NASHUA, N.H. - BAE Systems will provide its AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) electronic warfare suite for the Republic of Korea Air Force's (ROKAF) F-15K fighter modernization program under a contract from Boeing, adding advanced digital radar warning, threat detection and electronic countermeasures capabilities to the aircraft.
The award supports a broader Foreign Military Sales modernization effort announced by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in January, when Boeing received a not-to-exceed $2.81 billion contract to develop and integrate upgraded aircraft systems for South Korea's fleet of 59 F-15K Slam Eagle fighters. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center awarded the contract on behalf of the Republic of Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration, with work expected to continue through December 2037.
BAE Systems said EPAWSS will provide pilots with 360-degree threat detection, situational awareness and self-protection capabilities designed for operations in dense and contested electromagnetic environments.
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The AN/ALQ-250 replaces legacy electronic warfare functions with an all-digital architecture that integrates radar warning, threat geolocation, electronic countermeasures and countermeasure dispensing into a single survivability suite. According to BAE Systems, the system continuously collects and processes radio frequency signals to identify airborne and surface threats, enabling pilots to respond with appropriate electronic countermeasures while maintaining awareness of the surrounding electromagnetic battlespace.
The company said EPAWSS incorporates broadband radio frequency receivers and high-speed digital signal processing capable of detecting a wide range of threat emitters, including low-probability-of-intercept and frequency-agile radar systems. The architecture is also designed to perform electronic attack functions without interfering with onboard radar operation, allowing the electronic warfare suite and the aircraft's Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar to operate simultaneously.
Compared with previous F-15 electronic warfare equipment, EPAWSS is smaller and lighter while providing additional computing capacity for future capability growth. BAE Systems said the modular, open architecture was designed to accommodate software and firmware upgrades as new threats emerge, with provisions for future technologies, including cognitive electronic warfare techniques, frequency expansion, and the integration of fiber-optic towed decoys.
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"We are working closely with Boeing, the ROKAF and regional industry teams to deliver the most technically advanced EW system for the F-15K aircraft upgrade," Phillip Casalegno, F-15 international program director at BAE Systems, said in a statement. "Our focus is on providing allies with EW capabilities needed to support regional stability and security."
The company said EPAWSS is currently in full-rate production for new U.S. Air Force F-15EX Eagle II aircraft and is also being installed as an upgrade on F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft. The system is designed to support ongoing capability improvements through software and firmware updates as new electronic threats evolve.
The F-15K modernization is intended to improve the aircraft's survivability against current and emerging air defense systems while maintaining interoperability with U.S. forces. BAE Systems manufactures EPAWSS at facilities in Nashua, N.H., and Austin, Texas.
