Lockheed orders AN/ALQ-213A DAC from Terma

17 July 2012 airforce-technology.com

Terma North America has received a contract from Lockheed Martin to provide the AN/ALQ-213A Defensive Aids Controller (DAC) system to support integration of a missile warning system on the C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft of an undisclosed international customer.

Awarded at the recently concluded 2012 Farnborough International Airshow in the UK, the contract also includes the delivery of associated engineering services to help facilitate the installation process.

Derived from the family of Terma's AN/ALQ-213 EW controller systems, the ALQ-213A DAC provides C-130J operators with improved survivability and advanced capabilities, such as data recording, embedded cockpit-crew training and enhanced threat response processing.

The DAC also offers the chance to develop an enhanced defensive systems suite, equipped with a variety of different sensors and countermeasure subsystems.

The AN/ALQ-213 system is currently operational aboard 1,000 US A-10 Thunderbolt and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, in addition to more than 700 international Lockheed-built F-16 Fighting Falcons, C-130 Hercules aircraft,the Boeing-built AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook, and the General Dynamics-built F-111 Aardvark aircraft.

Terma also supplies the AN/ALQ-213(V) electronic warfare management system to Lockheed, enabling integration of electronic warfare self-protection systems on multiple variants of the C-130H aircraft.

Powered by four Allison AE2100D3 turboprop engines, the C-130J Super Hercules is an upgraded variant of the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft, featuring a glass cockpit, digital avionics and a new flight deck system.

Crewed by two pilots and a load master, the aircraft is used by the USAF for conducting airborne assaults, search and rescue missions, scientific research support, weather reconnaissance, aerial refuelling, maritime patrol and aerial fire-fighting missions.

The aircraft is also operated by the air forces of Australia, Indonesia, Canada, Denmark, India, Italy, Norway, Qatar, and the UK.