Article Posted on : - Feb 21, 2012

The B-2, also known as the

NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE (BNS): BAE Systems has won a contract to provide Electronic Support Measure (ESM) systems for use on all 20 B-2 Spirit bombers.

With this contract, BAE Systems will now be providing Electronic Warfare systems on all three of the US Air Force's Low Observable platforms; the F-22, F-35 and B-2 aircraft, the Company said.

Northrop Grumman, the US Air Force's B-2 platform provider and prime contractor for all B-2 modernization, selected BAE Systems in a competitive bid process to replace the aircraft's 30-year-old legacy AN/APR-50 ESM system.

The system, in conjunction with the radar warning receiver, detects electronic threats encountered by the B-2 and provides situational awareness of detected threats to its air crew.

The B-2, also known as the "Stealth Bomber," is the premier deep-threat strike aircraft designed to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defences and deploy conventional and nuclear weapons.