David Axe
Security,
Can the U.S. Marine Corps employ F-35s to allowance electric Warfare?
The U.S. Marine Corps is trying to figure out how to allowance electric pains 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 below its wings and too could release High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles, or HARMs. fleet and Marine Corps EA-6Bs suppressed and destroyed enemy stand defenses at each chief American collision after 1970.
But by 2019 the Prowlers were old and sole a little remained at service. The fleet retired its Prowlers at 2015. The final six Marine EA-6Bs spent their persist months flying battle missions above the center East.
The fleet replaced its EA-6Bs with new EA-18G Growlers, cabin the Marines opted no to 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 over a broad array of aeroplane including stealth fighters and drones.
“The Marine aviation means to 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 over aviation platforms to furnish commanders with an organic and continuous 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 to replace the EA-6B’s hold jamming capability. The Marine Corps plans to buy 420 F-35s to 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 to the [Marine Air-Ground work Force],” the Corps explains at its 2019 aviation plan. “F-35 E.W. capabilities contain emitter geolocation, identification and parametric information sharing via attach 16 [data-link].”
In addition, future versions of the F-35 to exist compatible with the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile, a new translation of the wound with a improve seeker and software. The Marines too trust 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 to identify, monitor, analyze and retort to latent threats,” according to manufacturer BAE Systems. “Advanced avionics and sensors furnish a real-time, 360-degree opinion of the battlespace, helping to maximize detection ranges and furnish the astronaut with options to evade, engage, counter or press threats.”
But the Marines aren’t assuming the F-35 crude by itself will exist capable to oppress crude enemy stand defenses. The Corps too 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 above its AV-8B leap 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 assistance and electronic-attack capabilities,” the 2019 aviation design 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 exist completed and fielded at [fiscal year] ‘19. development of an I.T. II counter-radar capacity though the MV-22B began at F.Y. ’16, [research and development] is ongoing over F.Y. ‘21. Throughout F.Y.18 I.T. II was deployed at assistance of the 15th, 31st, 26th and 13th [Marine Expeditionary Units].”
As of 2018, the Marines too planned to add Intrepid Tiger II to the recent RQ-21 drone and the future Marine Unmanned Expeditionary drone, or MUX. “The initial inquiry and compose though an I.T. II E.W. payload above the RQ‐21 began at F.Y. ‘18,” the 2018 aviation design explained. ‘Payload produce is planned though F.Y. ‘21‐’23. … Integrating I.T. II above the RQ‐21 will place the basis though farther E.W. expansion.”
“Future Marine aviation E.W. capabilities will too exist provided by MUX,” the 2018 design continued. “In supplement to providing continuous reconnaissance/ surveillance and communications, MUX will too furnish 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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