Sierra Nevada Corporation has upgraded a US Special Operations Command AC-130J aircraft with a Northrop Grumman ALQ-251 radio frequency countermeasure (RFCM) system.
The upgrade is part of a $700 million Special Operations Command program to install new RFCM systems on the fleet of AC-130J Ghostrider and MC-130J Commando II aircraft for enhanced survivability in “contested and congested electromagnetic spectrum environments.”
Protection Against Electronic Warfare
The system provides “superior situational awareness and protection against electronic warfare systems and radar-guided weapons.” Moreover, the system’s modular design allows for future upgrades, Northrop stated.
The Nevada-based company explained that it used its “electromagnetic and aerodynamic modeling expertise to maximize the performance of the installed system.”
Growing RF Threat
Northrop Grumman vice president Jim Conroy stated, “With the radio frequency threat growing, modern electromagnetic spectrum protection for AC/MC-130J operators worldwide is essential.
“Our product line approach to the RFCM program is mature and in use throughout our electronic warfare systems.”
Congrats to our SNC team for another successful aircraft delivery! SNC used its electromagnetic & aerodynamic modeling expertise to integrate the Radio Frequency Countermeasures (RFCM) system onto the AC-130J, bringing critical capabilities to USSOCOM. https://t.co/7c453ZcI9u pic.twitter.com/3Aq5SdOngk
— Sierra Nevada Corporation (@SierraNevCorp) March 1, 2022
