IFF and missile warning system contract for Air Force Combat Rescue Helicopter
NewsMarch 17, 2016
NASHUA, New Hampshire. The U.S. Air Force chose BAE Systems to supply survivability and situational awareness technology -- its Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) technology dubbed AN/DPX-7 Reduced Size Transponder (RST) and its Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) -- for the HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH).
It is the first time that a U.S. Air Force platform will leverage the RST system and CMWS, an automated and tightly integrated infrared countermeasures suite, according to BAE Systems.
With lower size and weight than other systems now fielded, BAE Systems’ transponder is targeted at aircraft such as the CRH, where space and weight are limited. The transponder is currently on several manned and unmanned aircraft, such as the MQ-4C Triton. It also supports combat identification and sense-and-avoid applications with its Mode 5 and ADS-B In/Out capabilities.
The Air Force will deploy the CMWS Gen3 system that has both hostile fire indication and data recording capabilities to detect and evade small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. The system also provides post-mission analysis.
These contract awards to BAE Systems come after the Air Force’s 2014 decision to select the team of Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin to replace the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters with a derivative of the Sikorsky Black Hawk. As part of the Air Force’s Combat Search and Rescue Mission, which includes Personnel Recovery Operations, the helicopters are used to remove troops from dangerous situations in uncertain or hostile environments. Preliminary design review of this new aircraft is expected to take place this year.
