By Richard Scott
Northrop Grumman has received a multi-year contract to commence initial production of the AN/APR-39E(V)2 digital radar warning receiver (RWR) for the US Army.
An engineering change proposal to the existing AN/APR-39D(V)2 RWR, the enhanced E(V)2 variant has been designed to afford enhanced instantaneous bandwidth and frequency coverage (including millimetric waveband) to provide protection against advanced radio frequency (RF) threats. The US Army’s Project Management Office Aircraft Survivability Equipment (PM ASE) is managing the acquisition effort under the Modernized Radar Warning Receiver (MRWR) program.
Northrop Grumman has received a five-year contract, valued at up to US$106.5 million covering for production, engineering, and technical and logistic support services. This initial MRWR task order includes production of over 50 units for the Army’s AH-64E Apache attack helicopter.
The AN/APR-39E(V)2 aircraft embodiment consists of a system processor unit, two receiver units, four quadrant antennas and a single dual-blade low band array. According to the US Army, the AN/APR-39E(V)2 provides several advantages over the earlier AN/APR-39D(V)2 including a full digital capability to enhance threat discrimination capability in millimeter wave band; a seven-fold improvement in instantaneous bandwidth; Increased overall receiver performance against frequency agile RF threats and active electronically scanned array radars.
Other features of the 39E(V)2 highlighted by PM ASE include an Open VPX backplane (enabling open architecture for future growth) and interoperability with RF electronic countermeasures. According to Northrop Grumman, another advantage of the AN/APR-39E(V)2 is its readiness to function as a ASE suite controller.
AN/APR-39E(V)2 is currently in test and evaluation. First unit equipped is planned for late Fiscal Year 2027, according to PM ASE.
