Under the contract, BAE Systems will provide continuous technical support to ensure the availability of the electronic warfare system. The company will also implement upgrades designed to allow the system to detect and counter emerging threats.
The AN/ALQ-221 system integrates radar warning and electronic countermeasure functions to improve pilot situational awareness and aircraft survivability. The technology includes long-range sensors and onboard processing capabilities that help the U-2 operate in contested environments.
These capabilities enable the aircraft to continue performing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions in challenging operational conditions. The system supports the delivery of critical information to military decision-makers.
“The Advanced Defensive System for the U-2 is part of BAE Systems’ long legacy in electronic warfare,” said Tim Angulas, U-2 product area director at BAE Systems. “Evolving, modernizing, and sustaining EW systems is in our DNA. Our efforts ensure they can operate effectively throughout their lifecycles.”
BAE Systems said the Advanced Defensive System has been continuously developed and improved throughout its 60-year service life. The system remains a key component of the broader modernization program for the U-2 platform.
The aircraft’s modular structure and open avionics architecture allow rapid development and integration of new capabilities. This design enables engineers to test and deploy upgrades more quickly to support evolving operational requirements.
Sustaining the U-2 defensive suite forms part of the company’s long-standing expertise in electronic warfare technologies. BAE Systems has decades of experience designing and manufacturing systems intended to counter advanced threats in the electromagnetic spectrum.
The company’s work in this field is supported by specialized engineering teams and manufacturing facilities. The AN/ALQ-221 system is maintained by experts at BAE Systems’ facility in Nashua, New Hampshire, alongside dedicated field service representatives supporting the aircraft in operation.
