Airborne self-protection: never fly without it!

As will be appreciated, this subject could fill a whole issue of Armada International on the upgrade side alone. However, most military aircraft produced in recent years have been fitted for, if not with, the means of airborne self-protection--the Defensive Aids Suite/System or Subsystem (Das or Dass). Much of the technology involved comes under the wider category of electronic warfare, as even decoys dispensed from aircraft now have electronic elements.

Whether fitted with defensive aids suites or not, aircraft--combat, tactical transports or helicopters--that go 'into harm's way', invariably have their capability enhanced prior to operations in a hostile environment. Depending on the aircraft and the level of threat, a basic fit of radar warning receiver (RWR) and chaff/flare dispenser can be radically enhanced by the addition of electronic countermeasures jamming equipment (internal or podded), and laser and/or missile warners. If the aircraft is equipped with a 1553 databus system, then the integration of the extras can be easier. Without this facility, ad hoe 'Heath Robinson' solutions will be sought. The widespread nature of the subject and variety of applications is best illustrated by a series of examples.

The Royal Air Force last year completed installation of an enhanced defensive aids suite on its cherished five English Electric Canberra PR.9 reconnaissance aircraft. Since entering service in 1963, the type has continually proven its worth (largely unsung) most recently during Operation Telic (as the British element of Operation Iraqi Freedom was named).

This programme resulted from a number of Urgent Operational Requirements from the mid-1990s. The first of which, seen in 1996, was the addition of the Boz-107 chaff/flare dispenser pod on re-activated underwing hard points, and installation of the Vinten (now part of Thales) Vicon 78-series 455 countermeasures dispensing system in a twin installation under the inner starboard wing.

The final element was prompted by the RAF's pat in Operation Veritas, the British contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom over Afghanistan. It involved the enhancement of the aircraft's Marconi Defence Systems (now in BAE Systems) ARI 18228/6 radar warning receiver with antennae mounted on the tailcone and in the upper leading edge of the forward fin in an 'acorn' fairing.

Originally installed on Vulcan bombers (hence the '/6' in its designation) between 1976 and 1980, the ARI 18228 RWR system (marketed internationally as Sky Guardian) was a standard fit on RAF Phantoms and Buccaneers.

This latest upgrade was initiated by the British Defence Logistics Organisation's (DLO) Equipment Support (Air) branch and involved the relocation of the RWR antennae from the fin and tailcone to the wingtips. It is possible that the whole system was upgraded to Sky Guardian 200 configuration. The DLO declined to comment on the current standard of Canberra RWR, other than to confirm that it is Sky Guardian.

Earlier this year, the US Army opted to protect its RC-7 Airborne Reconnaissance Low (ARL--based on the DHC-7 Dash Seven airliner) aircraft from hostile multi-spectral threats with Northrop Grumman to supply the army with several AN/APR-39A/B(V)2/Siscm (System of Integrated Sensors and CounterMeasures) systems.

The AN/APR-39 Siscm system protects against the threats posed by radio frequency, infrared and electro-optical weapons. Now in a small, lightweight configuration, the system provides interactive management of all onboard sensors and countermeasures along with modern radar warning functions. It automatically initiates optimal countermeasures, chaff, flares, radio frequency jamming, or directional infrared countermeasures, with a manual override if selected.

In a program due for completion later this year, France's Armee de l'Air is understood to be retrofitting eight Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules airlifters with a defensive aids suite consisting of a Sherloc-SF RWR, a Damien missile approach warner (both from Thales) and an Alcan Spirit NG countermeasures dispenser system that can accommodate standard Nato 1 x 1-inch expendable decoys.

Of course, fighter/attack aircraft are constantly having their suites capability improved. The French Air Force last year launched a programme to replace the existing Thales Serval radar warning receivers on its fleet of Mirage 2000D strike aircraft with new equipment that is based on the Thales Aigle (Eagle) equipment already installed aboard its Mirage F.1CR/CTs.

The Aigle is a user-reprogrammable RWR reported to be effective against continuous-wave, pulsed and pulse-Doppler emitters. Comprising two aerial assemblies, an electronics unit and a cockpit display and control panel, the TDS-FA/Aigle is further claimed to offer a 'very short' reaction time and 'highly dependable' emitter identification based on instantaneous frequency measurement.

On the other side of the world, BAE Systems Australia is developing the ComBat advanced radar warning receiver as the production version of the ALR-2002D, which is an element of Project Air 5416 (Project Echidna) developing an electronic warfare self-protection system for Australia's aircraft and helicopters. The company is 'preferred supplier' for the Hornet electronic warfare self-protection upgrade.

During 2002, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) successfully completed the first flight testing of the ComBat advanced receiver on-board an upgraded F/A-18A Hornet fighter. These trials were designed to demonstrate the system's performance over a range of operational scenarios. The trials follow similarly successful test flights on an RAAF F-111C in 2000.

Back in Europe, the Royal Danish Air Force is to have 20 of its Northrop Grumman AN/ALQ-162 (V) 1 Shadowbox radar jammers equipping Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons upgraded to (V)6 configuration. The system hardware and software improvements contained in the (V)6 upgrade are designed to provide improved capabilities to counter, advanced airborne and ground-based missile systems. With these enhancements, the AN/ALQ-162(V)6 provides pilots with self-protection against a wide variety of sophisticated continuous wave and pulse-Doppler terminal radar threats.

Northrop Grumman is working with Lockheed Martin to integrate the system into the Terma Electronic Combat Integrated Pylon System used on RDAF F-16s. According to Ev Pratt, VP of Electronic Warfare programmes at the company's Defensive Systems Division in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, the Danish Air Force "plans to expand its use of the AN/ALQ-162 to other platforms such as C-130 transports and EH 101 helicopters".

Another element within the airborne self-protection scene has been the development of the towed radar decoy (TRD), which comprises a small decoy containing a radar transmitter, unwound from the parent aircraft (or pod beneath its wings) from which a decoy signal intended to seduce an incoming missile is sent. The first recorded operational use of such a system happened during the 1991 Gulf War when some RAF Nimrod MR.2 maritime patrol aircraft deployed them on Operation Granby. The TRD in question was the BAE Systems (then MDS) Ariel, which has since been re-packaged into a Boz chaff/flare dispenser pod and also deployed on Panavia Tornado F.3 fighters.

In the United States, two towed radar decoys have been developed: Raytheon's AN/ ALE-50 towed-decoy from its Electronic Warfare Product Group, Georgia; and the BAE Systems Information & Electronic Warfare Systems' AN/ ALE-55 Fibre Optic Towed-Decoy (FOTD).

The latter is an integral component of the joint US Navy and US Air Force Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures (Idecm) Radio Frequency Countermeasures system. Incorporating on-board receivers and off-board countermeasures, including the high-powered FOTD and deployment canister, the Idecm is scheduled for deployment on Boeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-15 Eagle aircraft. It had been planned for the B-1B Lancer but the cancellation of its Defensive Systems Upgrade Program earlier this year leaves this in limbo.

In December last year, Raytheon received its AN/ALE-50 Lot 6 contract--an extension of an original contract awarded in December 1996--for 985 towed decoys for US Air Force and Navy aircraft. This brings the total number of AN/ALE-50 towed decoys produced by Raytheon to 16,725 in use on operational on Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Fighting Falcons and Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornets and B-1B Lancers.

One cannot leave this subject without mentioning that Israel's Elisra group and Elta Electronics (part of Israel Aircraft Industries) are both expert in the field of electronic warfare and defensive aids suites. Apart from being used domestically these self protection systems have been exported by both companies. Examples include the Turkish F-4E upgrade programme (Elta's EL/L-8233 jamming pod) and Germany's 17 CH-53GS battlefield helicopters (Elisra's SPS-65 integrated radar/laser airborne self-protection system).

The bottom line is that a Das/Dass is something no military aircraft should be without. If they do not currently have a suite installed, then one is most likely being fitted; if there exists a suite aboard, it is being upgraded.