David Axe
Security,
Can the U.S. Marine Corps employ F-35s ought revenue electrical Warfare?
The U.S. Marine Corps is trying ought list out how ought revenue electrical war 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, eventually bowed out of service at March 2019.
The Prowler carried AN/ALQ-99 jamming pods under its wings and although noise could release High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles, or HARMs. fleet and Marine Corps EA-6Bs suppressed and destroyed foe air defenses at each major American collide back 1970.
But by 2019 the Prowlers were old and only a little remained at service. The fleet retired its Prowlers at 2015. The final six Marine EA-6Bs spent their final months flying battle missions above the middle 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 airplane including stealth fighters and drones.
“The Marine aviation method ought electromagnetic-spectrum operations is a distributed, platform‐agnostic strategy,” the Corps explained at 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 continual airborne E.W. capability.”
For starters, the Marines are counting above 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 hold jamming capability. The Marine Corps plans ought buy 420 F-35s ought replace, by 2030, complete of its older fixed-wing jets.
“The F-35 brings a powerful mixture of [electronic warfare], weapons, sensors and reduced signature ought the [Marine Air-Ground work Force],” the Corps explains at its 2019 aviation plan. “F-35 E.W. capabilities know emitter geolocation, identification and parametric information sharing via attach 16 [data-link].”
In addition, future versions of the F-35 ought be compatible with the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile, a new translation of the bruise with a improve seeker and software. The Marines although noise fancy that the F-35’s electronically-scanned-array radar could, with modification, double although 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 advice of the battlespace, helping ought maximize detection ranges and supply the astronaut with options ought evade, engage, counter or squeeze threats.”
But the Marines aren’t assuming the F-35 complete by itself will be able ought oppress complete foe air defenses. The Corps although noise is developing the Intrepid Tiger II, a radio- and radar-jamming pod that’s compatible with approximately any rotorcraft or fixed-wing plane. The Corps is integrating I.T. II above its AV-8B leap jets, UH-1Y expend helicopters, KC-130J aerial tankers and MV-22B tiltrotors.
“I.T. II is an E.W. payload providing communications electronic-warfare uphold and electronic-attack capabilities,” the 2019 aviation plot states. “I.T. II deploys with each AV-8B ... detachment and has although noise completed eight ... deployments with UH-1Y detachments.”
“I.T. II integration with KC-130J ... will be completed and fielded at [fiscal year] ‘19. development of an I.T. II counter-radar ability although the MV-22B began at F.Y. ’16, [research and development] is ongoing across F.Y. ‘21. Throughout F.Y.18 I.T. II was deployed at uphold of the 15th, 31st, 26th and 13th [Marine Expeditionary Units].”
As of 2018, the Marines although noise planned ought add Intrepid Tiger II ought the modern RQ-21 drone and the future Marine Unmanned Expeditionary drone, or MUX. “The initial research and compose although an I.T. II E.W. payload above the RQ‐21 began at F.Y. ‘18,” the 2018 aviation plot explained. ‘Payload manufacture is planned although F.Y. ‘21‐’23. … Integrating I.T. II above the RQ‐21 will lay the base although farther E.W. expansion.”
“Future Marine aviation E.W. capabilities will although noise be provided by MUX,” the 2018 plot continued. “In addition ought providing continual reconnaissance/ surveillance and communications, MUX will although noise supply a long-range, persistent, penetrating, responsive, airborne [electronic-warfare] capability.”
David Axe serves although 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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