronic Warfare Production Contract

Exelis has received a contract valued at more than $91 million from the U.S. Navy to begin full rate production on Lot 11 of the ALQ-214 electronic self-protection system for F/A-18C/D Hornet and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter aircraft.

The Exelis ALQ-214(V)4/5 is a cutting-edge jamming subsystem at the heart of the Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures (IDECM) suite. IDECM is used by the U.S. Navy to protect carrier-based F/A-18s and their aircrews from sophisticated radio frequency threats, such as hostile radar and air defense systems. The jamming technology enables operations in contested environments to address anti-access/area denial challenges.

“Today’s electronic warfare solutions must keep pace with increasingly sophisticated threats,” said Joe Rambala, vice president and general manager of the Exelis integrated electronic warfare systems business area. “Exelis technologies have supported electronic warfare missions for more than 40 years, and our company remains committed to supplying customers with reliable, cost-effective and advanced systems.”

This latest award brings the total value of contracts for the ALQ-214(V)4/5 to more than $287 million. The first, for full rate production of IDECM Lot 9, was issued in 2012.

“With this contract, the U.S. Navy has again shown confidence in our technology and our continual improvement of the system’s design and capabilities,” said Ron Silbermann, Exelis IDECM program director. “Airborne self-protection jammers like the ALQ-214 will allow U.S. and allied forces to maintain a strategic edge in contested environments.”

Production under the contract will begin immediately, with the first deliveries expected by November 2016. The ALQ-214 is produced at the Exelis Electronic Systems (ES) facility in Clifton, N.J. ES is the lead division for the company’s electronic warfare (EW) strategic growth platform, providing advanced, integrated EW solutions to protect and enable domestic and international customers to perform their critical missions.

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Press Release, May 2, 2014; Image: Wikimedia