The US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has taken delivery of AN/ALQ-214(V)3 integrated defensive electronic countermeasures (IDECM) system from Exelis, marking the completion of the IDECM programme.
Exelis integrated electronic warfare systems business vice-president and general manager, Joe Rambala, said: "Since the first production lot in 1997, Exelis has made 192 consecutive months of on-time deliveries of the ALQ-214, with each shipping an average of 44 days ahead of schedule."
The AN/ALQ-214(V)3 onboard jammer is an important subsystem of the IDECM radio frequency countermeasures (RFCM) programme.
Intended to offer self protection capability against surface-to-air and air-to-air radar guided threats, the IDECM equipment detects, identifies and manages electronic countermeasure response to radar threats.
In addition to enhancing survivability by enabling the aircrew to concentrate on mission success, the system provides situational awareness and self-protection by identifying, prioritising, countering and displaying to the aircrew.
The system also uses electronic countermeasures (ECM) techniques that deny, disrupt, delay and degrade the launch and engagement sequence to strike RF guided threats, as well as offering theatre specific configurations using modular and reprogrammable systems.
NAVAIR advanced tactical aircraft protection systems programme office (PMA-272) manager captain, Scott Porter, said: "Exelis is providing soldiers a critical capability with the ALQ-214."
Integrated onboard the US Navy’s F/A-18 C/D Hornet and F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet strike fighter variants, the AN/ALQ-214 is also a choice for the Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet.
Exelis will continue to provide ALQ-214(V)4/5 for the US Navy to extend protection to carrier-based F/A-18C/D Hornets, as part of a previously signed contract.
Image: ITT‘s RF countermeasurs. Photo: copyright of Exelis.
