Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) recently supported a government test of the Advanced Off-Board Electronic Warfare (AOEW) system, demonstrating its electronic attack capabilities on a U.S. Navy MH-60R helicopter. This significant event marked the first engagement testing of the AOEW system while integrated and controlled by the MH-60R helicopter platform.

Conducted in partnership with the U.S. Navy at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, the test showcased the system’s operational capabilities and its compatibility with the MH-60R platform. Notably, the AOEW system is designed for use on both the MH-60R and MR-60S host platforms, but this test exclusively utilized the MH-60R.

Strategic Perspectives on AOEW’s Development

Deon Viergutz, Vice President of Spectrum Convergence at Lockheed Martin, highlighted the AOEW system as one of the most advanced and complex electronic warfare systems ever developed. Viergutz emphasized the system’s role as a force multiplier for U.S. Sailors, enabling dominance and control in the battlespace without direct combat. The system’s programmable nature ensures adaptability to evolving threats.

In-Depth Analysis of AOEW Capabilities

The AOEW system, a pod-based electronic warfare missile defense mechanism, is poised to enhance the U.S. Navy’s electronic surveillance and attack capabilities against anti-ship missile threats. It has undergone numerous developmental and operational tests at Lockheed Martin’s Syracuse, New York facility. Key features of the AOEW system include:

• Integration with Aegis Baseline 9C.2+ and Surface Warfare Electronic Warfare Improvement Program Block II.
• Independent or collaborative operation with other onboard systems.
• An open-systems architecture for rapid upgrades, interoperability, reduced lifecycle costs, and quick hardware insertion.

Future of the AOEW System

Further tests and demonstrations of the AOEW pod on host platforms are slated for 2024, with the aim of refining system performance. Under a low-rate initial production contract, the first AOEW units are expected to be delivered in the upcoming year, marking a new chapter in electronic warfare capabilities for the U.S. Navy.

  AOEW System, Deon Viergutz, Electronic Warfare, Lockheed Martin, MH-60R Helicopter, U.S. Navy, USA