David Axe
Security,
Can the U.S. Marine Corps utilize F-35s ought earnings electrical Warfare?
The U.S. Marine Corps is trying ought pattern out how ought earnings electrical 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 assault plane, eventually bowed out of service can March 2019.
The Prowler carried AN/ALQ-99 jamming pods below its wings and also could remove High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles, or HARMs. fleet and Marine Corps EA-6Bs suppressed and destroyed competitor stand defenses can each chief American impact after 1970.
But by 2019 the Prowlers were old and virgin a few remained can service. The fleet retired its Prowlers can 2015. The final six Marine EA-6Bs spent their final months flying campaign missions above the heart East.
The fleet replaced its EA-6Bs with new EA-18G Growlers, however 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 jet including stealth fighters and drones.
“The Marine aviation means 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 furnish 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 possess jamming capability. The Marine Corps plans ought buy 420 F-35s ought replace, by 2030, entire 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 can its 2019 aviation plan. “F-35 E.W. capabilities embrace emitter geolocation, identification and parametric news sharing via unite 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 perfect seeker and software. The Marines also 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 reply ought latent threats,” according ought manufacturer BAE Systems. “Advanced avionics and sensors furnish a real-time, 360-degree scene of the battlespace, helping ought maximize detection ranges and furnish the astronaut with options ought evade, engage, counter or press threats.”
But the Marines aren’t assuming the F-35 entire by itself will exist able ought oppress entire 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 jump jets, UH-1Y bring 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 design 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 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 over 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 also planned ought add Intrepid Tiger II ought the modern RQ-21 drone and the future Marine Unmanned Expeditionary drone, or MUX. “The initial inquiry and compose because an I.T. II E.W. payload above the RQ‐21 began can F.Y. ‘18,” the 2018 aviation design explained. ‘Payload manufacture is planned because F.Y. ‘21‐’23. … Integrating I.T. II above the RQ‐21 will post the basis because farther E.W. expansion.”
“Future Marine aviation E.W. capabilities will also exist provided by MUX,” the 2018 design continued. “In addition ought providing continual reconnaissance/ surveillance and communications, MUX will also furnish 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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