POMONA, Calif., 19 January 2005. The Naval Inventory Control Point and the Naval Air Systems Command have placed follow-on contracts totaling $12 million with BAE Systems to maintain and upgrade AN/ALQ-157 Infrared Countermeasure Systems for the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy.
The AN/ALQ-157 is designed to protect aircraft by jamming the missile guidance of a heat-seeking missile. The defensive system radiates controlled pulsed, high-intensity infrared energy to fool the enemy missile seeker.
These follow-on contracts increase the quantity ordered by the military for the upgraded systems, known as the AN/ALQ-157A(V)1 to more than 350 systems. The upgraded systems are produced by BAE Systems' Information & Electronic Warfare Systems (IEWS) Pomona, Calif. facility.
"This program provides the military with improved system reliability, enhanced on-aircraft performance, and reduced maintenance requirements and associated costs," said Bill Appleby, BAE Systems program manager.
The upgrade program will continue into 2006. It will involve significant coordination and teamwork between BAE Systems, the Navy, and Marine Corps. The Navy will retrieve the equipment from various locations throughout the world and send it to BAE Systems at Pomona, where it is upgraded, tested, and returned.
The Navy will return the equipment back to the field to be fitted on aircraft and into the supply system. The rotation of equipment will be carefully orchestrated to ensure that Marine aircraft currently in combat areas always have IRCM protection available. BAE Systems is committed to deliver the upgraded equipment and spares support as quickly as possible.
"I am grateful for the efforts of many to bring the updated and reworked ALQ-157s into reality. Our aircraft survivability equipment has already saved numerous aircrew lives and airplanes," said Lt. Gen. James F. Amos, U.S. Marine Corps.
BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery, and support of advanced defense and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea, and in space. BAE Systems' Information & Electronic Systems Integration Sector (IESI) is a leader in situational awareness, electronic attack and defensive systems solutions for the U.S. battle space market. For more information, see www.iews.na.baesystems.com.
