The Longbow Limited Liability Company (LBL), a joint venture between Northrop Grumman Corporation and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), recently delivered the 500th APG-78 LONGBOW Fire Control Radar (FCR) for the AH-64 Apache helicopter. The Qatar Emiri Air Force was the recipient of the 500th FCR unit. The milestone delivery comes on the heels of being awarded a five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract in January by the U.S. Army, enabling rapid post-production support services of LONGBOW FCR to international customers. Deliveries of the LONGBOW FCR will continue through 2028 driven by several new international customers seeking advanced fire control radar capabilities.
“The LONGBOW team has been delivering systems for over 20 years to the U.S. Army and 13 international allies,” said Shalini Gupta, LBL vice president and Northrop Grumman director for LONGBOW programs. “Delivering the 500th unit is a recognition of the significant operational performance capabilities of reconnaissance, attack and security our LONGBOW radar delivers to the global customer community.”
“The team behind LBL takes great pride in delivering the 500th FCR, which demonstrates our commitment to providing high-quality, high-performing products to our customers,” said Jim Messina, LBL president and Lockheed Martin LONGBOW programs director. “LBL will remain focused on producing and developing the FCR system to support our customers’ evolving, most important missions.”
The LONGBOW FCR provides Apache aircrews with automatic target detection, location, classification and prioritization, while enabling rapid, multi-target engagement in all weather conditions over multiple types of terrain and through battlefield obscurants. Version 6 FCR software enhancements provide new operational modes and capabilities, including maritime, single target track, and 360-degree surveillance mode, as well as extended detection range capability against land, air and sea targets.
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control and Northrop Grumman Mission Systems formed two joint venture (JV) entities: LONGBOW Limited Liability Company (LBL – for domestic and Foreign Military Sales contracts); and LONGBOW International. Traced the start of LONGBOW-related activities to 1985, noting the JV is now “on track to deliver our 500th FCR [Fire Control Radar] unit this year. Over 14,000 AGM-11L HELLFIRE missiles have been delivered. The LONGBOW JV has expanded beyond a US focus and now provides international post-production support services through a flexible contract for AH-64 APACHE AN/APG-78 LONGBOW FCR customers, including 12 foreign militaries in 11 nations. The JV provides all programme support via employees of the two parent companies.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 110,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Northrop Grumman 90,000 employees define possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services.
