BAE Systems has been granted an agreement to upgrade and maintain the AN/ALQ-221 Advanced Defensive System on the U.S. Air Force’s U-2 surveillance aircraft, the company announced.
This pact, originating from Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, will require BAE Systems to furnish ongoing field service assistance, rectifications, and software enhancements for the aircraft’s electronic warfare package. The undertaking aims to preserve system readiness and facilitate the detection and neutralization of emergent dangers.
The AN/ALQ-221 apparatus incorporates radar warning receivers and electronic countermeasures, equipping U-2 pilots with enhanced situational awareness and intrinsic self-protection capabilities. It utilizes onboard processing and extended-range sensors to support operations within contested airspace, according to the firm.
Tim Angulas, U-2 product area director at BAE Systems, commented: “The Advanced Defensive System for the U-2 is a cornerstone of BAE Systems’ extensive heritage in electronic warfare. Advancing, modernizing, and sustaining EW systems is fundamental to our core. Our endeavors guarantee they can perform optimally across their full lifecycles.”
BAE Systems stated it has persistently refined the system throughout its multi-decade operational span as part of the broader U-2 renovation effort. The aircraft’s modular design and open avionics architecture are designed to enable the rapid assimilation of new functionalities as perils evolve.