The U.S. Army’s AH-64E Apache fleet is set to receive a significant electronic warfare upgrade, as Lockheed Martin secures a contract to develop and integrate the Gen 3 Radar Frequency Interferometer (RFI) / Radar Warning Receiver system.
The new APR-48B variant marks a departure from traditional military-specific hardware development. In a move that signals the changing landscape of defense acquisition, Lockheed Martin has partnered with commercial semiconductor giants Intel and Altera, alongside defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton, under the Pentagon’s Trusted and Assured Microelectronics (T&AM) program.
At the core of the upgrade is the first military implementation of Radio Frequency System on a Chip (RFSOC) technology in the APR-48B architecture. The RFSOC integration represents a significant leap in size, weight, and power (SWaP) optimization, consolidating RF, analog, and digital processing capabilities onto a single die.
Intel’s Altera division has contributed its Multi-Chip Package (MCP-2) technology, specifically adapted for military applications. The MCP-2’s role in the system architecture demonstrates the Defense Department’s growing comfort with leveraging commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technology for mission-critical systems.
“We’re seeing a fundamental shift in how we approach electronic warfare solutions,” says Deon Viergutz, Lockheed Martin’s vice president of Spectrum Convergence. Viergutz emphasized that the commercial partnership strategy enables rapid deployment of advanced capabilities while maintaining competitive cost structures.
The Gen 3 system’s reduced footprint creates margin for future capability insertion, a critical consideration as electromagnetic spectrum threats continue to evolve. Lockheed Martin confirms plans for fleet-wide replacement of existing Gen 2 systems in the press release, though specific timeline details remain under wraps.
Over the next several years, Lockheed Martin will work closely with the Apache Attack Helicopter Project Management Office to bring the Gen 3 RFI system to full operational capability. This will include the design, testing, production, and delivery of the system across the Apache fleet.
For more information, hit the Source below