AN/ALQ-99

The AN/ALQ-99 is an airborne electronic warfare system, found on EA-6B and EA-18G military aircraft.

ystem Description

The ALQ-99 is an airborne integrated jamming system designed by EDO Corporation. Receiver equipment and antennas are mounted in a fin-tip pod while jamming transmitters and exciter equipment are located in under-wing pods. The system is capable of intercepting, automatically processing and jamming received radio frequency signals. [ [http://www.edocorp.com/EA6B.htm EDO Corporation EA-6B Page] .] The system receivers can also be used to detect, identify and direction find those signals, providing Signals intelligence (SIGINT) either automatically or manually. [ [http://wrc.navair-rdte.navy.mil/warfighter_enc/default.htm The Warfighter's encyclopedia] . [http://wrc.navair-rdte.navy.mil/warfighter_enc/aircraft/Fixwing/prowler.htm EA-6B Prowler] .]

Platforms

The AN/ALQ-99 is currently mounted on EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G Growler aircraft of the U.S. Navy and, in the case of the EA-6B Prowler only, U.S. Marine Corps.

It has been previously mounted on EF-111A Raven aircraft of the U.S. Air Force. These aircraft were fully retired from service by May 1998.

Versions

* AN/ALQ-99E – the version mounted on EF-111A aircraft. It has a 70% commonality with the U.S. Navy's AN/ALQ-99 systems.

The EF-111A Ravens were initially stationed at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho using modified AGS Yellow Squadron's F-111A Aardvarks.

Performance

The AN/ALQ-99 has a maximum power output of 10.8 kW in its older versions and of 6.8 kW in its newer versions. [ [http://www.dtic.mil/dticasd/sbir/sbir043/n239c.doc Cooling Requirements for the Advanced Ram Air Driven Power and Cooling Unit (ARADPCU) on the EA-18G] .] It uses a ram air turbine to supply its own power.

History

The AN/ALQ-99 has been used during the 1986 American attacks in Libya, 1991 Gulf War, Operation Northern Watch (1992-2003), Operation Southern Watch (1997-2003), 1999 Balkans War and 2003 Second Gulf War. In all of these conflicts its performance has been regarded as very good and in some cases crucial.

References

See also

* Electronic warfare
* Electronic countermeasures
* EA-6B Prowler
* EA-18G Growler

External links

* [http://www.ausairpower.net/TE-Tacjammer.html The Anatomy of the Tacjammer]
* [http://www.dtic.mil/dticasd/sbir/sbir043/sbir366.html Advanced Ram Air Driven Power and Cooling Unit (for ALQ-99 and nextgen equipment)]
* [http://www.edocorp.com/EA6B.htm EDO Corp] - Manufacturer of components of the ALQ-99 system