EW Counter Response

Abstract

This project develops upgrades to combat the increasingly complex and dense Electronic Warfare (EW) threat environment. Required improvements in Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) will achieve application of state-of-the-art signal exploitation, processing, display techniques, improved tactics, and jamming capabilities against EW threats. Efforts include continued development of Force Protection/Overseas Contingency Operations (classified discussion available upon request) Navigation and Information Operations applications and enhanced communications jamming. The efforts under this project provide for electronic countermeasure responses to advanced threat weapon systems and C3 networks that are expanding in density and technical complexity. This project funds the continued development and integration of all EW and Electronic Attack systems for the US Navy electronic attack aircraft including improvements within precision Direction of Arrival, geo-location, Specific Emitter Identification, Auto-Electronic Support Measures, and selective reactive jamming. The EA-6B Improved Capability (ICAP) III test aircraft will continue to serve as a test platform during government test and evaluation of Multi Functional Information Distribution Systems/Link-16, Low Band Transmitter, and other EW improvements. A requirement exists to allow the EA-6B ICAP III to participate in various coordinated targeting scenarios such as Network Centric Warfare, Force Net, Improved Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses/Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses, and other strategic and theatre-based DOD networks and strategies. Likewise, the ICAP III system shall be matured to enable the fusion and correlation of both organic and non-organic threat information to improve present sensor and targeting information to the theatre commander via coordinated efforts between other airborne, ground and ship-based operations. A method of implementing this requirement is to include the EA-6B on the Link-16 EW Network. Incorporation of the Link-16 message set into the EA-6B and participation of the ICAP III within the Network Centric Warfare arena improves the Strike Group Commander's situational awareness. All efforts and system upgrades include the conversion of and transition from the Tactical EA-6B Mission Planning System to the Joint Mission Planning System, including development of EA-6B Unique Planning Modules. Electronic Attack Jammer Techniques Optimization (JATO) and test support is required to address and counter new and evolving radar and communications threats in support of existing and emerging systems such as the EA-6B, EA-18G, and NGJ. JATO will continue to generate techniques, tactics, and procedures that will optimize the capabilities of existing weapon systems, and to assist in requirements definitions of emerging AEA systems. The Airborne Electronic Attack Expendable provides an expanded war fighting capability, on an expendable host platform against EW threats including; Integrated Air Defenses, Command and Control Communications, and Datalinks through an open Electronic Attack Subsystem interface specification. This flexible system allows rapid technology insertion and threat set adaptability that will address AEA capability and sufficiency gaps.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2013
• Source ID: 0556_0604270N_5_1319_PB_2013

Tags

Readers

• Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.

Technology Areas

• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Microelectronics