AN/ALQ-218
The AN/ALQ-218 is an American airborne electronic warfare system, found on Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler and Boeing EA-18G Growler military aircraft.
Description
The AN/ALQ-218 is an airborne passive Radar warning receiver / electronic warfare support measures / electronic intelligence (RWR/ESM/ELINT) sensor system designed for airborne situational awareness and signal intelligence gathering. The AN/ALQ-218 detects, identifies, locates and analyzes sources of radio frequency emission. The current version AN/ALQ-218(V)2 is manufactured by Northrop Grumman.[1]
Platforms
The ALQ-218 is the featured system aboard the U.S. Navy's EA-18 Growler aircraft,[2] which has replaced the EA-6B Prowler in the U.S. Navy.[3][4] Electronics from the EA-6B were modified to fit into the gun bay and wing tip pods of the Growler.
The EA-18G may carry an additional five jamming pods on under wing pylons.[5] The system is being considered for modification to serve on unmanned aerial vehicles. The Growler is part of the same family of aircraft as the F/A-18 Super Hornet.
References
- "AN/ALQ-218 RWR/ESM/ELINT Sensor System". Northropgrumman.com. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
- "EA-18G Growler Electronic Attack Aircraft". Naval Technology. 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
- "Boeing EA–18G Growler | Info, AN/ALQ-99, NGJ, Budget/Costs, Specs". Bga-aeroweb.com. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
- Frank Colucci (2008-03-01). "Avionics Magazine :: Teeth of the Growler". Aviationtoday.com. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
- "ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System | NAVAIR - U.S. Navy Naval Air Systems Command - Navy and Marine Corps Aviation Research, Development, Acquisition, Test and Evaluation". Navair.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 2016-09-23. Retrieved 2016-06-05.