AN/ALQ-135 | |
---|---|
Electronic countermeasure pod | |
Status | In use |
Manufacturing Info | |
Manufacturer | Northrop Grumman |
Introduced | 1972 |
Usage | |
Used by Aircraft | |
Used by Military | US Air Force |
Variants |
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The AN/ALQ-135 is an electronic countermeasure (ECM) jamming system produced by Northrop Grumman for the Tactical Electronic Warfare Suite (TEWS) on F-15 Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft. The system can jam and track multiple anti-aircraft missiles in addition to other threats. During the Gulf War, the AN/ALQ-135 logged more than 6,600 hours of combat, yet no aircraft were lost to a threat the system protects against. [1]
Since the 1970s, the AN/ALQ-135 system has been a component of F-15 aircraft. The system has been continually upgraded. These upgrades include processor upgrades, durability upgrades, and weight reduction. Now the system is installed on more than 500 F-15s. The band 3 system was first installed in 1988. The band 1.5 system was first installed in F-15s in 2000. [1]
During the late 2010s, the ALQ-135 was to be replaced by the AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Sustainment System (EPAWSS). [2]
The modern system consists of five components of band 1.5 and band 3 equipment to cover the full spectrum of threats. The AN/ALQ-135 (v) system consists of the B3 RF Amplifier, B3 Control/Oscillator, B1.5 RF Amplifier, B1.5 Control/Oscillator, and the LRU-14.
The band 1.5 and band 3 equipment share 70% of their hardware. This means that logistics and maintenance are more easily performed. The band 1.5 and band 3 systems can jam both high band and low band threats.
Component | Weight | Volume | Dimensions |
---|---|---|---|
B3 RF Amplifier | 97 lbs (44 kg) | 2030 in³ (.033m³) | 11.8 X 8 X 21.5 in (30 X 20.3 X 54.6 cm) |
B3 Control/Oscillator | 116 lbs (52.7 kg) | 2408 in³ (.039 m³) | 14 X 8 X 21.5 in (35.6 X 20.3 X 54.6 cm) |
B1.5 RF Amplifier | 95 lbs (43.2 kg) | 2030 in³(.033 m³) | 11.8 X 8 X 21.5 in (30 X 20.3 X 54.6 cm) |
B1.5 Control/Oscillator | 100 lbs (45.5 kg) | 2408 in³ (.039 m³) | 14 X 8 X 21.5 in (35.6 X 20.3 X 54.6 cm) |
LRU-14 | 10.5 lbs (4.8 kg) | 195 in³ (.0032 m³) | 3.5 X 8.25 X 6.75 in (8.9 X 21 X 17.1 cm) |
AN/ALQ-135D
AN/ALQ-135M
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The EPAWSS improvements for the F-15C/E fleet is expected to replace the existing... Northrop Grumman AN/ALQ-135(V) Radar Jammer... currently providing self defence for the F-15C/ E fleet, with the EPAWSS expected to be retrofitted on the aircraft in the coming five years
Production of the AN/ALQ-135 has ended for US aircraft, but updated systems were in production for South Korea's F-15Ks through about 2013