The US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has awarded a contract to Cobham to provide the low-band transmitter-antenna group (LBT-AG), a variety of antennas and adapter interface modules for the AN/ALQ-99 tactical jamming system designed for the US Navy and the Australian military.
Under the $21.8m contract, Cobham will manufacture eight LBTs for the US Navy and 11 for Australia; 11 vertically polarised antennas for the Navy and six for Australia; 17 high-band horizontally polarised antennas for the US Navy and seven for Australia; and six band-2 adapter interface assemblies for Australia.
Cobham Defense Electronics vice-president Jill Kale said: "As we continue to satisfy the Navy warfighter’s current needs, we look forward to providing the next generation of integrated RF solutions for US Navy air and maritime operations."
The LBT developed by Cobham is onboard the US Navy’s EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G aircraft and the EA-6B aircraft of the Marine Corps, for use in combat operations.
The LBT is designed to disrupt enemy radar and communications and to protect strike aircraft, ships and ground troops. It complements other ALQ-99 work as well as the next generation jammer, the next generation airborne electronic attack study, and the fleet’s integrated topside and surface electronic warfare improvement programme.
Deliveries are scheduled to commence in the latter half of this year and will conclude by late 2015.
Image: A US Navy EF-18 equipped with AN/ALQ-99. Photo: courtesy of US Navy.
