AN/ALQ-135

Last updated
AN/ALQ-135
Electronic countermeasure pod
StatusIn use
Manufacturing Info
Manufacturer Northrop Grumman
Introduced1972 (1972)
Usage
Used by Aircraft
Used by Military US Air Force
Variants
  • AN/ALQ-135D
  • AN/ALQ-135M

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]

Contents

In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/ALQ-135" designation represents the 135th design of an Army-Navy airborne electronic device for special countermeasures equipment. The JETDS system also now is used to name all Department of Defense electronic systems.

Development

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]

System Information

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.

Size Specifications [1]
ComponentWeightVolumeDimensions
B3 RF Amplifier97 lbs (44 kg)2030 in3 (.033m3)11.8 X 8 X 21.5 in (30 X 20.3 X 54.6 cm)
B3 Control/Oscillator116 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 Amplifier95 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/Oscillator100 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-1410.5 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)

Variants

AN/ALQ-135D

Used by F-15E Strike Eagle

AN/ALQ-135M

Used by F-15K Slam Eagle [3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "ALQ-135(V)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 4, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  2. Withington, Dr Thomas (November 6, 2017), "Cloak of Invisibility", Armada International, retrieved November 15, 2024, 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
  3. Rockwell, Dr David L (August 14, 2018), "AN/ALQ-135(V) TEWS & AN/ALQ-239 DEWS & EPAWSS", Teal Group, retrieved November 15, 2024, 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