Military Aviation News and Discussion

[OldTex]

Perhaps a Pentagon adult needs to order the USAF to suck it up and buy the navy EA-18G, something that exists and works, and certainly a quicker and less expensive solution than reinventing the wheel with a F-15EX EW/EA.....sorry, I forgot who runs the Pentagon.

I suspect that the USAF would find a way to justify an EF-15EX far sooner than sucking it up and buying EA-18Gs. There would probably be arguments put forward regarding the training, maintenance and logistic barriers to the EA-18G, when in fact it is a case of NIH (not-invented-here).

 

[Terran]

I doubt that (E/A18G EF15EX) is what they want. Before any one says “Adult” again remember the EF111 was retired in Nineteen Hundred and Ninety Eight Anno Domini.
It has been almost 3 decades since they operated a fighter based dedicated SEAD aircraft. Ergo it’s not on the current administration in the Department of Defense/War( Waaaaagh! ) Or the Current Department of the USAF but multiple generations of administration from the Clinton through the Bush 43, Obama, Trump45 , Biden and Trump 47 admins.
In that time they used the Compass Call C130 now the EA37 based on a Gulfstream jet and a mix of DEAD tasked F16CJ/DJ fighters.
My expectation is that if pushed for more SEAD mission capability there response would be four fold.

1. to point out that they have begun fielding the EA37Bs. An aircraft that has a far more sophisticated degree of EW capability beyond just SEAD.
2. They also have made extensive use of the (adorably named) Angry Kitten Jamming pod on the legacy fleet beyond just fighters including transports, Bombers, tankers, Rotary wing aircraft.
3. Third that F22, F35 and it’s likely upcoming B21 and F47 have organic EW capabilities allowing them to self escort limiting the need for dedicated SEAD and DEAD support in strike missions. Extensive radar warning receivers and jamming capabilities along the critical X band. Combined with decoy systems. Farther that the F15EX and upgraded F16V refits include some of the most sophisticated self defense EW sets ever deployed on a Fourth Generation aircraft as well as use of the aforementioned Angry Kitten.
4. To point out that the secret sauce of the EA18G isn’t actually the plane it’s the jammer pods. Jammer pods that are currently being replaced with the NGJ family of pods. From a practical perspective the only real difference between a F/A18F and an E/A18G is the removal of the M61 Valcan cannon for an additional radar receiver. Making forced adoption of the E/A18G into the USAF more of a solution on search of a problem or rather a problem in search of a solution. Due to the USAF Logistics not being built off the Rhino Hornets.

Now those statements made. We move on to what the USAF is doing right now.
Which is a joint investment with the USN on the AGM88-J SiAW a missile system evolved from the HARM to hunt transmitters and capable of being launched from 5th generation fighters. Once integrated this promises the F35A a DEAD (Destruction of Enemy Air Defense) capability to the platform which currently uses its ability to talk to Growlers and Vipers to direct HARM missiles strikes as we saw in Venezuela. That system was supposed to IOC this year.
Next is potential options for the future.
GPU-9A is the official designation of the Gunpod used on the F35B and C it normally houses the GAU22A 25mm. That pod however is also called the Multimission pod. RTX and Terma have both proposed a number of derivatives using the same exterior but with other types of equipment including a Jammer pod.
image source: Terma
There has been talk of such a pod based on the USMC Intrepid Tiger II system for the Marines. Although other packages are possible.
As the Pod is designed for the F35 it should be easier to integrate even if not normally carried by the A model it should also allow the F35 to retain its low observable characteristics. Again giving a SEAD and with AGM88-j DEAD capability.
Farther on I suspect that B21 and CCA drones will also come in as flying jammers. We have already seen use of systems like LUCAS and even Reaper drones used to attack and decoy air defenses.

 

[John Fedup]

I doubt that (E/A18G EF15EX) is what they want. Before any one says “Adult” again remember the EF111 was retired in Nineteen Hundred and Ninety Eight Anno Domini.
It has been almost 3 decades since they operated a fighter based dedicated SEAD aircraft. Ergo it’s not on the current administration in the Department of Defense/War( Waaaaagh! ) Or the Current Department of the USAF but multiple generations of administration from the Clinton through the Bush 43, Obama, Trump45 , Biden and Trump 47 admins.
In that time they used the Compass Call C130 now the EA37 based on a Gulfstream jet and a mix of DEAD tasked F16CJ/DJ fighters.
My expectation is that if pushed for more SEAD mission capability there response would be four fold.

1. to point out that they have begun fielding the EA37Bs. An aircraft that has a far more sophisticated degree of EW capability beyond just SEAD.
2. They also have made extensive use of the (adorably named) Angry Kitten Jamming pod on the legacy fleet beyond just fighters including transports, Bombers, tankers, Rotary wing aircraft.
3. Third that F22, F35 and it’s likely upcoming B21 and F47 have organic EW capabilities allowing them to self escort limiting the need for dedicated SEAD and DEAD support in strike missions. Extensive radar warning receivers and jamming capabilities along the critical X band. Combined with decoy systems. Farther that the F15EX and upgraded F16V refits include some of the most sophisticated self defense EW sets ever deployed on a Fourth Generation aircraft as well as use of the aforementioned Angry Kitten.
4. To point out that the secret sauce of the EA18G isn’t actually the plane it’s the jammer pods. Jammer pods that are currently being replaced with the NGJ family of pods. From a practical perspective the only real difference between a F/A18F and an E/A18G is the removal of the M61 Valcan cannon for an additional radar receiver. Making forced adoption of the E/A18G into the USAF more of a solution on search of a problem or rather a problem in search of a solution. Due to the USAF Logistics not being built off the Rhino Hornets.

Now those statements made. We move on to what the USAF is doing right now.
Which is a joint investment with the USN on the AGM88-J SiAW a missile system evolved from the HARM to hunt transmitters and capable of being launched from 5th generation fighters. Once integrated this promises the F35A a DEAD (Destruction of Enemy Air Defense) capability to the platform which currently uses its ability to talk to Growlers and Vipers to direct HARM missiles strikes as we saw in Venezuela. That system was supposed to IOC this year.
Next is potential options for the future.
GPU-9A is the official designation of the Gunpod used on the F35B and C it normally houses the GAU22A 25mm. That pod however is also called the Multimission pod. RTX and Terma have both proposed a number of derivatives using the same exterior but with other types of equipment including a Jammer pod. View attachment 54808
image source: Terma
There has been talk of such a pod based on the USMC Intrepid Tiger II system for the Marines. Although other packages are possible.
As the Pod is designed for the F35 it should be easier to integrate even if not normally carried by the A model it should also allow the F35 to retain its low observable characteristics. Again giving a SEAD and with AGM88-j DEAD capability.
Farther on I suspect that B21 and CCA drones will also come in as flying jammers. We have already seen use of systems like LUCAS and even Reaper drones used to attack and decoy air defenses.

Very informative Terran. WRT jamming via B-21 and CCA drones, a promising solution. As for F-35 options, getting block 4 and the ECU completed is far more important....just my two cents. I do think the EA-18G is a winner. Would be interesting to know the cost per flight hour for the Growler and F-35 while performing EA missions.

 

[Terran]

Very informative Terran. WRT jamming via B-21 and CCA drones, a promising solution. As for F-35 options, getting block 4 and the ECU completed is far more important....just my two cents. I do think the EA-18G is a winner. Would be interesting to know the cost per flight hour for the Growler and F-35 while performing EA missions.

I think for the USAF the E/A18G just isn’t viable.
first it’s just not in the USAF inventory. Moving it over would require running pilots and maintenance through the Navy as well as gathering equipment.
Second it’s the Pods not the plane. The USN is trying to transition to its new pods the NGJ pods system due to new threats. There is nothing that says updated F15EX or F16V can’t operate those pods.
Third The ship to order has sailed. The line is closing in a year. The Navy is preparing for its replacement the F/A-XX.