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

"We are honored that the U.S. Air Force selected Northrop Grumman to modernize their electronic attack pods," said Tom Vice, corporate vice president and sector president, Northrop Grumman Technical Services.

"The Northrop Grumman team designed an innovative solution that provides our U.S. Air Force pilots with the electronic warfare protection they need while flying 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.

"A key capability for the pod upgrade is our proven digital radio frequency memory, a common component for flagship electronic warfare systems," said Jeff Palombo, sector vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Land and Self Protection Systems Division.

"This digital receiver/exciter technology makes a fourth-generation aircraft survivable in a fifth-generation world. Northrop Grumman is utilizing mature technology across a number of programs providing scalable and economical unique electronic warfare capability to gain fifth generation abilities in form/fit packages for U.S. Air Force 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.