BAE Systems has received contracts worth USD 491 M (EUR 451.2 M) from Lockheed Martin to produce Block 4 AN/ASQ-239 electronic warfare (EW)/countermeasure systems for future Lot 17 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, adding to the 1,200 F-35 EW systems it has delivered to date, the company announced in a press release on 3 April 2023.
The Block 4 systems will accelerate the delivery of advanced EW capabilities to F-35 operators by combining adaptable hardware and incremental software updates.
“The Block 4 EW system will offer greater situational awareness, enhanced survivability and increased capabilities to counter modern threats, and is upgradable to address evolving threats,” Lisa Aucoin, vice president of F-35 Solutions at BAE Systems, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “Our adaptable EW system will help warfighters execute missions today and into the future, and will reduce engineering and sustainment costs for the US Department of Defense and its allies.”
The Block 4 EW systems will include significantly upgraded hardware and software that improves sensing and signal-processing capabilities. New, high-performance sensors will boost the system’s ability to detect difficult-to-observe threats and more threats simultaneously.
“Our modern facilities allow us to manufacture complex, intricate electronics at scale to deliver an affordable EW capability,” Chris Rossi, director of F-35 production at BAE Systems, was quoted as saying. “The flexibility of our active production line will allow us to seamlessly transition to the Block 4 design without skipping a beat.”
The AN/ASQ-239 EW/countermeasures suite provides F-35s with fully integrated offensive and defensive EW capabilities, including long-range threat warning, self-protection, and targeting support. It provides 360-degree, full-spectrum situational awareness and rapid-response capabilities, allowing the F-35 to evade, engage, counter, and jam threats, as well as penetrate hostile airspace to reach well-defended targets.
The AN/ASQ-239 system is designed and manufactured at BAE Systems’ Manchester and Nashua facilities in New Hampshire.
Peter Felstead
