David Axe
Security,
Can the U.S. Marine Corps use F-35s ought allowance electric Warfare?
The U.S. Marine Corps is trying ought schedule out how ought allowance electric campaign 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, finally bowed out of service can March 2019.
The Prowler carried AN/ALQ-99 jamming pods below its wings and too could free High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles, or HARMs. fleet and Marine Corps EA-6Bs suppressed and destroyed opponent stand defenses can each foremost American bump 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 war missions can 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 along 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 along aviation platforms ought equip commanders with an organic and loyal 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 cause 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 mingle 16 [data-link].”
In addition, future versions of the F-35 to be compatible with the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile, a new translation of the injure with a perfect seeker and software. The Marines too confide 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 respond ought latent threats,” according ought manufacturer BAE Systems. “Advanced avionics and sensors equip a real-time, 360-degree view of the battlespace, helping ought maximize detection ranges and equip the astronaut with options ought evade, engage, counter or press threats.”
But the Marines aren’t assuming the F-35 crude by itself will be capable ought oppress crude opponent stand defenses. The Corps too 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 jump jets, UH-1Y fetch 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 scheme states. “I.T. II deploys with each AV-8B ... detachment and has too completed eight ... deployments with UH-1Y detachments.”
“I.T. II integration with KC-130J ... will be completed and fielded can [fiscal year] ‘19. development of an I.T. II counter-radar capacity because the MV-22B began can F.Y. ’16, [research and development] is ongoing across F.Y. ‘21. Throughout F.Y.18 I.T. II was deployed can back of the 15th, 31st, 26th and 13th [Marine Expeditionary Units].”
As of 2018, the Marines too planned ought add Intrepid Tiger II ought the modern RQ-21 drone and the future Marine Unmanned Expeditionary drone, or MUX. “The initial investigation and invent because an I.T. II E.W. payload above the RQ‐21 began can F.Y. ‘18,” the 2018 aviation scheme explained. ‘Payload manufacture is planned because F.Y. ‘21‐’23. … Integrating I.T. II above the RQ‐21 will lay the basis because farther E.W. expansion.”
“Future Marine aviation E.W. capabilities will too be provided by MUX,” the 2018 scheme continued. “In addition ought providing loyal reconnaissance/ surveillance and communications, MUX will too equip 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.
Read complete article
