Article Posted on : - Dec 02, 2010

The AN/AAR-47 MAWS is designed to protect helicopters and low/slow flying fixed-wing aircraft against surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles.

AUSTIN (BNS): UK defence company BAE Systems has received a $17.7 million contract to provide laser warning sensors for the AAR-47 Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) being developed to protect US military aircraft against hostile missile threats.

The contract, awarded to BAE by Alliant Techsystems, provides components for the AAR-47 Missile Approach Warning System, part of the ongoing US Navy road-map of airborne protection and system improvements for US Navy, Air Force, Army and foreign allied fleets.

The laser detection sensors provide critical warning systems for hostile threats.

Alliant Techsystems, prime contractor for the MAWS programme, provides integration and delivery of the AAR-47 system to the US military.

The AN/AAR-47 MAWS is an electronic warfare system designed to protect helicopters and low/slow flying fixed-wing aircraft against surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. The system detects missiles that are potential threats to the aircraft, provides visual and audio warning to the aircrew, and initiates commands for the release of countermeasures.

The sensor upgrade program improves the original system performance by increasing sensor sensitivity, reducing the recovery time, and extending the overall operational temperature range. The upgraded system also expands the original mission to include the detection and warning of laser-guided and laser-aided threats.