BAE lands Navy countermeasure work

BAE Systems Inc. won follow-on contracts totaling $12 million to maintain and upgrade infrared countermeasure systems for the Marine Corps and Navy.

BAE Systems Inc. won follow-on contracts totaling $12 million to maintain and upgrade infrared countermeasure systems for the Marine Corps and Navy, the company said today.

The defense systems, known as AN/ALQ-157, protect aircraft by jamming the missile guidance of heat-seeking missiles. This is done by radiating controlled pulse, high-intensity infrared energy to fool enemy missile finders.

The work increases the quantity of upgraded systems ordered by the military to more than 350. The upgraded systems, called AN/ALQ-157(V)1, are produced by BAE Systems' Information and Electronic Warfare Systems Division, Pomona, Calif.

The program upgrade will continue into 2006.

The program provides the military with improved system reliability, enhanced on-aircraft performance and reduced maintenance requirements and associated costs, the company said.

Based in Rockville, Md., BAE Systems North America Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc of Farnborough, England.

The North America unit has about 30,000 people and annual sales of $5 billion and ranks No. 12 on Washington Technology's 2004 Top 100 list, which measures federal contracting revenue.