BAE Wins $33 M for Airborne Countermeasures

(Nashua, New Hampshire, June 16, 2009) -- BAE Systems has been awarded a $33.6 million low-rate initial production contract for the ALE-55. The AN/ALE-55 is part of the U.S. Navy's Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures (IDECM) system that provides fighter aircraft with electronic defense against radar guided missiles.

"We conducted a very successful production readiness review and believe BAE Systems will continue to perform, produce, and deliver a very capable system," said Capt. Paul Overstreet of the Naval Air Systems Command. "The ALE-55 will significantly enhance self-protection for our aircraft across a range of threats."

The ALE-55 consists of an onboard electronic frequency converter (EFC) and a fiber-optic towed device (FOTD). The EFC converts radio frequencies to light that is transferred over a fiber-optic cable to a transmitter in the FOTD that jams missile threats to the aircraft.

"We're well on the way to providing the Navy the protection it needs in modern combat," said Burt Keirstead, director of Navy Programs at BAE Systems Electronics Solutions business.

BAE Systems began low-rate initial production of the AN/ALE-55 Lot IV in June 2008 and is expected to complete production of Lot V in September 2011. When combined with the previous Lot IV award, this Lot V production award increases the total FOTD deliveries to 473 and the total contract value to $65.6 million.

Source : BAE Systems PLC (LSE: BAES.L) - click here for more information