Exelis has received an award totaling more than $36 million to provide electronic warfare (EW) equipment, spares and support services to the Turkish Air Force. When fully definitive, the contract could be valued at up to $80 million.
Under the foreign military sales contract issued by the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia., Exelis will supply Turkey with Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suite (AIDEWS) systems to protect its F-16 fighter jets from a range of advanced and evolving electronic threats.
Exelis will supply Turkey with the pod variant of the AIDEWS system, the ALQ-211(V)9, which is carried externally rather than installed into the aircraft like its internal counterpart, the ALQ-211(V)4. Though the two variants offer similar capabilities and interchangeable components, the pod offers greater flexibility, as it can be installed or removed based on mission requirements. Exelis previously supplied 30 ALQ-211(V)4 systems to Turkey under a separate contract in 2009.
“AIDEWS will enable Turkey to stay ahead of sophisticated emerging threats. The contract furthers our electronic warfare strategic growth platform, as we continue to provide advanced, affordable and reliable solutions for U.S. and allied forces,” said Joe Rambala, Vice President and General Manager of the Exelis Integrated Electronic Warfare Systems Business.
Exelis has been producing mission-enabling EW technologies for the U.S. and global allies for more than 50 years. Along with tactical aircraft systems like AIDEWS, Exelis also provides advanced EW capabilities for large, strategic long-range aircraft including the B-1B and B-52, as well as special operations MH-47, MH-60 and AH-64D Apache helicopters.
Exelis Electronic Systems (ES) is the lead division for the company’s electronic warfare strategic growth platform and provides advanced and integrated EW solutions to protect and enable customers to perform their critical missions. The ES facility in Clifton, N.J., will produce the systems with deliveries to Turkey expected to begin in mid-2016.
