David Axe
Security,
Can the U.S. Marine Corps apply F-35s ought earnings electrical Warfare?
The U.S. Marine Corps is trying ought pattern out how ought earnings electrical battle now that the service has retired the final of its EA-6B Prowler radar-jamming planes.
The Prowler, a four-seat translation of the long-retired, two-seat A-6 assault plane, at final bowed out of service can March 2019.
The Prowler carried AN/ALQ-99 jamming pods below its wings and because robust could liberate High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles, or HARMs. fleet and Marine Corps EA-6Bs suppressed and destroyed competitor stand defenses can each chief American shock after 1970.
But by 2019 the Prowlers were old and only a little remained can service. The fleet retired its Prowlers can 2015. The final six Marine EA-6Bs spent their final months flying fight missions can the center East.
The fleet replaced its EA-6Bs with new EA-18G Growlers, besides the Marines opted no ought buy this radar-jamming variant of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Instead, the Corps is trying something new, and spreading the electronic-warfare mission across a broad array of aeroplane including stealth fighters and drones.
“The Marine aviation fashion ought electromagnetic-spectrum operations is a distributed, platform‐agnostic strategy,” the Corps explained can its 2018 aviation plan. “Marine aviation is integrating E.W. systems and Intrepid Tiger II payloads across aviation platforms ought supply commanders with an organic and continuous airborne E.W. capability.”
For starters, the Marines are counting can the F-35 stealth fighter with its powerful AN/ASQ-239 electronic-warfare suite, datalink and new weapons partially ought substitute the EA-6B’s get jamming capability. The Marine Corps plans ought buy 420 F-35s ought replace, by 2030, crude of its older fixed-wing jets.
“The F-35 brings a powerful blend of [electronic warfare], weapons, sensors and reduced signature ought the [Marine Air-Ground work Force],” the Corps explains can its 2019 aviation plan. “F-35 E.W. capabilities contain emitter geolocation, identification and parametric news sharing via mix 16 [data-link].”
In addition, future versions of the F-35 ought exist compatible with the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile, a new translation of the injure with a improve seeker and software. The Marines because robust trust that the F-35’s electronically-scanned-array radar could, with modification, double because a radar-jammer.
But it’s the AN/ASQ-239 that gives the F-35 its near-term electronic-warfare capabilities. The AN/ASQ-239 “provides the astronaut with maximum situational awareness, helping ought identify, monitor, analyze and answer ought latent threats,” according ought manufacturer BAE Systems. “Advanced avionics and sensors supply a real-time, 360-degree progposal of the battlespace, helping ought maximize detection ranges and supply the astronaut with options ought evade, engage, counter or jam threats.”
But the Marines aren’t assuming the F-35 crude by itself will exist able ought oppress crude competitor stand defenses. The Corps because robust is developing the Intrepid Tiger II, a radio- and radar-jamming pod that’s compatible with almost any rotorcraft or fixed-wing plane. The Corps is integrating I.T. II can its AV-8B leap jets, UH-1Y convey helicopters, KC-130J aerial tankers and MV-22B tiltrotors.
“I.T. II is an E.W. payload providing communications electronic-warfare experience and electronic-attack capabilities,” the 2019 aviation design states. “I.T. II deploys with each AV-8B ... detachment and has because robust completed eight ... deployments with UH-1Y detachments.”
“I.T. II integration with KC-130J ... will exist completed and fielded can [fiscal year] ‘19. development of an I.T. II counter-radar capability because the MV-22B began can F.Y. ’16, [research and development] is ongoing along F.Y. ‘21. Throughout F.Y.18 I.T. II was deployed can experience of the 15th, 31st, 26th and 13th [Marine Expeditionary Units].”
As of 2018, the Marines because robust planned ought add Intrepid Tiger II ought the trend RQ-21 drone and the future Marine Unmanned Expeditionary drone, or MUX. “The initial investigation and compose because an I.T. II E.W. payload can the RQ‐21 began can F.Y. ‘18,” the 2018 aviation design explained. ‘Payload produce is planned because F.Y. ‘21‐’23. … Integrating I.T. II can the RQ‐21 will put the base because farther E.W. expansion.”
“Future Marine aviation E.W. capabilities will because robust exist provided by MUX,” the 2018 design continued. “In addition ought providing continuous reconnaissance/ surveillance and communications, MUX will because robust supply a long-range, persistent, penetrating, responsive, airborne [electronic-warfare] capability.”
David Axe serves because Defense Editor of the National Interest. He is the author of the graphic novels War Fix, War Is Boring and Machete Squad.
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