BAE Systems has received a contract from Lockheed Martin to manufacture electronic warfare systems for F-35 Lightning II aircraft, including new-build systems and retrofit equipment for aircraft already in service.
The contract covers electronic warfare systems for F-35 Lots 20-22, along with systems for the modernization of earlier aircraft. The work will support the continued production and upgrade of the F-35 fleet as the programme expands globally.
The AN/ASQ-239 electronic warfare system provides threat detection, signal processing and electronic protection capabilities. Its software-based architecture also allows the system to be updated as requirements evolve.
Production and retrofit support for F-35 fleet
BAE Systems is using automation, updated system designs and its supply chain to support production under the contract. The company has also invested in its manufacturing facilities to increase production capacity.
The retrofit element is particularly relevant to the F-35 sustainment programme, as existing aircraft require ongoing modernization to maintain their mission-system capabilities. Supplying replacement and upgraded EW systems creates an additional component-level support requirement alongside wider F-35 maintenance activities.
BAE Systems has delivered more than 1,500 AN/ASQ-239 systems for the F-35. The systems are designed and manufactured at the company’s facilities in Austin, Texas, and Manchester, Merrimack, and Nashua, New Hampshire.
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“We’ve been a trusted contributor since the origin of the Joint Strike Fighter program, and we’ve continuously evolved our EW hardware and software to maintain our warfighters’ decisive battlespace advantage,” said Amber Dolan, Vice President of F-35 Solutions at BAE Systems. “We’re laser-focused on scaling production and delivering software-based capabilities to meet the rapid pace of conflict.”
The combination of new production and retrofit work extends BAE Systems’ role in the F-35 programme beyond initial equipment supply, supporting the electronic warfare system throughout the aircraft’s continuing modernization cycle.
