BAE secures electronic warfare contract for next batch of F-35

The deal will provide the AN/ASQ-239 suite for production lots 20 through 22 of the stealth fighter.
BAE Systems has received another contract from Lockheed Martin to deliver electronic warfare (EW) systems for the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet. The contract will also see system upgrades to modernise older aircraft.

The deal announced on 6 October will see BAE deliver the AN/ASQ-239 electronic countermeasure system for F-35 jets under production Lots 20-22, which are not yet in production. Lockheed has thus far received just over $4.5 billion in contracts related to Lots 20-22 F-35 since 2024, mostly covering long-lead items.

The company is currently delivering aircraft under Lots 18 and 19, which includes nearly 300 jets.

BAE has not disclosed the value of the latest ASQ-239 contract or how many systems are covered. The company says it has delivered more than 1,500 EW systems for the global F-35 programme, starting with the original Block 1 aircraft.

“We’ve been a trusted contributor since the origin of the Joint Strike Fighter programme, and we’ve continuously evolved our EW hardware and software to maintain our warfighters’ decisive battlespace advantage,” says Amber Dolan, BAE’s vice-president of F-35 solutions.

In December 2021, Lockheed Martin awarded BAE Systems a $493 million contract modification to upgrade core hardware for the AN/ASQ-239 system under the F-35 Block 4 modernisation program, enhancing the aircraft’s multi-threat defence capabilities.

The ASQ-239 suite provides F-35 pilots integrated radar warning, targeting support, and electronic countermeasures in a single system. It includes both radio frequency and infrared countermeasures while offering the ability to ingest new capabilities and upgrades via software updates, according to BAE.

The company says its latest EW offering combines both defensive and offensive capabilities with long-range passive sensing, giving pilots the first chance to detect and engage enemy threats.

BAE designs and assembles its various electronic warfare packages in Austin, Texas and the New Hampshire cities of Manchester, Merrimack and Nashua.

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