Electronic Warfare (EW) Dev

The Common Carriage (CC) will reduce expendable countermeasures logistics footprints, reduce future development and procurement costs, and improve industrial base performance through DoW wide common expendable square form factor for the F/A-18E/F, EA-18G, MH-60R/S, P-8, CMV-22, CH-53K, and MV-22 platforms. Multi-Layered Obstructed Brokered (MOB) Hub and integrated Aircraft Survivability Equipment (iASE) capability for F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft which replaces obsolete ALE-47 operational flight program and programmer HW, providing data to the gateway necessary for survivability in the current and future threat scenarios facing USN operational missions. MOB Hub iASE upgraded programmer enables advanced expendable countermeasures to enhance countermeasure response, and provide additional battlespace awareness for own-ship, wingman and other mission participants. Active Expendable Device (AED) replaces existing GEN-X AED which is obsolete against modern Radio Frequency (RF) threats. Advanced Active RF expendable solutions offer standalone devices necessary for global naval operations for all DoN aircraft deployments for use against networked Integrated Air Defense Systems with coherent radars and provide aircrew with tailored response options of integrated on-board and off-board RF expendable solutions in a dense threat environment. Resources will also be applied to the following areas: 1) Studies and evaluations to optimize employment of current countermeasures and iASE capabilities. 2) Development and demonstration of advanced expendable countermeasures and countermeasure techniques. 3) Testing and evaluation of infrared countermeasures (IRCM) and RF advanced countermeasures. 4) Development of system software enhancements and integration for the testing and deployment of advanced countermeasure techniques. 5) Development of and upgrades to modeling tools and specialized equipment required to conduct evaluation of advanced countermeasures against proliferating threats.

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 HW and SW design, development, integration and testing on the host aircraft. The F/A-18 EW suite includes the ALR-67 Radar Warning Receiver, the ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing Set, the mission computer and other avionics. F/A-18 E/F ALQ-214 Adaptive Radar Countermeasures (ARC) integrates improved RF threat detection algorithms and jamming against modern threat radars. Development efforts for ARC were discontinued due to a strategic realignment of higher Navy priorities. This decision enabled the immediate reprioritization of funding to support the ongoing efforts for Dual Band Decoy (DBD). The 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 replaces the ALE-55 FOTD beginning in FY2027. 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 Integrated Multi-Platform Launch Controller (IMPLC), Electronic Frequency Converter (EFC), ALR-67(V)2, ALR-67(V)3, ALE-47, mission computer and fire control radar. FY2027 provides funding for the Advanced Electronic Warfare (ADVEW) infrastructure stand-up efforts. ADVEW replaces the outdated ALR-67 radar warning receiver (RWR) and the limited ALQ-214 self protect jammer into a modern, combined EW suite providing automated EW processing in an Open System Architecture.

The Jammer Techniques Optimization (JATO) organization produces the jamming techniques and Electronic Attack (EA) optimization algorithms that are critical for current and future Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) systems of the United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) to execute the evolving AEA mission. Through Modeling & Simulation (M&S), laboratory testing, and field testing, JATO optimizes parameters for AEA systems (such as AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System (TJS), AN/ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB), AN/ALQ-266 Next Generation Jammer Low Band (NGJ-LB), and the AN/ALQ-231(V) Intrepid Tiger II Family of Systems) to best counter existing threats, and applies that knowledge to define the requirements for follow-on AEA systems. As commercial and military Radio Frequency (RF) threats evolve and proliferate, the JATO organization provides updated tactics, techniques, and procedures to maximize the potency of USN and USMC AEA in meeting the Combatant Command (COCOM) Commanders' Non Kinetic Effects (NKE) priorities, to include highly contested environments, Force Protection, Information Operations, and enhanced communications jamming. (Classified discussion available upon request). JATO's Advanced Techniques Group (ATG) focuses specifically on electronic countermeasures to advanced threat weapon systems and Command, Control, and Communications (C3) networks that are challenging existing EA approaches, and how to best apply advances in geolocation and unknown threat characterization to EA responses. Additional efforts include risk reduction activities to evaluate and minimize EA interference with US weapons systems, and research/technology studies in support of upgrades to existing AEA systems such as the AN/ALQ-99 TJS and AN/ALQ-249 NGJ-MB. The AEA Advanced Development project focuses on increasing the Department of the Navy's understanding and utilization of rapidly-evolving technologies that operate in the Electromagnetic spectrum. As commercial and military Radio Frequency (RF) threats evolve and proliferate, this project tracks the relevant technology, intelligence, and tactics to maximize the potency of USN and USMC AEA through the rapid insertion of emergent technologies (hardware and software) into existing AEA weapon systems and aircraft platforms.

This project unit supports the United States Marine Corps (USMC) development of Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Electronic Warfare (EW) and the various elements of its distributed System of Systems (SoS). The SoS addresses MAGTF EW sufficiency gaps in the areas of Electronic Attack (EA) and Electronic Warfare Support (ES) with a multitude of payloads designed for carriage on a variety of organic MAGTF air assets. Payload development plans follow an adaptable, modular and open architecture philosophy to combat the increasing capability gap and enable future growth at a reduced operational and sustainment cost. A key element to this capability is the AN/ALQ-231(V) Intrepid Tiger II program. The AN/ALQ-231(V)1 pod is the variant of the Intrepid Tiger II pod flown on the AV-8B, F/A-18A-D, and KC-130J platforms. The AN/ALQ-231(V)3 is the variant of the Intrepid Tiger II pod flown on the UH-1Y platform, with plans for integration on AH-1Z platforms. (V)3 Blk 2 is an Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) to the original (V)3, providing additional capability to address evolving threats. Plans include future integration of AN/ALQ-231(V) Block X advanced capability and counter-radar upgrades on USMC tilt rotor, fixed wing, rotary wing and unmanned aircraft. The AN/ALQ-231(V)4 is the first implementation of Block X upgrades on MV-22B aircraft and future (V)5 BLK X integration may occur on platforms such as, but not limited to, the KC-130J, MQ-9, CH-53K, and AH-1Z platforms. All payload variants are capable of conducting, supporting, and coordinating Electro-Magnetic Spectrum (EMS) operations in the form of EA and ES against Irregular Warfare threats. Additionally, all payloads are scalable and adaptable for emerging threats and are interoperable with the USMC's Electronic Warfare Services Architecture (EWSA). The Intrepid Tiger II capability is designed to be integrated for MAGTF tactical coordination of cyberspace and EW operations via the Cyber Electronic Warfare Coordination Cell (CEWCC).

Project Unit 3308 Technology Development funds efforts that focus on the quick reaction prototyping and fielding of Tactical EW/countermeasures solutions for increased resilience and survivability, by improving the active electronic self-defense of tactical aircraft. This self-protection provides friendly forces the ability to deploy, survive, operate, maneuver, and regenerate in all domains while under attack as well as strike diverse targets inside adversary air and missile defense networks to destroy mobile power-projection platforms. This Project also includes/enables iASE which improves situational awareness for own-ship, wingman, and distributed command and control. Significant investments have been made in the modular HW and reprogrammable software resident in ASE capability which is fielded today. Technology Development makes specific investments towards: countermeasure/jammer/receiver algorithm development, Advanced EW Suite capability studies/investigation/analysis, threat data file and model updates as modern threats continue to evolve. These updated data files and algorithms are required to be deployed within hours of release by squadron maintenance personnel to aircraft while still on the ramp or flight deck. This program directly addresses the operational requirement of Strike Tactical Air platforms for optimization of EW/countermeasure solutions across the DoN.

Provide for quick reaction prototyping of tactical information and electronic warfare systems to counter adversary platforms and Command and Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting (C5ISRT). Systems address various requirements across multiple platforms (air, surface, and subsurface), airborne and surface cryptologic operational requirements, and joint missions to research, assess, and develop information warfare and electronic warfare systems and capabilities. (Details held at a higher classification).