The AN/ALQ-184
Electronic Attack Pod provides self-protection for the F-16 combat aircraft and
crew in a complex radar guided threat environment. Built by Raytheon E-Systems
for the Air Force, the AN/ALQ-184 protects aircraft against radio frequency
threats by selectively directing high power jamming against multiple emitters.
In 1995 Raytheon's Goleta, California, electronic warfare operation, which
builds the AN-ALQ-184, was combined with the company's E-Systems division.
Between 1989 and 1996 Raytheon delivered more than 850 pods to the US Air Force, including a 1993 award for 78 pods. During 1996 the US Air Force awarded contracts totaling $28 million to upgrade and improve the AN/ALQ-184 electronic countermeasures pod, bringing total value of that program since its inception to more than $1.2 billion. In April 1996 the US Air Force awarded Raytheon E-Systems a $5.2 million contract for the ALQ-184(V)9 Pod Program, under which Raytheon will modify ten pods to incorporate two previously stand alone self- protection systems. This integrated system will be produced by installing the AN/ALE-50 Towed RF Decoy into the AN/ALQ-184 ECM Pod. Additional modifications will enhance the combined performance of the pod and decoy. The modification provides the US Air Force with the most capable full-band self-defense suite available today. The system can be installed on nearly all tactical aircraft, with no changes to the airplane and will add a measure of effectiveness not available elsewhere. The ALQ-184(V9) production program continues the integration of the ALE-50 towed decoy system in a 3-band ALQ-184(V9) ECM pod. The ALE-50 towed decoy system cannot be carried on F-16 Block 25/30 aircraft without this modification.
In May 1994 it was announced that Raytheon will upgrade Taiwan's of F-16s with AN/ALQ-184 ECM pods. The contract, worth nearly $106 million includes 82 pods and support equipment and spares, marked the first foreign sale of the AN/ALQ-184.
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