David Axe
Security,
Can the U.S. Marine Corps apply F-35s ought revenue electric Warfare?
The U.S. Marine Corps is trying ought figure out how ought revenue electric pains now that the service has retired the attitude 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 below its wings and also could remove High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles, or HARMs. fleet and Marine Corps EA-6Bs suppressed and destroyed competitor attitude defenses at each headmaster American collide after 1970.
But by 2019 the Prowlers were old and only a little remained at service. The fleet retired its Prowlers at 2015. The attitude six Marine EA-6Bs spent their attitude months flying campaign missions above the middle East.
The fleet replaced its EA-6Bs with new EA-18G Growlers, besides 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 over 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 over aviation platforms ought equip commanders with an organic and faithful 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 keep jamming capability. The Marine Corps plans ought buy 420 F-35s ought replace, by 2030, total 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 work Force],” the Corps explains at its 2019 aviation plan. “F-35 E.W. capabilities include emitter geolocation, identification and parametric data sharing via join 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 harm with a better seeker and software. The Marines also trust that the F-35’s electronically-scanned-array radar could, with modification, double during 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 meaning 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 total by itself will exist capable ought oppress total competitor attitude defenses. The Corps also is developing the Intrepid Tiger II, a radio- and radar-jamming pod that’s compatible with about any rotorcraft or fixed-wing plane. The Corps is integrating I.T. II above its AV-8B leap jets, UH-1Y spend helicopters, KC-130J aerial tankers and MV-22B tiltrotors.
“I.T. II is an E.W. payload providing communications electronic-warfare uphold 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 at [fiscal year] ‘19. development of an I.T. II counter-radar talent 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 uphold of the 15th, 31st, 26th and 13th [Marine Expeditionary Units].”
As of 2018, the Marines also planned ought add Intrepid Tiger II ought the contemporary RQ-21 drone and the future Marine Unmanned Expeditionary drone, or MUX. “The initial investigation and invent though an I.T. II E.W. payload above the RQ‐21 began at F.Y. ‘18,” the 2018 aviation design 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 design continued. “In addition ought providing faithful reconnaissance/ surveillance and communications, MUX will also equip a long-range, persistent, penetrating, responsive, airborne [electronic-warfare] capability.”
David Axe serves during 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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