Northrop upgrading Air Force attack pods

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HERNDON, Va., April 27 (UPI) -- Electronic attack pods on U.S. Air Force aircraft are to be upgraded through a contract awarded to Northrop Grumman.

The engineering and manufacturing development award is for 27 months. Its potential value, with low-rate initial production and five production options, is $480 million.

"We are honored that the U.S. Air Force selected Northrop Grumman to modernize their electronic attack pods," said Tom Vice, corporate vice president and sector president, Northrop Grumman Technical Services.

"The Northrop Grumman team designed an innovative solution that provides our U.S. Air Force pilots with the electronic warfare protection they need while flying combat operations."

The solution is an upgraded ALQ-131 EA pod, which is fully compatible with aircraft such as A-10s, F-15s and F-16s.

"A key capability for the pod upgrade is our proven digital radio frequency memory, a common component for flagship electronic warfare systems," said Jeff Palombo, sector vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Land and Self Protection Systems Division.

"This digital receiver/exciter technology makes a fourth-generation aircraft survivable in a fifth-generation world."