David Axe
Security,
Can the U.S. Marine Corps apply F-35s ought earnings electrical Warfare?
The U.S. Marine Corps is trying ought list out how ought earnings electrical trouble now that the service has retired the persist of its EA-6B Prowler radar-jamming planes.
The Prowler, a four-seat translation of the long-retired, two-seat A-6 aggression plane, eventually bowed out of service at March 2019.
The Prowler carried AN/ALQ-99 jamming pods beneath its wings and too could remove High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles, or HARMs. fleet and Marine Corps EA-6Bs suppressed and destroyed opponent stand defenses at each main American impact after 1970.
But by 2019 the Prowlers were old and maiden a little remained at service. The fleet retired its Prowlers at 2015. The persist six Marine EA-6Bs spent their persist months flying battle missions above the middle East.
The fleet replaced its EA-6Bs with new EA-18G Growlers, however 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 aeroplane 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 provide 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 replace the EA-6B’s possess 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 compound 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 learn emitter geolocation, identification and parametric information sharing via connect 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 injure with a better seeker and software. The Marines too consider 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 reply ought latent threats,” according ought manufacturer BAE Systems. “Advanced avionics and sensors provide a real-time, 360-degree advice of the battlespace, helping ought maximize detection ranges and provide the astronaut with options ought evade, engage, counter or press threats.”
But the Marines aren’t assuming the F-35 complete by itself will exist capable ought oppress complete opponent 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 bring helicopters, KC-130J aerial tankers and MV-22B tiltrotors.
“I.T. II is an E.W. payload providing communications electronic-warfare aid and electronic-attack capabilities,” the 2019 aviation plan 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 although 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 aid of the 15th, 31st, 26th and 13th [Marine Expeditionary Units].”
As of 2018, the Marines too planned ought add Intrepid Tiger II ought the contemporary RQ-21 drone and the future Marine Unmanned Expeditionary drone, or MUX. “The initial inquiry and invent although an I.T. II E.W. payload above the RQ‐21 began at F.Y. ‘18,” the 2018 aviation plan explained. ‘Payload manufacture is planned although F.Y. ‘21‐’23. … Integrating I.T. II above the RQ‐21 will lay the basis although farther E.W. expansion.”
“Future Marine aviation E.W. capabilities will too exist provided by MUX,” the 2018 plan continued. “In addition ought providing continual reconnaissance/ surveillance and communications, MUX will too provide 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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