Electronic warfare will become more complex in the future. And in order to provide protection for the 'million people' F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet, Northrop Grumman offers the AN/ALQ-257 electronic defense system which has so far been installed on fifth generation fighter jets, the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.
To be precise Northrop Grumman has deployed the AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) to counter a series of "attacks" by the US Air Force Laboratory Intelligence Validated Emulator (LIVE) testing system.
IVEWS is a fully digital system based on a secure, modular and open design to create receivers/drivers that can quickly deal with electronic attacks across ultra wide bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, coming from all directions.
To test its effectiveness, the engineers connected the IVEWS to the LIVE system. The latter feeds a simulated air defense radar signal directly to the IVEWS in a way that realistically reproduces the effects of an electronic attack.
As sophisticated radio frequency threats continue to evolve, the protection provided by IVEWS is critical,” said James Conroy, vice president, navigation, targeting and survivability, Northrop Grumman. "Successful evaluation of these extremely challenging conditions is an important step on the path to further production of the electronic warfare suite."
The Viper AN/ALQ-257 is a passive electronic defense system designed to provide protection against enemy radar and reconnaissance threats. This system uses sophisticated technology to detect enemy radar signals and process them to identify the type of radar and its source.
After that, the system will respond by emitting a signal that mimics the signal characteristics of the enemy's radar to confuse or divert the enemy. The system is also equipped with the ability to detect and process other electromagnetic signals such as radio signals and enemy communications.
By using the AN/ALQ-257 Viper, fighter aircraft can gain an advantage in air combat and increase survivability. The system can also be integrated with other air defense systems such as missile launchers to enhance fighter aircraft air defense capabilities.
The AN/ALQ-257 was developed by the defense technology company from the United States, Northrop Grumman. The development of this system began in the early 2000s and is the result of various research and development activities carried out by the company.
During development, the AN/ALQ-257 went through a series of rigorous tests and evaluations to ensure that the system meets military requirements and can work properly in the field. Northrop Grumman has also carried out integration of this system with the F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor fighters to ensure that this system can operate properly in a combat environment.
The development of the AN/ALQ-257 also involves collaboration with various partners and other contractors in the defense sector. This is done to ensure that this system meets the requirements and standards set by the military.
Currently, AN/ALQ-257 continues to experience development and improvement to improve its capabilities and performance in air combat. Northrop Grumman also continues to invest in defense technology research and development to produce better and more sophisticated products to meet future military needs.
Specific information regarding AN/ALQ-257 is classified as a military secret and cannot be accessed freely. Even so, AN/ALQ-257 is suspected to have some weaknesses like other electronic defense systems. Some of the weaknesses that this system might have include:
- Depends on the data received
The AN/ALQ-257 requires sufficient data to be able to determine the type of enemy signal and respond accordingly. If the data received is inaccurate or late, the system will not function effectively.
- Limited to a certain frequency range
AN/ALQ-257 is designed to deal with enemy radar and reconnaissance threats at a certain frequency range only. If the enemy uses a different frequency or avoids the signal from the AN/ALQ-257, the system will not work properly.
- Vulnerable to jamming technology
Electronic defense systems such as the AN/ALQ-257 can also become targets for enemy electronic attacks. If the enemy uses more advanced jamming technology, then this system can be disabled or give an incorrect response.
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