How does the world's most advanced aircraft – the F-35 Lightning II – detect and defeat ground-based and airborne threats while using electronic protection, support, and attack capabilities to advance its missions? It has the world's most advanced, fully-integrated electronic warfare (EW) and countermeasures technology – the AN/ASQ-239 system – designed, produced, modernized, and sustained by BAE Systems.
Our AN/ASQ-239 system is a next generation electronic warfare suite providing offensive and defensive options for the pilot and aircraft to counter current and emerging threats. Its advanced technology optimizes situational awareness while helping to identify, monitor, analyze, and respond to threats. Advanced avionics and sensors provide a real-time, 360º view of the battlespace, maximizing detection ranges and giving pilots evasion, engagement, countermeasure, and jamming options.
Technology design for today and tomorrow
Always active, AN/ASQ-239 provides all-aspect, broadband protection to help the F-35 reach well-defended targets and suppress enemy radars. This system stands alone today in its ability to operate in signal-dense environments, providing the aircraft with radio frequency and infrared countermeasures, and rapid response capabilities like no other aircraft. Its platform level design provides improved reliability and maintainability, optimizing long-term lifecycle costs.
The AN/ASQ-239 is also built for the future, with an architecture system that allows new capabilities to be added for the F-35 fifth-generation aircraft. Our Digital Channelized Receiver Techniques Generator and Tuner Insertion Program (DTIP) technology upgrades the AN/ASQ-239 system to enable new capabilities, further improving warfighters' ability to conduct critical missions in contested airspace. This improved EW system delivers the world-class functionality of the previous system in a smaller footprint, reducing volume and power requirements and creating space for future upgrades.
Discover the benefits of a next-generation electronic warfare system:
- Integrated radar warning, targeting support, and countermeasures into one system
- Reduced long-term lifecycle costs to keep the aircraft fielded
- Increased situational awareness for a 360º view of the battlespace
- Rapid response capabilities to protect the aircrew
- Reliable threat warning for effective countermeasure response
- Ability to reach well-defended targets, even in signal-dense environments
The evolution of our electronic warfare heritage
BAE Systems is the premier mission systems provider of affordable and effective electronic warfare solutions. With more than 60 years of experience, we have flown systems on over 80 platforms and operate on 80% of U.S. military fixed-wing aircraft. Today, BAE Systems is the sole EW provider for fifth-generation aircraft, and our production of integrated systems for 4th generation aircraft, enhance aircraft survivability and mission capability.
The foundation of that success was built in the 1950s, when BAE Systems developed advanced radar defense and surveillance technology. Our revolutionary breakthroughs in that area drove the creation of our state-of-the-art countermeasure system aboard all U.S. carrier-based aircraft during the Vietnam War. Over the following 20 years, we created cutting-edge countermeasure technology leading to an integrated electronic warfare suite for the F-22 Raptor. Continuing to build on those capabilities culminated in development and delivery of the AN/ASQ-239 electronic warfare suite for the F-35 Lightning II.
BAE Systems also supports all stages of the Electronic Warfare product life cycle —development, production, and sustainment. Having delivered over 13,500 tactical systems, our hot production line and global support network give customers a rapid fielding advantage. We have invested over $100 million in our production facilities, including three state-of-the-art microwave manufacturing factories. We have also expanded our Advanced Composites Manufacturing facility, investing over $30 million in a 42,000-square-foot expansion of our Electronic Warfare Integrated Manufacturing Center. This integrates our Radio Frequency final, circuit card assembly, and environmental test services for EW programs into one co-located facility. With continued facility investments and insertion of new technology capabilities into our manufacturing processes, BAE Systems is committed to delivering performance and the highest quality products on time to the defense industry.
Learn more today. Download the AN/ASQ-239 datasheet or contact our Electronic Systems business development representative to arrange a meeting.
