The US Navy is working to strengthen the non-kinetic shield by deploying next-generation non-kinetic ship and missile defense systems to the fleet. In addition to the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP), the Navy also procures AN/ALQ-248 Advanced Undersea Electronic Warfare (AOEW) systems for helicopters and ships.
SEWIP includes electronic attack assets from Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. These are electronic scanning modules, radars for creating obstacles and tracking targets, missile guidance systems, and systems for defeating electronics installed on enemy drones.
The destroyer USS Pinckney, equipped with new electronic warfare (EW) equipment, is undergoing tests. The next ships to receive new equipment under SEWIP will be: Chung-Hoon and James E. Williams. DDG 51 ships will receive AN/SLQ-32(V)7 systems.
Lockheed Martin is also developing the AN/ALQ-248 AOEW EW system for the MH-60S/R helicopter. It is a self-contained unit containing both a highly sensitive receiver and subsystems for electronic attacks.
In particular, the AN/ALQ-248 AOEW can operate independently or in coordination with the ship’s SEWIP system. In the second case, the AN/SLQ-32 system will detect approaching anti-ship missiles, then signal and control the AOEW unit. AN/SLQ-248 electronic attack assets will be coordinated with other radio frequency (RF) “soft kill” countermeasures during combat.
The US Navy is also investing in the development of a new Long Efficiency Electronic Decoy (LEED) that combines a modular RF payload with a UAV. The drone will have a communication channel that can maneuver. The Navy says LEED will provide the fleet with improved coordination and EW capabilities against missile attacks. Source
Source: Port Altele
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