Exelis has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract for supply of additional electronic warfare (EW) equipment, spares and support services to the Turkish Air Force.
Awarded by Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, US, the foreign military sales (FMS) contract is initially valued at $36m, and will be worth $80m when fully definitised.
Under the contract, the company will supply the pod-mounted ALQ-211(V)9 advanced integrated defensive electronic warfare suite (AIDEWS) systems to help Turkey protect its F-16 fighter jets from a range of advanced and evolving electronic threats.
Exelis integrated electronic warfare systems business vice-president and general manager Joe Rambala said the AIDEWS will enable Turkey to stay ahead of sophisticated emerging threats.
"The contract furthers our electronic warfare strategic growth platform, as we continue to provide advanced, affordable and reliable solutions for US and allied forces," Rambala said.
The ALQ-211(V)9 can be carried externally rather than installed into the aircraft unlike the ALQ-211(V)4, and also offers greater flexibility, as it can be installed or removed based on mission requirements.
The AIDEWS is a next-generation integrated radar warning system designed to provide pilots with situational awareness and protection against radar-based threats, including modern surface-to-air and air-to-air weapon systems.
The system has been integrated into a wide variety of US and allied defence rotary-wing and fighter aircraft, such as the NH-90 helicopter, V-22 Osprey, MH-47, MH-60 Black Hawk, F-16 Fighter and several commercial platforms.
Manufacturing work under the contract will be carried out by Exelis Electronic Systems (ES) in Clifton, New Jersey, US, while deliveries to Turkey are expected to start in mid-2016.
Exelis also supplied 30 ALQ-211(V)4 systems to the Turkish Air Force under a separate contract in 2009.
Image: The new ALQ-211(V)9 AIDEWS systems will safeguard Turkish F-16 fighters against electronic threats. Photo: courtesy of Wolfram M. Stumpf, USAF.
