Air Force to update electronic warfare database

The Air Force late last week awarded a $5.6 million contract to Northrop Grumman Corp. to build the Next Generation Electronic Warfare Integrated Reprogramming Database system.

The company's Information Technology division, located in Reston, Va., will define, develop and replace the existing EWIRDB system. Air Force officials completed contract negotiations earlier this month and Northrop Grumman will complete the work by February 2005, according to a March 5 Defense Department statement.

EWIRDB combines databases from the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency and service intelligence departments. Electronic warfare is part of the newer, broader information operations capability that uses computer code and radio frequencies to jam or destroy enemy radar and communications networks.

The Defense Department is reorganizing the EWIRDB community. The military wants to address policy and technical issues, according to the Federation of American Scientists Web site.