Northrop Grumman receives USAF EA pod upgrade contract

Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $52.8 million award by the US Air Force (USAF) to upgrade its electronic attack (EA) pods. The 27-month engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) contract has a potential value of $480 million including EMD, a low-rate initial production phase (LRIP) and five production options.

Northrop Grumman will carry out work that will see USAF pilots provided with increased electronic warfare (EW) protection during combat operations.

Northrop Grumman's solution, an upgraded ALQ-131 EA pod, is fully capable of operating in support of A-10, C-130, F-15 and F-16 aircraft and aircrews. The upgrade includes a proven digital radio frequency memory, a common component for modern electronic warfare systems.

According to the company, this digital receiver/exciter technology makes a fourth-generation aircraft survivable in a fifth-generation world. Northrop Grumman is utilising mature technology across a number of programmes providing scalable and economical unique electronic warfare capability to gain fifth generation abilities in form/fit packages for USAF fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

Northrop Grumman has delivered more than 500 digital radio frequency memories which are installed on F-16s and other modern fighter aircraft. The company has more than 60 years of experience in electronic warfare protecting B-1, B-52, F-15, F-16, F-18, F-35 and SR-71 aircraft and aircrews.