Navy Orders Advanced Off-Board Electronic Warfare System into Production

An artist’s conception of the AOEWS at work. LOCKHEED MARTIN

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a production order for a new helicopter-borne electronic warfare system.  

The Naval Sea Systems Command awarded to Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Liverpool, New York, a $17.8 million firm-fixed-price contract modifications exercise options for Advanced Off-Board Electronic Warfare (AOEW) System low-rate initial production units, according to a Sept. 29 Defense Department release.  

The AOEW pod is designed to be taken aloft by an MH-60R or MH-60S Seahawk helicopter and serve as an offboard electronic attack system to counter anti-ship cruise missiles. The pod can be attached to either side of the helicopter. The helicopter provides power and mobility for the pod, but the pod’s operation is independent of the helicopter crew and linked to the SLQ-32(V)6/7 shipboard electronic warfare system. 

The Navy initially ordered four Engineering and Manufacturing Development models for evaluation that were delivered by early 2020. 

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Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor