Boeing

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a three-year, $20.6 million U.S. Air Force contract to build antenna radio frequency processors and associated electronics for the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)-Electronic Systems Measures (ESM) program.

Boeing will complete the work at its Heath, Ohio, facility. The AWACS-ESM program relocated to Heath in 2006 from Corinth, Texas, after the construction of an 800-square-foot anechoic chamber and an indoor testing facility.

"With nearly 20 years of experience supporting the U.S. Air Force in the development of Electronic Systems Measures for the AWACS program, Boeing is prepared to deliver the antenna radio frequency processor capability," said Heath Center Director Mike Emmelhainz. "We're proud of our customer's confidence in our ability to meet these important requirements."

Boeing will deliver 53 radar antennas between September 2008 and January 2010. Earlier this year, Boeing was awarded a two-year, $3.6 million contract for ESM repairs.

Boeing added ESM to the AWACS mission system in the mid-1990s for the E-3 aircraft. It is a passive system that enables the AWACS fleet to detect, identify and track electronic transmissions from ground, airborne and maritime sources. Using the ESM system, mission operators also can determine radar and weapon system type.

In addition to AWACS-ESM repairs and spares production, the Heath facility performs complete depot-level repair and calibration of inertial guidance/navigation systems for the military services and assembly integration and testing for the Minuteman III Guidance Replacement Program.