Cobham, specialing in meeting the demand for data, connectivity and bandwidth in defence, security and commercial environments, has been awarded a $31.7 million contract from the US Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to manufacture the AN/ALQ-99 Low Band Transmitter-Antenna Group for Navy and Marine Corps EA-6B and EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft.
The contract funds the sixth full-rate production lot, and includes the first instalment of two-part procurement for a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to undisclosed customers.
This award brings the total number of production orders to 314 of 337 required transmitters and, to date, 230 transmitters have been delivered.
The AN/ALQ-99 Low Band Transmitter-Antenna Group (LBT-AG), developed by Cobham Defence Electronics, has been in production since 2005. The LBT is designed to protect strike aircraft, ships, and ground troops by disrupting enemy radar and communications. It is flown on US Navy EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G aircraft and Marine Corps EA-6B aircraft, and has been used in combat operations.
This award continues a long tradition of Cobham support to the Navy’s mission success in harm’s way. Cobham’s support to the Navy extends beyond Airborne Electronic Warfare. The Low Band Transmitter complements other ALQ-99 work, as well as the Next Generation Jammer, the Next Generation Airborne Electronic Attack study, and the fleet’s Integrated Topside (InTop) and Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Programme (SEWIP).
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, January 10, 2013; Image: NAVAIR