Cobham plc Cobham Awarded $31 Million U.S. Navy Contract

Cobham has been awarded a $31.7 million contract from the US Navy's Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to manufacture the AN/ALQ-99 Low Band Transmitter-Antenna Group for Navy and Marine Corps EA-6B and EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft.

The contract funds the sixth full-rate production lot, and includes the first instalment of two-part procurement for a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to undisclosed customers.

This award brings the total number of production orders to 314 of 337 required transmitters and, to date, 230 transmitters have been delivered.
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The AN/ALQ-99 Low Band Transmitter-Antenna Group (LBT-AG), developed by Cobham Defence Electronics, has been in production since 2005. The LBT is designed to protect strike aircraft, ships, and ground troops by disrupting enemy radar and communications. It is flown on US Navy EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G aircraft and Marine Corps EA-6B aircraft, and has been used in combat operations.

This award continues a long tradition of Cobham support to the Navy's mission success in harm's way. Cobham's support to the Navy extends beyond Airborne Electronic Warfare. The Low Band Transmitter complements other ALQ-99 work, as well as the Next Generation Jammer, the Next Generation Airborne Electronic Attack study, and the fleet's Integrated Topside (InTop) and Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Programme (SEWIP).

About Cobham

Cobham specialises in meeting the demand for data, connectivity and bandwidth in defence, security and commercial environments. Offering a technically diverse and innovative range of technologies and services, the Group protects lives and livelihoods, responding to customer needs with agility that differentiates it. The most important thing we build is trust. Employing more than 10,000 people on five continents, the Group has customers and partners in over 100 countries.

About Cobham Defence Electronics

Cobham Defence Electronics designs and manufactures active microwave components, assemblies and subsystems for the aerospace and defence industries, and is the leading supplier of many microwave products. Defence Electronics specialises in RF and microwave front ends for radar, phased arrays, communication and electronic warfare systems, providing components, integrated assemblies and subsystems for military aircraft, ground vehicles, missiles, space launch vehicles and satellites. Cobham Defence Electronics components and subsystems are at the heart of many of the world's prominent military platforms, such as Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and a host of strategic and tactical munitions.


Source: LANSDALE, Pennsylvania (militaryaerospace.com) News – 7 January 2013

Photo: ARABIAN SEA (Sept. 4, 2012) An EA-6B Prowler assigned to the Rooks of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 137 is the 100,000th launch from catapult three aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). Enterprise is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jared King/Released)


(7.01.2013)