BAE Systems to provide electronic warfare systems for B-2 bomber

NASHUA, N.H., Feb. 17, 2012. BAE Systems has won a contract from Northrop Grumman – Aerospace Systems to provide Electronic Support Measure (ESM) systems for use on all 20 B-2 Spirit bombers. This ESM upgrade will be a complete replacement of the current aging AN/APR-50 system. With this award, BAE Systems will now be providing Electronic Warfare systems on all three of the U.S. Air Force’s Low Observable platforms; the F-22, F-35 and B-2 aircraft.

Northrop Grumman selected BAE Systems in a competitive bid process to replace the aircraft’s 30-year-old legacy AN/APR-50 ESM system. The system, in conjunction with the radar warning receiver, detects electronic threats encountered by the B-2 and provides situational awareness to its air crew.

The B-2, also known as the “Stealth Bomber,” is a deep-threat strike aircraft designed to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses and deploy conventional and nuclear weapons. Northrop Grumman is the U.S. Air Force’s B-2 platform provider and prime contractor for all B-2 modernization efforts involved with the aircraft’s service life extension into 2058.

The ESM contract work will be conducted in Nashua, N.H. and Cambridge, Mass.