David Axe
Security,
Can the U.S. Marine Corps use F-35s ought earnings electric Warfare?
The U.S. Marine Corps is trying ought figure out how ought earnings electric effort 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 invasion plane, at length 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 competitor attitude defenses can each headmaster American bump after 1970.
But by 2019 the Prowlers were old and sole a few remained can service. The fleet retired its Prowlers can 2015. The persist six Marine EA-6Bs spent their persist months flying effort missions above the middle East.
The fleet replaced its EA-6Bs with new EA-18G Growlers, calm 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 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 over 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 own jamming capability. The Marine Corps plans ought buy 420 F-35s ought replace, by 2030, vulgar 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 involve emitter geolocation, identification and parametric data sharing via join 16 [data-link].”
In addition, future versions of the F-35 ought exist compatible with the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile, a new translation of the cut with a better seeker and software. The Marines too 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 respond ought latent threats,” according ought manufacturer BAE Systems. “Advanced avionics and sensors furnish a real-time, 360-degree advice of the battlespace, helping ought maximize detection ranges and furnish the astronaut with options ought evade, engage, counter or jam threats.”
But the Marines aren’t assuming the F-35 vulgar by itself will exist able ought oppress vulgar competitor attitude 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 hop jets, UH-1Y cause 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 exist completed and fielded can [fiscal year] ‘19. development of an I.T. II counter-radar ability 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 too planned ought add Intrepid Tiger II ought the recent RQ-21 drone and the future Marine Unmanned Expeditionary drone, or MUX. “The initial investigation and create 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 put the basis because farther E.W. expansion.”
“Future Marine aviation E.W. capabilities will too exist provided by MUX,” the 2018 scheme continued. “In supplement ought providing continual reconnaissance/ surveillance and communications, MUX will too 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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