Lockheed Martin Tests Helicopter-Borne Electronic Warfare System

Lockheed Martin conducted a government test of the Advanced Off-Board Electronic Warfare (AOEW) system's electronic attack capabilities on a U.S. Navy MH-60R helicopter.

The test, held at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, marked the first engagement testing of the system, showcasing its ability to defeat threats and quantify performance while integrated with the target platform. While the AOEW system is designed for both MH-60R and MH-60S helicopters, only the MH-60R was utilized in this specific test.

The AOEW system, a pod-based electronic warfare missile defense system, aims to provide enhanced electronic surveillance and attack capabilities against anti-ship missile threats for the U.S. Navy. Lockheed Martin emphasized the system's compatibility with Aegis Baseline 9C.2+ and the Surface Warfare Electronic Warfare Improvement Program Block II, its ability to work independently or with other systems on ships and assets, and its open-systems architecture for rapid upgrades.

The recent test in Maryland follows a series of incremental developmental and operational tests conducted at Lockheed Martin's facility in Syracuse, New York. Lockheed plans additional tests and demonstrations of the AOEW pod on host platforms in 2024, with the results aimed at refining system performance.

Currently under a low-rate initial production contract, deliveries of the first AOEW units are expected in the coming year. The system is designed to be self-contained and mounted on helicopters, providing ships with an additional layer of defense against incoming threats.