Longbow Limited, Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $164,606,754 firm-fixed-price contract for AH-64E Apache helicopter mast mounted assembly/radar electronics units. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (U.S. Army); and 2019 Foreign Military Sales (India, Morocco, Netherlands, and United Arab Emirates) funds in the amount of $164,606,754 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-20-F-0464).
The AN/APG-78 Longbow is a millimeter-wave fire-control radar (FCR) system for the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter. The radar is produced by Longbow LLC, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.The AN/APG-78 Longbow is a millimeter-wave fire-control radar (FCR) target acquisition system and the Radar Frequency Interferometer (RFI), which are housed in a dome located above the main rotor. The radome’s raised position enables target detection while the helicopter is behind obstacles (e.g. terrain, trees or buildings).
The APG-78 is capable of simultaneously tracking up to 128 targets and engaging up to 16 at once; an attack can be initiated within 30 seconds. A radio modem integrated with the sensor suite allows data to be shared with ground units and other Apaches, allowing them to fire on targets detected by a single helicopter. The updated AN/APG-78 radar for the AH-64E Guardian attack helicopter has overwater capabilities, potentially enabling naval strikes.
