Selected by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) for a significant upgrade to its F-16 fighter aircraft fleet, Northrop Grumman Corp. has been awarded a contract for work on the AN/ALQ-131 electronic countermeasure (ECM) pods (see photo). This upgrade to the ECM pods will provide new threat detection and jamming capabilities even in the presence of modern threat environments. The upgrade includes the use of the firm's digital receiver/exciter hardware for flexible signal generation and fast response times, even with constantly changing threat scenarios.
"The digital technology in the AN/ALQ-131 upgrade provides a significant leap in capability for electronic countermeasures, giving RNLAF aviators a superior level of protection wherever their missions take them," says Dr. Robert Fleming, vice president for programs for Northrop Grumman. The AN/ALQ-131 ECM pod is currently in use by the United States and 11 other countries and has been one of the most successful ECM systems ever built. It embodies the experience of a company that has provided ECM and electronic-warfare (EW) systems for a wide range of military aircraft, including B-1, C-130, F-15, F-16, F/A-18, and F-35 aircraft.
