SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Engineers from Filtronic Solid State division in Santa Clara, Calif., are updating and repairing the U.S. Air Force ALQ-131 airborne self-protection jammer -- otherwise known as the ASPJ.

Filtronic experts are to do the work on the ALQ-131's signal processor and micro integrated network control subsystems under terms of a $10 million contract awarded Dec. 27 from the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base, Ga.

The AN/ALQ-131 is certified on the F-16, F-4, F-15, and F-5 jet fighters, the F-111 bomber, A-10 close-air-support jet, and C-130 utility turboprop. The jammer has electronic receivers, antennas, and powerful transmitters designed to alter the flight paths of incoming enemy missiles.

The ALQ-131 Block II adapts to various mission requirements using an interface and control module, two or three band modules that cover a portion of the pod's total frequency range, and the receiver/processor (R/P) module.

The R/P module combines signal identification capability with power management. An important function of the R/P is the management of "look through" which permits periodic surveillance of the threat environment while jamming is in progress.

Filtronic, meanwhile, provides high-volume discrete chips, packaged field effect transistors (FETs), microwave monolithic integrated circuits (MMICs), and radio frequency (RF) modules.

The company builds microwave control components including switches, attenuators, subsystems, supersystems, gallium diodes, field effect transistors, microwave monolithic integrated circuits, radio transceivers, amplifiers, oscillators, and filters.

Total quantity of the ALQ-131's signal processors to be modernized is 294 over a five-year period. Total quantity of micro integrated network controls to be modernized is 191 over a five-year period.

For more information contact Filtronic by phone at 408-988-1845, by fax at 408-970-9950, by post at 3251 Olcott St., Santa Clara, Calif. 95054, or on the World Wide Web at http://www.filss.com/.