The United States Navy has awarded Raytheon an $80 million contract in a down select to prototype Advanced Electronic Warfare, or ADVEW, for the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet.
This prototype will be considered as a replacement for the existing AN/ALQ-214 integrated defensive electronic countermeasure and AN/ALR-67(V)3 radar warning receiver with a consolidated solution that will deliver superior electronic warfare capabilities to the backbone of the Navy’s carrier air wing.
“These advancements are paving the way for the next generation of electronic warfare,” said Bryan Rosselli, president of Advanced Products & Solutions at Raytheon.
“We are completely replacing and consolidating the legacy systems into a one-box solution that will deliver a generational refresh to the electronic warfare capability for the lifetime of the Super Hornet.”
Raytheon’s Advanced Electronic Warfare offering will provide significant performance upgrades by modernising existing electronic warfare systems into fewer components and incorporating government-defined open architecture.
“Development of this new solution will closely align and integrate with other combat-proven, radio frequency sensors and effectors employed by the Super Hornet. ADVEW will ensure F/A-18E/Fs maintain their operational electronic warfare advantage, while significantly improving survivability against advanced, complex threats.
Development and testing of ADVEW will mainly take place in Goleta, California. During the prototype phase, the system will undergo preliminary design review, critical design review, and flight testing over a 36-month period.”
Okay, why the E/F and not the EW specialised Growler? I mean, isn’t that like saying that Jude Bellingham is the best England midfielder currently playing and then giving the place in the national squad to younger brother Jobe?
Just need someone to explain it to me, thanks in advance.
Hi Iain, the system that they’re looking at for the E/F Super Hornet is primarily for self-protection. Much like the Praetorian system used by the Typhoon. Instead of having a separate radar warning receiver and a countermeasures system. The ADVEW blends various RF and optical sensors with active and passive countermeasures. This will make the system more responsive, as it will be more automated, so it can tailor its response to the threat.
At the moment this is a purely defensive system to protect the individual aircraft. However, it may follow a similar route to Typhoon’s Praetorian development, where it can deliver an offensive element in conjunction with air to surface weapons. This should not be confused with the electronic warfare Growler version of the Hornet. Which is used offensively for electronic attack on radars and communications.
See, that makes much more sense. Thanks for plugging the gaps.
This is also to do with replacing legacy boxes with hard to source bits that are essentially hardware enabled.
To something that is software based and a lot more powerful with lower cooling needs.
Which then leaves physical space, weight and cooling for offensive EW……
Hi Iain, USN and Australian Growlers are getting the Next Generation Jammer – Mid Band and Low Band for electronic attack as an upgrade.
There have been some more details on the euro fighter ECR variant for Germany.
I think SAAB and Northrop will be working together using the stuff already developed for gripen.
There seem to be a proposal for a loyal wingman to carry the jamming pod.
I don’t know much more about it than that. It’s one area I’m not that knowledgeable or understand to talk about.