The U.S. Special Operations Command has awarded BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) separate contracts worth a combined $52.8 million to develop radio frequency countermeasure platforms for integration with the U.S. Air Force™s MC-130J Commando II and AC-130J Ghostrider aircraft.
BAE Systems said Monday it will develop the RFCM system and provide integration support under a potential $20 million contract.
The BAE-built RFCM platform works to help the C-130J aircraft detect and counter aerial and surface threats and allow the Special Operation Forces perform close air support, aerial refueling and interdiction missions in operational environments.
Northrop reported that its land and avionics C4ISR division will develop an open architecture-based RFCM system under a $32.8 million contract with USSOCOM.
The MC-130J Commando II aircraft works to perform cargo transport and aerial refueling operations for the Air Force Special Operations Command and is designed to carry a maximum payload of up to 42, 000 pounds at an altitude of 28, 000 feet.
The AC-130J Ghostrider gunship is a ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules aircraft that Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) currently builds at its production facility in Marietta, Georgia.
