Harris provides further details on recent AIDEWS contract

Harris has provided MONS with additional details regarding the contract it announced on 22nd January with the US Air Force to provide engineering and support services for the firm’s AN/ALQ-211(V)4/8/9 internal and pod-mounted electronic warfare systems which are used extensively around the globe by several General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin F-16 Viper series fighter operators.

The contract covers the provision of engineering support and software updates for all AN/ALQ-211 variants over the next five years, the company told MONS. The firm added that “with all of these systems out there in service, the purpose of this contract is to provide a mechanism to keep the systems’ software as up-to-date as we can.” This software update process will have the twin benefits of mitigating obsolescence while also ensuring that the AN/ALQ-211’s signal processing capabilities can detect, recognise and jam emerging Radio Frequency threats as and when they are discovered.

The AN/ALQ-211(V)9 is the podded version of the AN/ALQ-211 architecture and is primarily fielded on legacy F-16A/B fighters, with the AN/QALQ-211(V)4 internally equipping the later F-16C/D Block-50/52 versions of the jet. Curiously, the AN/ALQ-211(V)8 system reportedly equips one aircraft used for dignitary transport with the Indian Air Force and open source reports have stated that this could be the Embraer ERJ-135 turbofan transport equipping the air force in this role.

Thomas Withington