Virtually the entire responsibility for AEA rests with EA-6Bs, EA-18s.
The once relatively robust fleet of AEA platforms is shrinking
For decades, the U.S. military has been the world’s leader in airborne electronic attack (AEA). A branch of electronic warfare, AEA involves the use of aircraft and airborne systems to neutralize, destroy, or suppress enemy air defenses, communications networks, command and control capabilities and selective ISR assets. During the Cold War, AEA was considered absolutely essential to defeating the Soviet Union’s vast integrated air defense system. Today, AEA is increasingly critical to the survivability of air assets seeking to enter denied air space. An AEA capability is absolutely essential to any offensive air operation. Even the B-2 does not go forth to strike targets half a world away without AEA support. In addition, as the experience of the past decade has demonstrated, AEA platforms are extremely valuable in countering low-end electronic devices such as many of the triggers used to detonate improvised explosive devices. Prospective adversaries are working hard on ways of denying U.S. forces access to their air space. Older surveillance radars are being upgraded with advanced signal processing computers. New generations of sensors are being deployed, some on aerial platforms. Advanced air defense capabilities such as the Russian S-400 and S-500 are being fielded. In the near future, U.S. joint forces will require a combination of stealth, new weapons and advanced AEA in order to have assurance of successfully penetrating advanced air defenses. Unfortunately, the U.S. asymmetric advantage in AEA is in danger of eroding. The once relatively robust fleet of AEA platforms is shrinking. The Air Force’s EF-111 Ravens have long since been retired and efforts to develop a new, dedicated Air Force AEA capability have floundered. The Air Force does maintain some 14 EC-130 Compass Call airborne jammers. The Air Force’s F-22 and the tri-service F-35 fighters could take on some of the AEA mission, assuming that all of them are not busy performing more important tasks such as air superiority or ground attack. Alternative AEA platforms such as the Miniature Air-Launched Decoy or jammer-equipped unmanned aerial systems are in development. In reality, today, virtually the entire responsibility for offensive AEA rests with the Navy and Marine Corps’ fleet of some 100 aging EA-6B Prowlers and its replacement, the new EA-18 Growler. As the size of the AEA fleet shrinks, the demand for its services grows. Already the requirements from the Combatant Commands for AEA exceed current aircraft availability. Moreover, the current plan is to retire the four Marine Corps AEA squadrons rather than replacing their Prowlers with Growlers, further shrinking the size of the fleet. This isn’t the end of the problem. Without additional orders, the F-18 production line is scheduled to shut down in 2013. Should this happen, the Department of Defense will be left with no options for reconstituting lost capabilities or simply increasing the number of AEA platforms to meet demand. The U.S. Navy has a program to develop the Next Generation Jammer, a system intended to counter the growing electronic warfare and air defense threats. It would be ironic if having spent billions to produce a state-of-the-art jammer, DoD found itself without sufficient airborne platforms to deploy the new capability. ----Daniel Goure, Ph.D.Early Warning Blog, Lexington Institute
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A AW139 of the Qatar Armed Forces. (Photo: AgustaWestland)
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the Royal Thai Army has signed a contract for two AW139 twin-engine helicopters. These aircraft will be delivered in 2014 to perform transport and utility missions across the nation. The contract, which also includes a comprehensive maintenance and training package, marks the entrance of the AW139 into Thailand’s military helicopter market and further expands the success of the type in the country. Vincenzo Alaimo, Head of Region, AgustaWestland, said “It gives us great pleasure to sign this contract with the Royal Thai Army to support their transport requirements. We are confident this model, thanks to its unmatched performance, comfort and safety, has significant potential in Thailand in the future.” The Royal Thai Army adds to a growing number of military customers that have ordered or are already operating the AW139 for a wide range of roles including VVIP and government transport, utility, search and rescue, emergency medical service and homeland security. The armed forces of Ireland, Qatar, UAE, Italy and Egypt are just some of those operating the AW139 today. The AW139 delivers best-in-class performance with a cruise speed of 165 knots (306 kph), a range in excess of 500 nm (927 km), endurance of 5 hours and superior hover performance. It also has the largest cabin in its class which can accommodate up to 15 passengers. The unobstructed cabin design allows maximum flexibility for different seating configurations and the transport of equipment. The baggage compartment, provides a massive 3.4 cubic metres (120 cubic feet) of storage which is easily accessible from both the cabin and outside the helicopter. The AW139 is the world’s best selling helicopter in its class and the only new generation aircraft in its class in service today. Over 500 AW139s are now in service worldwide. Almost 170 customers from more than 50 countries have ordered nearly 650 AW139 helicopters so far.
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Launch of a PARS 3LR guided missile. (Photo: MBDA)
PARS 3 LR, the main armament for the German Army’s Tiger helicopter, passes into full scale production. This follows the successful completion of the system’s validation programme for the German customer, an event marked by a direct hit against an intended target during a test firing carried out at the Meppen test range (located in Lower Saxony, NW Germany) on 20 September 2012. The target was provided by a tank moving in between houses. In the final firing, the PARS 3 LR missile struck the target with exceptional precision in a demanding urban combat scenario at a range of approximately 3 km. All test firings were carried out from a German Tiger helicopter. The tests confirm that PARS 3 LR completely fulfils the specified system performance requirements under operational conditions. After formal clearance by the BAAINBw (Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support), PARS 3 LR is now ready to go into full-scale series production for the German Army’s Tiger helicopter. “The successful conclusion of the firing campaign sends a strong signal to our national customers and potential export customers”, declared Thomas Homberg, Managing Director of MBDA Germany. This guided missile system will make an important contribution to the Bundeswehr, enabling it to fulfil the demanding missions it is expected to perform even better in the future.” “We have impressively demonstrated the exceptional capabilities and high precision of the PARS 3 LR. This success was made possible by the joint contribution of all parties concerned, from the German Army, the German Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) including the technical commands, the weapon system command and industry. I want to thank everyone for their enormous dedication,” added Siegfried Bücheler, Programmes and Sales Director at MBDA Germany. With the PARS 3 LR, the German Army will receive what is currently the most high-performance fire-and-forget guided missile system for precision strikes against stationary and moving high-value targets while simultaneously assuring maximum protection for both helicopter and crew. The PARS 3 LR fire-and-forget system allows the helicopter to quit its position immediately after firing a missile, thereby limiting to the absolute minimum its exposure to the threat of retaliation. Salvo firing allows the engagement of various targets at the same time. Its technical lay-out design enables unambiguous target identification, target designation, and highly precise effects against a large target spectrum over the whole range spectrum. Manufacture for the German Army will be carried out by PARSYS, a joint venture between MBDA Germany and Diehl BGT Defence. The procurement contract for the PARS 3 Long Range precision fire-and-forget missiles was signed by the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB), MBDA Germany and Diehl BGT Defence. The contract covers industrialization and delivery of 680 missiles for the German Army. The weapon is already generating significant interest in the export market. To meet a helicopter-launched air-to-ground Anti-Tank Guided Missile requirement in India, MBDA has proposed the PARS 3 LR multi-target, long range weapon system which has now been short-listed by the Indian MoD. Within the framework of this competition, PARS 3 LR has achieved an outstanding level of performance during two firing campaigns comprising six firings all of which struck their targets at the optimal hit point.
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