Digital Domain

Author: Puttre, Michael

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Full text: Senior Editor Brendan Rivers writes a story in this issue (see "USAF to Locate Enemy Using RWRs,"
p.20) about how the US Air Force recently awarded Raytheon a contract to develop a networked passive
geolocation capability for the AN/ALR-69A(V) radar-warning receiver (RWR) that would be used for pinpointing
the locations of enemy radio-frequency (RF) emitters:
"The contract, awarded by the USAF's Warner Robins Air Logistics Center (Robins AFB, GA) under the
Advanced Tactical Targeting Technology (AT3) program, calls for the development of the necessary software
algorithms and a Frequency and Time Module (FTM) that would provide this new capability to the all-digital,
wideband ARL-69A(V) RWR - itself an upgrade of the ALR-69(V), which is currently installed on USAF F-16, A10, C-130, and MH-53 aircraft. RWRs with these enhancements fitted onboard multiple aircraft could then share
their time and frequency measurements, along with GPS data, via datalink, to come up with a much more
precise location of an enemy emitter. Because it is a completely digital, wideband system, the ALR-69A(V) can
perform the necessary signal processing at sufficient speeds for such accurate and rapid geolocation."
The geolocation data acquired and shared among other aircraft could then be used to target air-defense sites
and other emitter sources with GPS-aided precision-guided munitions that could be employed from other fighter
aircraft in the area. The USAF is looking at equipping not just F-16s but a variety of aircraft with the AT3
capability, in particular F-15s and A-10s. What's particularly interesting is that this capability would distribute the
SEAD mission generally among front-line aircraft, rather than leaving it in entirely in the hands of specialist
squadrons and aircraft types, such as the F-16C/J. According to one source, the US Navy has also expressed
interest in providing AT3 for its F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. Although the Super Hornet is equipped with the ALR67(V)3 RWR, that system is also being upgraded to an all-digital version, which would enable it to perform
AT3's geolocation measurements.
This development dovetails nicely with electronic attack options reportedly under consideration by the US Air
Force for its future F/A-22 Raptor and F-35 loint Strike Fighter (ISF) aircraft. Neither aircraft is due to receive an
internal RF jammer because their low-radar-cross-section designs and advanced BAE Systems AN/ALR-94
RWRs (common to both) are intended to enable the aircraft to detect and avoid enemy air-defense sites
passively. So how will electronic attack be possible? Both the Raptor and the JSF are to receive active,
electronically scanned phased-array (AESA) radar systems - The Northrop Grumman AN/APG-77 in the former
and the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-81 for the latter. With the right software, these all-digital radar emitters can
be used as spot jammers, directing pencil beams against "pop-up" threats. A similar role of an AESA radar is
already under consideration for the PS-05/A Mk5 NORA radar in development for Sweden's Gripen by Ericsson
and Raytheon (see "Gripen Settles In," JED, August 2005, p. 49). In addition to its usual functions, the NORA "Not Only Radar" - system will also perform passive electronic reconnaissance and active jamming of enemy
radars within its operational frequency range (I-J bands).
The advent of all-digital mission avionics is advancing the day where multiple discrete systems will no longer be
required for distinct functions. Emitters and receivers will be tuned to whatever function is required by
application software. Moreover, as datalinks increase in bandwidth and networks increase in scope, many of the
duties that are currently handled by specialists will be addressable by an expanding array of multimission
platforms and crews. - Michael Puttre

Publication date: Sep 2005

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