Tactical Air Electronic Warfare

Abstract

Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures (IDECM) Block 4 (IB-4) is an Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) to the ALQ-214 to render it suitable for operation on F/A-18C/D aircraft (replacing the ALQ-126B and significantly improving F/A-18C/D survivability) while retaining all IDECM suite functionality when installed on F/A-18E/F aircraft. The IB-4 acquisition and contract strategy includes development of the Common On-Board Jammer for the F/A-18 C/D/E/F aircraft through sole source contract awards for modifications to the ALQ-214. IB-4, ALQ-214 ECP efforts include hardware and software design, development, integration and testing on the host aircraft. The F/A-18 EW suite includes the ALR-67 Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), the ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing Set (CMDS), the mission computer and other avionics. ALQ-214 software improvement will provide the ALQ-214 with Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) technique capability significantly improving F/A18C/D/E/F survivability. Acquisition and contract strategy includes development, integration and test of the ALQ-214 software improvements through sole-source contract award. Modifications to other F/A-18E/F Block II and Block III aircraft avionics may be required in order to develop and integrate this capability. These other avionics may include, but are not limited to, the ALR-67(V)2, ALR-67(V)3, ALE-47, ALE-50 AAED, ALE-55 FOTD, mission computer and fire control radar. F/A-18 E/F ALQ-214 Adaptive Radar Countermeasures (ARC) will provide the ALQ-214A(V)4/5 with improved Radio Frequency (RF) threat detection algorithms and jamming against modern threat radars. Modifications to other F/A-18C/D/E/F Block II and Block III aircraft avionics may be required in order to develop and integrate this capability. These other avionics may include, but are not limited to, the ALR-67(V)3, ALE-47, ALE-50 AAED, ALE-55 FOTD, mission computer and fire control radar. ARC capabilities may be integrated into other DoD platforms with radar warning receivers or countermeasures systems. The Dual Band Decoy (DBD) will provide expanded RF capability against current and emerging modern RF threat radars, significantly improving the survivability of the F/A-18 E/F and may be further developed and integrated into other Naval platforms. DBD will leverage Science and Technology (S&T) advancements through the Dual Band Intelligent RF Expendable (DIRE) program to accelerate DBD capability development. DBD will replace the current ALE-55 FOTD. Modifications to other F/A-18E/F Block II and Block III aircraft avionics may be required in order to develop and integrate this capability. These other avionics may include, but are not limited to, the ALR-67(V)2, ALR-67(V)3, ALE-47, ALE-50 AAED, ALE-55 FOTD, mission computer and fire control radar. This Project also includes/enables integrated Aircraft Survivability Equipment (iASE) which improves situational awareness for own-ship, wingman, and distributed command and control. Projects in this element also includes studies, investigations, and analysis for Advanced Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite capabilities.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2022
• Source ID: 2175_0604270N_5_1319_PB_2022

Tags

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering

Technology Areas

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