Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract to develop the Gen 3 radar frequency interferometer (RFI) / radar warning receiver (RWR) APR-48B system for the US Army’s Apache helicopter fleet.
The contract has been awarded by the US Army’s Apache Attack Helicopter Project Management Office. The Apache Sensors Product Office is responsible for the programme management.
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The Gen 3 RFI / RWR APR-48B system aims to enhance the helicopters’ capabilities through advanced microelectronics.
In the coming years, Lockheed Martin will work closely with the Apache Attack Helicopter Project Management Office to design, test, produce, and deliver the Gen 3 RFI System.
This system will replace all Gen 2 systems and integrate the new system across the Apache fleet.
Lockheed Martin spectrum convergence vice-president Deon Viergutz said: “This accomplishment aligns with Lockheed Martin’s electronic warfare strategy to partner with commercial microelectronics companies and use our subject matter expertise to deliver our customers game changing solutions that maximise capability, while minimising size, weight, power, cost, and development time.”
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By GlobalDataThe APR-48B system will leverage technology from Lockheed Martin’s collaboration with Intel, Altera, Booz Allen Hamilton, and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering under the Trusted and Assured Microelectronics programme’s Stimulating Transition for Advanced Microelectronics Packaging and State-of-the-Art Heterogeneous Integration Packaging projects.
This partnership has resulted in the development of the multi-chip package (MCP-2) microchip, designed to modernise mission-critical Department of Defense (DoD) systems.
Lockheed Martin leveraged its electronic warfare expertise to design the Gen 3 RFI system.
The system is expected to offer improved sensor performance in a more compact and lightweight package, enabling the addition of new functionalities to the Apache helicopters.
The MCP-2 microchip is a pivotal component of the Gen 3 RFI system, facilitating the technology upgrade that will make the system smaller, lighter, and more powerful.
The use of the radio frequency system on a chip in the APR-48B marks a significant advancement in electronic warfare microchip capabilities.
Earlier in October 2024, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control secured a contract for the production of guided multiple launch rocket system (GMLRS) rockets.
