Northrop Grumman to perform C-130J aircraft improvements

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman was selected by the U.S. Special Operations Command to supply countermeasure systems for C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.

The contract, valued $32.8 million, covers advanced countermeasure systems for the AC-130J and MC-130J Super Hercules variants. The systems will provide radio frequency countermeasure capabilities to aid pilots in identifying, locating and defeating threats to the aircraft.

"Our solution is designed to detect and defeat not only current radio frequency threats, but also to have the flexibility to protect our warfighters as the threat evolves," Northrop Grumman division vice president and general manager Jeff Palombo said in a statement.

The Lockheed Martin-built AC-130J and MC-130J are combat variants of the C-130 Hercules aircraft. While the C-130 and C-130J are build for the armored transportation of troops and supplies, the AC-130J and MC-130J variants are heavily armed gunships designed for long-endurance ground-attack missions.