Article Posted on : - Sep 29, 2011

AN/ALE-55 fiber-optic towed decoy. Photo: BAE Systems.

NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE (BNS): BAE Systems received its first Full Rate Production contract for its ALE-55 Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures subsystem from US Naval Air Systems Command worth $36.7 million, exercising a contract option modifying its firm fixed price.

"The introduction of the ALE-55 into our Strike Fighter fleet is a crucial step forward in protecting our aircrews and accomplishing our mission," CAPT Paul Overstreet USN, PMA-272 Program Manager of the NAVAIR Program Management team responsible for the system’s development, was quoted as saying in the BAE Systems news release.

The ALE-55 system consists of an onboard electronic frequency converter (EFC) and a fiber-optic towed decoy (FOTD).

The award includes associated technical support and recurring engineering efforts associated with the order, as well as the additional manufacture of EFC’s and FOTD’s.

Work on the contract will be performed in Nashua (80.6%); Mountain View, California (12%); and Chelmsford, Essex, United Kingdom (7.4%). Work is expected to be complete in summer 2013.