Lockheed Martin has been contracted to develop the Gen 3 Radar Frequency Interferometer (RFI)/Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) APR-48B system for the US Army’s Apache helicopter fleet.
A modern RFI detects, identifies, and locates radars through their emissions under evolving battlefield conditions and deliberate electromagnetic interference.
The Gen 3 RFI system will have significant capability upgrades over the Gen 2 by virtue of advanced macro electronics, including improved sensor performance in a smaller and lighter package, according to Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed will develop, build, and qualify the system, eventually replacing all currently fielded Gen 2 systems.
Collaboration With Intel
The upgraded system will leverage technology developed through two Pentagon programs, wherein Lockheed Martin collaborates with Intel, Altera, Booz Allen Hamilton, and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.
Under one of the two programs, the State-of-the-Art Heterogeneous Integration Packaging project, Altera has developed a Multi-Chip Package (MCP-2) designed to modernize mission-critical Department of Defense systems.
The MCP-2 is the crucial component of the Gen 3 RFI system, enabling its miniaturization and making it more powerful than the legacy Gen 2 system.
“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 maximize capability, while minimizing size, weight, power, cost, and development time,” Spectrum Convergence VP at Lockheed Martin Deon Viergutz said.
“We are honored to partner with our commercial partners and committed to providing technology to our service members that helps to keep them ahead of ready.”
