Harris Providing Electronic Warfare Systems for Allies' F-16 Fighters

Harris Corporation, based in Melbourne, Florida, reported that it would be supplying electronic warfare (EW) systems to other allied militaries to protect international F-16s from advanced radio frequency threats, according to an August 6 company statement. Under the award, which is a $400 million increase to the ceiling value of a single-award indefinite deliver/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, the company will provide AN/ALQ-211(V)4/9 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suite (AIDEWS) systems, spares and engineering support to several allied countries. The ALQ-211 system, which can be installed inside an aircraft fuselage or as a wing-mounted pod, detects and protects aircraft from lethal threats and provides multi-spectral – radio frequency, infrared and laser – situational awareness, Harris stated.

The award is part of a Foreign Military Sales contract through the U.S. Air Force, the company said. “The Harris AIDEWS system provides our allies with sophisticated, high-performance electronic protection and offers the flexibility needed to meet unique mission needs,” said Ed Zoiss, president, Harris Electronic Systems. The company's airborne EW systems support and enable missions for strategic bombers, tactical fighters and rotary aircraft by helping aviators to detect, avoid, and where necessary, defeat electronic threats, Harris claims. The company says it has delivered EW solutions for a wide variety of airborne platforms for more than sixty years.