US Navy contracts BAE for next-generation aircraft survivability system

The USN has awarded BAE Systems a $13.5 million agreement for its Smart D2 technology as part of the service's ALE-47 Common Carriage programme, which increases expendable payload countermeasure capacity for naval aircraft.

The agreement marks the US DoD's first purchase of Smart D2 equipment.

Instead of replacing the ALE-47 system in its entirety, Smart D2 allows for critical elements such as the programmer, sequencer, dispenser and expendables to be replaced.

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Smart D2 also supports the USN's conversion to square form factor expendable countermeasures in line with the USAF and US Army, rather than round countermeasures.

The programme incorporates a regularly updated database of threats and identifies suitable payload, quantity and dispensing intervals for each countermeasure.

It also provides two-way communication to allow pilots to make informed decisions.

The technology will be deployed on the USN's rotary and fixed-wing aircraft and will also operate on future platforms.

BAE Systems advanced compact electronic warfare solutions product line director Don Davidson said: 'Aircraft survivability technology is in a race against emerging threats. Smart D2 elevates legacy systems to the technology capabilities of next-generation smart countermeasures.'

BAE Systems is undertaking Smart D2 work at its Austin, Texas, facility.