Forum: General F-35 Forum

Airborne Electronic Attack Efforts Gain Momentum By Robert Wall 04 June 2012

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http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.asp ... ml&p=2

"...Another shift in communications jamming is taking place in the U.S. Marine Corps. Late last month the service was on the verge of deploying its ALQ-231(V)1 Intrepid Tiger II electronic attack pod, an in-house development to equip Harriers with a communications-jamming capability. The technology is supposed to be an even more effective communications jammer than the USQ-113 operational on the service's EA-6B.

The pod has several modes. In one, the pilot can operate a set program but—more critical—in networked mode, troops on the ground can selectively jam particular bands. Unlike some of the broadband jamming now taking place, Intrepid Tiger II is to provide a precision electronic strike capability, says Lt. Col. Jason Schuette, head of the EW branch at the Marine Corps' Combat Development and Integration Command.

Signals intelligence personnel also can monitor the effect of jamming on an adversary and, potentially, make changes to reflect tactical realities. Uploading new jamming techniques may also be possible.

To minimize the need for integration, the Harrier treats the pod as a Maverick missile, with no changes to the operational flight program required.

Further developments are already underway, and upgrades to the current system will incorporate an electronic surveillance capability. Furthermore, Intrepid Tiger II Version 2 will be a two-pod configuration that will be carried on the RQ-9 Shadow UAV. The system will have 100% of the same software and 85% of the same hardware as the Harrier model, to reduce cost.

So far, the price tag for eight pods has been around $8 million. The Marines also have adopted an unusual development approach, acting as an integrator and working on an open-systems design where hardware components can easily be replaced when more capable or reliable ones become available. The work has been done at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Div., Point Mugu, Calif.

Integration on the F-35 is also being considered. Intrepid Tiger II and its follow-ons should give the Marines long-term electronic attack capabilities even after the EA-6B is retired in 2019...."

Best to read entire post from the FIRST URL above. Tah.

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F-35 the first programmable AW aircraft (no hardware change).

Still waiting on that two-seat F-35 for Israel, India, and actually performing high-intensity missions...

I'm not sure it's possible to fit a second seat into the F-35 frame without compromising it's stealth. There is a big, load baring bulkhead right behind the cockpit, isn't there?

I have a solution, use the B airframe, drop the lift fan and make it a closed cockpit.

I personally think the F-35B's lift fan bay provides a lot of interesting options. If you take the Lift Fan, drive shaft, and swap the engine for the simpiler/lighter A or C engine you could free up a lot of weight and have a large volume to do something with. I'm thinking massive EW equipment, who knows what else it is a large bay.

Just spit balling here, but what if you put a special ops guy in the bay and used the F-35 for insertion. 2 flights of F-35s could deliver an 8 man SEAL team and wreck a little havoc after dropping of the special payload with their other on board weapons.

Sufa Viper

And no way to launch or recover it off carriers...

If you are deploying troops, you probably want to keep the lift fan, and figure out some way to carry the troops in the weapon bays.

Forum: General F-35 Forum

Airborne Electronic Attack Efforts Gain Momentum USMC/F-35