Harris Corporation has received a two-year full-rate production contract from the US Navy to deliver key avionics components.
The components to be delivered under this $29m contract will improve flight crews’ targeting capabilities on the US Navy’s and Australia’s F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet fighter aircraft and EA-18G Growler electronic attack platform.
Harris Electronic Systems president Ed Zoiss said: "The F/A-18 brings critical navy fighter and electronic warfare capabilities for the US and key allies, such as Australia.
"Upgrading the mission and image-processing prowess of the platform will help ensure that it continues to be the primary fighter aircraft for the US navy."
According to Harris, the avionics are a significant part of the distributed targeting system that will improve the aircraft’s networking capabilities, improve targeting precision and shorten the time from target sensing to shooting.
Manufactured by Boeing, the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet fighter aircraft offers precision strike capability, while the EA-18G Growler is an airborne electronic attack (AEA) aircraft, which operates from either an aircraft carrier or land-bases.
Designed to serve as the US Navy’s all-weather fighter aircraft, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet supports air superiority, day / night strikes with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close-air support, suppression of enemy air defences, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward-air control, and tanker missions.
On the other hand, Growlers can support missions such as electronic attack (EA) and suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD), mainly at the beginning and ongoing early stages of combat.
Image: A US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet conducts a mission over the Persian Gulf. Photo: courtesy of Navy / TSGT ROB TABOR, USAF.
