ITT Exelis flight tests upgraded AIDEWS on Chilean F-16 fighter
ITT Exelis has completed successful flight tests of its upgraded ALQ-211 Advanced Defensive Electronic Warfare System (AIDEWS) aboard the Chilean Air Force's (FACh) F-16 Block 50 Fighting Falcon aircraft at Los Condores Air Base in Chile.
Conducted from 4-18 July 2012, the demonstrations tested the capabilities of AIDEWS Block 5.2 configuration against a wide range of airborne fire control radars with overlapping operating frequencies.
The tests were carried out by ITT Exelis, in collaboration with the FACh and the US Air Force (USAF), in an effort to validate the latest modifications of AIDEWS's air-to-air electronic warfare capability.
Stuart Altman, Exelis Electronic Systems AIDEWS business area lead, said: "These test flight successes demonstrate our commitment to having the best possible technology to ensure our international allies can complete their missions, avoiding and defeating any threats, and returning safely.'"
The flight tests involved one year of planning and coordination by the FACh and US personnel, as well as extended laboratory and flight testing in the US.
Dubbed as a ''critical operational asset'' by FACh officials, the upgraded Block 5.2 standard supports the forthcoming delivery of combat capable electronic warfare mission data to five nations with AIDEWS equipped F-16 aircraft.
Developed from the Exelis ALQ-211 (V) 4 system, the AIDEWS is a next-generation integrated radar warning system designed to provide pilots with situational awareness and protection against radar-based threats, including modern surface-to-air and air-to-air weapon systems.
The system has been integrated into a wide variety of US and allied defence rotary-wing and fighter aircraft, such as the NH-90 helicopter, V-22 Osprey, MH-47, MH-60 Black Hawk, F-16 Fighter and several commercial platforms.
Exelis is currently developing more than 180 AIDEWS systems for six nations, as part of the company's foreign military sales (FMS) programme, and has to date delivered 140 systems along with continuous software support to customers across the globe.
http://www.airforce-technology.com/news/newsexelis-flight-tests-upgraded-aidews-on-chilean-f-16-fighter/
CLIFTON, N.J., Sept. 11, 2012 — ITT Exelis (NYSE: XLS) announced another successful demonstration of its Advanced Defensive Electronic Warfare System (AIDEWS).
In a cooperative effort between the Chilean Air Force, U.S. Air Force, and Exelis, a series of multi-ship F-16 missions demonstrated the latest enhancements in the system’s air-to-air electronic warfare capability.
Pilots of Fuerza Area de Chile (FACh) Squadron No 3 at Los Condores Air Base, Chile, flew six missions on F-16 Block 50 aircraft from July 4 to 18, 2012. Those missions effectively demonstrated the performance of AIDEWS Block 5.2 against multiple airborne fire control radars with overlapping operating frequencies. This flight effort culminates a year of planning and coordination by FACh and U.S. personnel, as well as extensive laboratory and flight testing in the U.S. At the conclusion of flight operations, FACh officials expressed confidence in AIDEWS as a “critical operational asset.”
This new, updated Block 5.2 configuration supports the upcoming delivery of combat capable electronic warfare mission data to five countries with AIDEWS equipped F-16s.
“Electronic warfare technology is constantly advancing,” said Stuart Altman, Exelis Electronic Systems business area lead for AIDEWS. “These test flight successes demonstrate our commitment to having the best possible technology to ensure our international allies can complete their missions, avoiding and defeating any threats, and returning safely.”
AIDEWS is built upon the proven ALQ-211 family of electronic warfare systems now in use to support a broad range of U.S. and allied defense customers on many aircraft. These include versions of the CV-22, MH-47, MH-60, F-16, Boeing 737s, NH-90, and several other platforms. The system is currently in full production with more than 160 systems under contract for six nations as part of the F-16 Foreign Military Sales program.
http://www.exelisinc.com/news/pressreleases/Pages/ITT-Exelis-successfully-completes-flight-testing-for-international-AIDEWS.aspx
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