Lockheed Gets $117M to Sustain US Army’s Apache Radar-Hunting Sensors
The US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a $117-million contract to support the radar-emission detection system used on AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.
Work locations and funding under the firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract will be determined with each order. The contract is expected to run through Oct. 12, 2031.
The Generation II Radar Frequency Interferometer (RFI) detects, identifies, and locates radar emissions, helping Apache crews recognize potential threats and improve situational awareness.
Lockheed Martin has supplied and upgraded RFI systems for the US Army’s Apache fleet through successive production and sustainment contracts. In October 2024, the company announced a contract to develop a third-generation RFI/radar warning receiver for the fleet.
Radar Frequency Interferometer
Lockheed Martin’s AN/APR-48B Modernized Radar Frequency Interferometer (MRFI) is a passive electronic warfare system used on AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters and compatible with AH-64D Apache Longbow aircraft. It detects, identifies, prioritizes, and locates radar emissions to help crews assess threats.
According to the manufacturer’s technical brochure, the digital receiver intercepts radar signals and analyzes them to identify emitters. The system also provides direction-finding capabilities and can cue the Apache’s fire-control radar while warning crews of radar-directed anti-aircraft threats.
Its capabilities support aircraft survivability and missions such as suppression of enemy air defenses. Lockheed Martin has also been developing a third-generation RFI system designed to improve performance while reducing size and weight.
