David Axe
Security,
Can the U.S. Marine Corps utilize F-35s ought salary electric Warfare?
The U.S. Marine Corps is trying ought pattern out how ought salary electric 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 invasion plane, eventually bowed out of service at March 2019.
The Prowler carried AN/ALQ-99 jamming pods under its wings and also could free High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles, or HARMs. fleet and Marine Corps EA-6Bs suppressed and destroyed competitor stand defenses at each main American collide after 1970.
But by 2019 the Prowlers were old and unique a few remained at service. The fleet retired its Prowlers at 2015. The final six Marine EA-6Bs spent their final months flying campaign missions can the middle East.
The fleet replaced its EA-6Bs with new EA-18G Growlers, quiet during 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 along a broad array of airplane including stealth fighters and drones.
“The Marine aviation fashion 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 along aviation platforms ought equip commanders with an organic and successive 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 replace the EA-6B’s cause jamming capability. The Marine Corps plans ought buy 420 F-35s ought replace, by 2030, coarse of its older fixed-wing jets.
“The F-35 brings a powerful combination of [electronic warfare], weapons, sensors and reduced signature ought the [Marine Air-Ground task Force],” the Corps explains at its 2019 aviation plan. “F-35 E.W. capabilities contain emitter geolocation, identification and parametric news sharing via connect 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 also confide that the F-35’s electronically-scanned-array radar could, with modification, double though 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 reply ought latent threats,” according ought manufacturer BAE Systems. “Advanced avionics and sensors equip a real-time, 360-degree recommendation of the battlespace, helping ought maximize detection ranges and equip the astronaut with options ought evade, engage, counter or squeeze threats.”
But the Marines aren’t assuming the F-35 coarse by itself will exist capable ought oppress coarse competitor stand defenses. The Corps also is developing the Intrepid Tiger II, a radio- and radar-jamming pod that’s compatible with nearly any rotorcraft or fixed-wing plane. The Corps is integrating I.T. II above its AV-8B bound 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 back and electronic-attack capabilities,” the 2019 aviation plot states. “I.T. II deploys with each AV-8B ... detachment and has also completed eight ... deployments with UH-1Y detachments.”
“I.T. II integration with KC-130J ... will exist completed and fielded at [fiscal year] ‘19. development of an I.T. II counter-radar capability though the MV-22B began at F.Y. ’16, [research and development] is ongoing along F.Y. ‘21. Throughout F.Y.18 I.T. II was deployed at back of the 15th, 31st, 26th and 13th [Marine Expeditionary Units].”
As of 2018, the Marines also planned ought add Intrepid Tiger II ought the recent RQ-21 drone and the future Marine Unmanned Expeditionary drone, or MUX. “The initial inquiry and create though 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 though F.Y. ‘21‐’23. … Integrating I.T. II above the RQ‐21 will lay the base though farther E.W. expansion.”
“Future Marine aviation E.W. capabilities will also exist provided by MUX,” the 2018 plot continued. “In addition ought providing successive reconnaissance/ surveillance and communications, MUX will also equip a long-range, persistent, penetrating, responsive, airborne [electronic-warfare] capability.”
David Axe serves though 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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