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Northrop Grumman Corporation has been chosen by the Royal Australian Air Force to equip its C-130J Hercules fleet with the AN/ALQ-251 advanced radio frequency countermeasures system.
The AN/ALQ-251 provides robust protection against sophisticated weapons systems and highly agile electronic warfare threats in complex electromagnetic environments. The system enhances aircrew situational awareness by offering radar warning and precision direction-finding of radio frequency threats.
Integration of the AN/ALQ-251 with the RAAF’s C-130J fleet aligns with an existing United States Department of Defense program, ensuring cost efficiencies over the system’s life cycle and enhancing interoperability between allied forces.
James Conroy, Northrop Grumman’s vice president of navigation, targeting and survivability, highlighted the importance of this capability, saying, “With the increase of advanced radio frequency threats, our digital AN/ALQ-251 system allows the RAAF’s C-130J fleet the freedom of manoeuvre to carry out its wide range of humanitarian and national security missions safely.”
The AN/ALQ-251 is an advanced electronic warfare system designed to detect, identify, geolocate and counter radio frequency threats. It is currently in production for the US Department of Defense and is available to international partners.
As part of Northrop Grumman’s family of scalable electronic warfare systems, the AN/ALQ-251 can be adapted to various platforms and missions, ensuring warfighters maintain superiority across the electromagnetic spectrum while enabling faster, more informed decision making.
The Royal Australian Air Force is set to significantly enhance its air mobility capabilities through the acquisition of additional C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft. This expansion builds upon a long-standing history of Hercules operations within the RAAF.
In November 2022, the Australian Department of Defence announced its intention to replace and expand its existing fleet of 12 C-130J-30 aircraft. The plan involves acquiring up to 24 new C-130J-30 aircraft under Project AIR 7404 Phase 1, effectively doubling the RAAF’s Hercules fleet. This decision aligns with the 2020 Force Structure Plan, which allocated up to $13.2 billion for this purpose, with funding scheduled to commence in 2029.
