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By AARON SKETCHLEY (aaronsketch@HOTdelete_thisMAIL.com) Ver 1.4 2015.02.25

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Avionics Devices: Airborne Control and ECM/ECCM Devices

Table Of Contents


Introduction

The following devices are either internally mounted or externally mounted (on munitions or dedicated electronics hard-points). Devices that are not specifically indicated in a vehicle's stats *may* be optionally mounted on an external hard-point (they container for the device is approximately the size of an AMM-1/medium range missile).

Some vehicles (such as the VF-0, EVA-3, VF-11, VF-17, RVF-171(EX) and RVF-25) can have the devices mounted and plugged into their airframes and be ready to operate. Other vehicles require software updates and overwrites to allow the devices to properly communicate with the vehicle's FCS and other avionics systems. In extreme cases, a laptop-sized interface must be installed in the rear seat of the vehicle.


Airborne Control Craft Device

The system is used offensively to direct fighters to their target locations, and defensively to counter attacks. In air-to-air combat, the system can communicate with friendly aircraft, extending their sensor range and giving them added stealth since they no longer need their own active radar to detect threats. Control craft are primarly responsible for the management of asset activities within the operational environment based on the commands, direction, and guidance given by appropriate authority.


IDECM (Integrated Defensive Electronic CounterMeasures)

The IDECM is a jamming system that uses a combination of onboard transmitters and the FOTD, if the vehicle is equipped with one, to deceive enemy radars and missile systems. The IDECM suite is intended to provide self-protection and increased survivability for tactical aircraft against radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) surface-to-air and air-to-air threats. It integrates specific electronic self protection systems on the host aircraft, such as the RWS (Radar Warning System, located on the tips of the wings) (can roughly calculate the direction and the distance of many different types of radar from various aircraft and missile types. The RWS can also display the status of the tracking aircraft's radar. It can differentiate between search radar, tracking radar, and missile-homing radar), the CMWS (Common Missile Warning System), the chaff/flare dispenser, the AN/ALE-55 FOTD launch controller/dispenser and the RFCM (Radio Frequency CounterMeasures). Integration of these systems is intended to provide threat system warning, threat missile detection/warning, and automatically initiates the most effective countermeasure response to increase survivability of the host aircraft against IR and RF threats.

The RFCM consists of an onboard receiver/processor/techniques generator which stimulates the retractable EC antenna or AN/ALE-55 FOTD for transmission of the countermeasure technique.


AN/ALE-55 FOTD (Fiber-optic Towed Decoy)

The FOTD is a supplement traditional radar jamming equipment to provide protection against modern radar-guided missiles. The device is towed while transmitting a signal like that of a threat radar. It's jamming can be used across a broad frequency range to defeat advanced RF threats. The AN/ALE-55 defeats RF threats by delivering three layers of defense:
1) The FOTD is used to emit jamming that suppress an enemy's radar's ability to acquire and track the target.
2) If the craft is being successful target tracked, the system analyzes the radar emissions and determines optimum jamming techniques to break aircraft track. If more than one radar threat is detected, the system can respond with simultaneous transmission of multiple jamming techniques.
3) If an RF missile is launched, the FOTD can break the missile's track of the aircraft or lure the missile away from the target aircraft by itself becoming the target. The missile will detect and lock onto the decoy rather than on the aircraft. This is achieved by making the decoy's radiated signal stronger than that of the aircraft.


AN/ALQ-220 A OASIS (Organic Airborne and Surface Influence Sweep)

Consists of a surface minesweeping device towed by a vehicle flying at low altitude. It allows commanders to perform rapid minesweeping missions. It is designed to provide organic, high speed magnetic/acoustic influence minesweeping capability where minehunting is not feasible (adverse environmental conditions), where mines are undetectable (buried), and avoidance of the area is not an option. It provides high-speed influence mine sweeping capability by generating and imparting underwater magnetic and acoustic signature fields capable of sweeping a wide range of magnetic, acoustic and combination magnetic/acoustic influence threat mines at tactically significant water depths.


AN/ALQ-131(V) ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURES

Handles known, emerging and future terminal threats in a variety of complex, dense threat environments. The AN/ALQ-131(V) electronic countermeasures (ECM) pod is one of the most successful ECM systems ever built. It is designed to easily add new capabilities, and features:
  • Full three band, overlapping coverage
  • Capable of producing simultaneous jamming techniques to counter multiple, simultaneous threats on a pulse-by-pulse basis
  • Integrated broadband receiver


    AN/ALQ-167 EW TRAINING PODS

    Applications include ECCM training, radar test and evaluation as well as tactical self-protection, escort and stand-off jamming. It provides jamming against both airborne and ground based AI radars and GCI radars during air intercept and simulated attack missions (including jamming combined with threat radar simulation). It also provides support and escort jamming during exercises and tactical missions combining simultaneous jamming, threat radar simulation and chaff. Jamming modes are Noise: Spot, Swept, Barrage, Blinking, Swept Amplitude Modulation, Repeater Amplitude Modulation
  • Deception: Range Gate Stealer, Velocity Gate Stealer
  • Coherent Jamming (DRFM): Multiple False Targets, Velocity Gate Stealer, Range Gate Stealer, Coordinated Range Gate & Velocity Gate Stealer
  • Automatic Frequency Set-On Jamming (SOR): Real time control of modes and mode parameters. Multi band simultaneous operation and control. Combined jamming and threat radar missions. Select fore/aft jamming (inbound/outbound). Operational airborne man-machine interface via notebook computer or cockpit control box. Set-up and maintenance via notebook computer.


    ALQ-192 COMMUNICATION JAMMING DEVICE

    Creates a transmission of radio signals that disrupt radio communications by decreasing the signal to noise ratio. The radio transmitter is tuned to the same frequency as the opponents' receiving equipment and with the same type of modulation, can override any signal at the receiver. The most common types of this form of signal jamming are random noise, random pulse, stepped tones, warbler, random keyed modulated CW, tone, rotary, pulse, spark, recorded sounds, gulls, and sweep-through. These can be divided into two groups -- obvious and subtle.


    FREQUENCY BAND DEVICE

    Increases the number of frequencies jammed by the ALQ-192 Communication Jamming Device.


    ALQ-199 TACTICAL NOISE JAMMING DEVICE

    Radiates electronic jamming that interferes with enemy radar, blocking the receiver with highly concentrated energy signals. The two main technique styles are noise techniques and repeater techniques. The three types of noise jamming are spot, sweep, and barrage.


    ALQ-200 MULTI-BAND TRACK BREAKER

    Is used to deceive enemy tracking radar in single target track mode. These are typically fire control radars associated with SAMs, AAMs and AAA. Track breaking techniques are therefore of major importance in tactical and strategic aircraft.
    Track breakers attack the automatic tracking mechanism of the victim radar. If the threat is a pulsed radar a track breaker will usually transmit a 'cover pulse' at the same time as the return pulse. This masks the return and the victim tracking mechanism is then allowed to lock on to the cover pulse rather than the weaker real return. The jammer has then seduced the tracking mechanism and can, within limits, move the target about its real position and typically turn it off to break lock.
    The target will often be made to erratically jitter which makes it impossible to accurately guide a missile or fire a gun at the target.


    AN/ALQ-218 TACTICAL JAMMING RECEIVER

    It provides real-time situational awareness for tactical cueing of jammers/ onboard sensors. It is the first tactical jamming receiver system with proven "look-through" software to permit periodic surveillance of the threat environment while jamming is in progress. The "lookthrough" capability allows the ALQ-218 receiver system to operate in close proximity to onboard high power jammers. It provides vehicles equipped with it the ability to precisely identify and pinpoint the location of enemy radar sites for a more effective use of HARM missiles.


    REFERENCES
  • Palladium Books Game Engine and MDC Rules
  • This Is Animation The Select: Macross Plus
  • Variable Fighter Master File: VF-1, VF-1 Space Wings, VF-19 & VF-25
  • Wikipedia

  • © Aaron Sketchley
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