Less is more in the world of DAS.

The days when electronic warfare (EW) systems were add-on items procured as required are coming to an end. As high-tech electronics shrink in size, electronic warfare designers are able to pack ever more powerful fully integrated systems into the limited space available in a jet fighter.

Having multiple functions provided by a single, comprehensive system of systems provided useful savings in space and weight. This not only makes the best use of the limited space and cooling within a modern airframe, but also helps integrate electronic warfare with other network-centric operations.

Over the last decade, many of the famous names formerly associated with electronic warfare have vanished; victims of industrial consolidation. In the West, the main players are now BAE Systems, Elettronica, Elisra, ITT Defense, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and Thales. One thing that has not changed is the highly classified nature of the systems. Inevitably, the more recent the programme, the less that is known.

Typhoon 

The EuroDass developed for the Eurofighter Typhoon is produced by a consortium consisting of Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems--formerly BAE Systems Avionics, Elettronica and Indra. In its most-comprehensive form, it consists of a defensive aids computer, an integrated RF electronic support and countermeasures (ES/ECM) subsystem, a missile-approach warning (Maw) system, a laser warning receiver (LWR) and a countermeasures dispensing system. In practice, this range of hardware is being introduced in stages, and some of the Eurofighter partner nations have opted not to deploy the full system.

Like the passive ES/ESM subsystem, the RF jamming facilities are unofficially reported to cover a frequency range of 100 MHz to 18 GHz. Introduced in basic form on early tranche 1 aircraft, it was fully fielded on later tranche 1 aircraft. It offers several operating modes and is believed to be able to direct beams of noise or deceptive jamming against selected threats. On tranche 2 aircraft, the upper limit of the frequency coverage of the ES/ESM (and perhaps the jammers) will probably be raised to 40 GHz.

Saab Avitronics received an order from Flight Refuelling in Feb 2006 to provide 236 Bol 510 countermeasures dispensers for the tranche 2 programme, serving the British, German, Italian and Spanish Eurofighters.

Towed decoys are carried in the rear portion of the wingtip pods. Based on the Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems Ariel, these can be deployed at supersonic speeds. Germany, it is understood, has opted to not install decoys, however, while Britain is the only nation to have adopted the laser-warning receiver.

Each aircraft can carry four countermeasures launchers--SaabTech Bol dispensers for chaff, and Elettronica Aster units armed with 55 mm flares.

Rafale

The Thales Airborne Systems Spectra system carried by the Rafale is installed in ten internal locations within the Rafale's airframe, the most obvious being the fin-top pod. Thales is responsible for system integration and provides the RWR, LWRs and radar jamming subsystems, while MBDA supplies the DDM-Samir IR missile launch detector and the countermeasures dispensing system.

The RF warning and jamming facilities are integrated to form the Detection et Brouillage Electromagnetique system. Frequency coverage of the original F1 standard is understood to be 2 to 18 GHz, rising to 2 to 40 GHz in the F2 standard of avionics. Unofficial reports credit the radar warning receiver with being able to establish the bearing on a radio frequency-based threat to less than one degree and the jamming antennas with the ability to direct a narrow beam with comparable accuracy. By focussing the jamming energy into a narrow beam, the jamming system is able to concentrate its power on the threat, while emitting a minimum of energy in other directions in order to avoid compromising the aircraft.

Gripen

When the Block 1 Jas-39A Gripen entered service, its self-protection system consisted only of a SaabTech AR-830 RWR and Bop/C countermeasures dispenser. A full suite was not fielded until the batch 3 aircraft, though it will be retrofitted to batch 2. This Swedish-developed suite is designated EWS 39, and teams a SaabTech Bow-21 receiver, an internal radar jammer covering the same frequency range (unofficially reported to be 2 to 18 GHz) and a combination of Bop/B and Bol dispensers.

Further developments are being studied for inclusion into late batch 3 aircraft and for export models. These include a laser and a missile warning system, and SaabTech BO2D towed radio frequency decoys. Frequency coverage of the EWS 39 could be raised to 40 GHz by fitting the aircraft with a Saab Boq-X300 deception/noise jamming pod.

Hornet 

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet entered service with a suite based on that of the earlier C/D model, but is now equipped with a more sophisticated suite that includes a Raytheon AN/ALR-67(V)3 RWR, and a BAE Systems/ITT AN/ALQ-214(V) Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures (Idecm). The latter is made up of an ITT receiver system, a BAE Systems onboard techniques generator and the AN/ALE-55 towed decoy.

Raptor and F-35

There is little point in developing a stealth aircraft then fitting it with an active jammer that would betray its presence. As a result, the systems fitted to the Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter use passive RF technology and embedded low-observable antenna apertures rather than traditional antennas, the reflectivity of which could compromise the aircraft.

Little is known about the fully integrated passive suite that BAE Systems has developed for the F-22. This combines a BAE Systems AN/ALR-94 Electronic Support Measures Radar Warning System, the AN/AAR-56 Maw and the AN/ALE-52 flare dispenser system.

BAE Systems is also responsible for the information & electronic warfare suite of the F-35, and delivered the first example in August 2004. This is thought to be a highly integrated suite combining radar warning, missile warning, radar and infrared jamming capabilities and expendable decoys. The radar-warning facilities are thought to include long-range emitter detection and bearing determination.

The aircraft's Northrop Grumman Mirfs/MFA (multifunction integrated RF system/multifunction nose array) is used not only by the aircraft's AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array radar, but also handles electronic warfare and communications functions.

Miscellanea

Inevitably, defensive aid suites will feature on new fighters developed by other nations. While there are no details of the suite fitted to China's new J-10 fighter, the few poor quality photos available of the aircraft show a rear-facing antenna fairing at the top of the fin and what may be antennas on either side of the under-fuselage air intake.

The Tejas (Radiant)--formerly the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)--being developed in India by the Aeronautical Development Agency is known to have an electronic warfare suite created by India's Advanced Systems integration and Evaluation Organisation. This includes an RWR, LWR, MAW, a self-protection jammer and a countermeasures dispensing system.

Since today's limited defence budgets require that combat aircraft be kept in service (or even in production) for several decades, EW suites must be modernised to maintain their capability, or to replace older hardware with a more integrated solution.

In the US, the F-15 Eagle remains in low-rate production, with 40 F-15Ks being built for South Korea. Like the F-15s in US and Saudi service, these are equipped with the Tactical Electronic Warfare Suite, which combines the AN/ALR-56C RWR, the Northrop Grumman AN/ALQ- 135 RF jammer and the BAE Systems AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser. The F-15K has an updated version of the RWR and jammer; the latter uses microwave power modules that are smaller and lighter than the earlier transmitters, allowing the system to be repackaged within the airframe to locate the jamming hardware closer to the antennas.

The sheer number of F-16 Fighting Falcons delivered by General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin make it inevitable that many upgrade programmes are underway or planned. A selection will have to serve to give the reader an idea of the new systems the aircraft is receiving either as new-build examples or as retrofits.

As part of its upgrading of the F-16 Block 25/30/32, the US Air Force's Air Combat Command and Air Force Reserve Command are installing the Pylon Integrated Dispense System and the AN/ALE-50 towed decoy system.

The Greek Air Force adopted Raytheon's Advanced Self-Protection Integrated Suite II consisting of the Northrop Grumman AN/ALR-93 RWR, Raytheon AN/ALQ-187 jammer, and BAE Systems AN/ALE-47 chaff/flare dispenser. Chile and Oman selected the ITT Avionics Advanced Integrated Defensive EW Suite. An adaptation of the AN/ALQ-21, it consists of a radar warning receiver and a jammer.

The Portuguese Air Force, Elisra and Terma teamed to develop a suite that forms part of that nation's F-16A mid-life upgrade. This used an Elisra SPS1000(V)5 RWR, Northrop Grumman AN/ALQ-131(V)2 Block 2 jamming pod and BAE Systems AN/ALE-40 chaff/flare dispensers.

For the Block 60 ordered by the United Arab Emirates, Northrop Grumman developed the Falcon Edge. This makes extensive use of cots technology and combines a sophisticated radar warning facility, a radar jammer, a Raytheon fibre-optic towed decoy and Terma countermeasures dispensers.

ITT built its proposal around a pod-mounted AN/ALQ-211(V)8 version of its AN/ALQ-211 system for fixed and rotary-wing applications. In 2005, a version of the system achieved operational capability on the US Air Force's U-2S reconnaissance aircraft, having been introduced as part of that aircraft's Block 20 modernisation programme. The submissions from Northrop Grumman and Saab are based on the AN/ALQ-131 and EWS 39 systems respectively. Although flight tests of the rival offerings were completed two years ago a winner has yet to be announced, leading to speculation that the programme may be dropped.

Transports

The growing threat posed by man-portable air-defence systems has forced the deployment of defensive suites on military transport aircraft. The United States selected the Northrop Grumman Large Aircraft Countermeasures system for use on a portion of its C-17, C-130, C-135 and KC-10 fleet. Other nations have fitted similar systems to their C-130s and other transports.

Eads Defence Electronics is designing a suite for the new A400M military transport that includes an Eads Defence Electronics/Indra ALR-400 RWR and a chaff/flare dispenser. A follow-on programme is expected to add a directed infrared countermeasures system, laser warning receiver and towed decoy. In practice, only a portion of the fleet will be given a suite for example, Britain has stated that it plans to equip only nine of its planned fleet of 25.

Under a contract awarded by France's DGA (Direction Generale pour l'Armement) in January 2006, Cilas will design a more compact laser capable of being integrated into a Dircm that could form part of the A400M self-protection system. Over the next two years the company will build prototype hardware.

Some nations see a need to have defensive aids on civil airliners. In August 2004, the US Department of Homeland Security awarded $ 45 million contracts to BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman to continue prototyping suitable systems built on laser-based IR jammers already in military service. In November 2005, BAE Systems began flight testing its Jeteye on a Boeing 767 trials aircraft, and Northrop Grumman began flights of its Guardian system on an MD-11.

While other teams around the world are developing similar systems--Rafael's Britening is based on a Dircm developed for helicopters--the first to be certified for airline service was the Israel Aircraft Industries Elta Systems Flight Guard.

However, it must be borne in mind that any defence--military or civilian--can be saturated if exposed to a large enough number of attacks, and there never will be protection from a lucky hit--if it hits in the right place, even a rifle bullet can down an aircraft.

The Royal Air Force C-130K Hercules that was shot down in Iraq on 30 January 2005 was fitted with a state-of-the-art system, but with only a short leg to fly between two nearby bases the crew had little choice but to fly at low altitude. The nature of the attack that brought it down has never been disclosed. Unofficial reports have suggested that it was hit by a Russian-built Malyutka (AT-3 'Sagger') but in practice it probably fell victim to light anti-aircraft artillery. No system can argue with a well-aimed cannon shell and win.