NASHUA, N.H., 15 June 2006. BAE Systems has delivered the first production digital electronic warfare (EW) system to Lockheed Martin for use in the U.S. Air Force's Raptor #4084. The airframe, well into production, is slated for delivery to the Air Force in November 2006.
"Raptor pilots will be flying the world's premier fifth-generation fighter equipped with the best digital electronic warfare system available in any fighter in the world," says Bridget Lauderdale, Lockheed Martin vice president for F-22 product development. "BAE Systems' digital EW program is a model product improvement program that provides state-of-the art technology to the F-22."
The digital EW system replaces older analog receiver technology with reconfigurable digital receivers, providing cost, power, and weight savings for the F-22.
"This is the first production deployment of a wideband EW digital receiver on a tactical platform. The system has passed all performance and qualification testing to begin operational aircraft installation," says Bill Hill, BAE Systems' Digital EW program manager.
The product improvement program began as a BAE Systems company-funded research and development effort to build a wideband, channelized digital receiver. The program will result in a 20-percent per-unit cost savings, yielding production cost reductions in excess of $80 million for F-22 production lots 5-9.
