Northrop Grumman [NOC] has been awarded a contract by the U.K.’s Ministry of Defense to design, develop, integrate, test and support the Mode S upgrade to the Identification Friend or Foe Interrogator for the Sentry E-3D Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft flown by the Royal Air Force.
The contract modification for Mode S is valued at approximately $64 million over three years.
The IFF interrogator provides a long-range, rapid early warning and detection capability allowing discrimination between friendly and hostile forces. The Mode S system will enable the aircraft to be used in controlled airspace, according to Northrop Grumman.
Work will be performed under Northrop Grumman’s existing Sentry E-3D Whole Life Support Program (WLSP), and elements of the work were considered for subsequent competitive subcontracts. It will be the largest modification the company has carried out to date for the Sentry aircraft fleet.
The work will be carried out at RAF Waddington, U.K., as well as at Northrop Grumman’s facilities in Herndon, Va., Warner Robins, Ga., and Melbourne, Fla.
Northrop Grumman delivers the WLSP for the Sentry E-3D AWACS fleet and is on contract until 2025. The company acts as the design organization, providing long-term U.K.-based technical support to the program with approximately 50 engineers located at RAF Waddington. Working in partnership with the Sentry IPT, the Northrop Grumman team provides the complete range of services needed to support the aircraft. Northrop Grumman also provides the radar and in-service support for the radar.