APR-39 Radar Warning Receiver to Be Upgraded for Integration on CH-53K Helicopter

Released on Monday, February 18, 2008

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Feb. 18, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been selected by the U.S. Naval Aviation Systems Command for phase two of the APR-39 radar warning receiver (RWR) integration program for the Navy's CH-53K helicopter fleet.

Radar warning receivers are electronic systems onboard aircraft that essentially detect all radar signals, determine the threat levels, and then command countermeasures.

Under the terms of the $17 million contract, Northrop Grumman will incorporate all electronic warfare (EW) integration capabilities of the A(V)2 and B(V)2 versions of its APR-39 RWR now in production -- including EW controller and integration interfaces to multiple missile and laser warning sensors -- into the existing fleet of CH-53Ks. The phase two program also includes the integration of the APR-39 RWR with Northrop Grumman's Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) systems onboard each of the helicopters.

"The insertion of new, faster processors into the APR-39 in addition to the massive memory expansion will upgrade the system and allow programmers to keep up with threat developments," said Greg Schmidt, vice president of Radio Frequency Combat and Information Systems programs at Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems Division. "In addition, the integration of APR-39 and DIRCM will provide a state-of-the-art solution for warfighters looking to protect against electro-optical, infrared, radio frequency and electronic warfare threats."

The APR-39 B(V)X upgrade, scheduled for completion and flight testing in late 2009 or early 2010, builds on the recently completed A(V)X program and extends the longstanding cooperative effort among the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps to ensure that the legacy APR-39 system, which is the core of the U.S. Navy and U.S Marine Corps' suite of integrated sensors and countermeasures (SISCM), benefits from ongoing technology enhancements and new capabilities.

The APR-39 system protects a wide variety of fixed-, rotary- and tilt-wing aircraft from the threat posed by radio frequency, infrared and electro-optical weapons. Combining cutting-edge technology in a small, lightweight configuration, the system provides interactive management of all onboard sensors and countermeasures along with modern radar warning functions.