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Under JP 3021’s first phase Defence plans to acquire a mobile threat emitter system to provide aircrew with EW training and mission rehearsal exercises against ground-based air defence (GBAD) systems. So far Australian aircrew have had to rely on the use of overseas EW ranges on an ad-hoc basis during Red Flag and similar exercises.

But it seems that this is not the first time there have been moves to acquire mobile EW threat simulators. Some years back Air 5441 was raised to introduce high fidelity threat simulators for training aircrew and operational commands in EW. Consisting of four mobile emitters, the Mobile EW Threat Systems (MEWTS) were to provide simulated emissions representative of real world surface to air missile systems and radar guided anti-aircraft artillery.

ATACS Consulting, a local subsidiary of the US EW training specialist, helped develop project documentation aimed at a combined first/second pass in under six weeks. At the time ATACS was sole provider of ground-based air defence simulation and training services to the ADF and had delivered high fidelity threat replications and training services into exercises Pitch Black 2008 and Aces North 2008. The company also managed the US PACAF Joint Deployable EW Range, managing opposition force capabilities on behalf of the ADF including target decoys, target replicas, EW emulators and portable EW emitters.

But that was then. Air 5441 was not approved and was never included in the Defence Capability Plan (DCP). It was replaced in DCP 2009-19 by JP 3021 with the more modest requirement of a single MEWTS with Australian EW specialist Nova Systems this time assisting in the development of tender documentation.

According to DCP 2012, with an anticipated cost of up to $1 million, JP 3021 Phase 1 will acquire a MEWTS, which can be deployed to nominated Australian weapons ranges by road, air or sea. The MEWTS will support counter-GBAD EW training and mission rehearsal for the ADF. Required is a multi-emitter system and personnel training necessary for the operation and support of the system.

While the core of this capability is to be acquired as an off the shelf solution through direct commercial sale there may be opportunities for Australian industry involvement for the production of mobility systems – presumably vehicles and trailers – and servicing. It is anticipated that this project phase may require minor expansion )another system?) and enhancement of existing facilities to support the deployable system and associated training. The life of type for the system is expected to be 13-15 years extending to 26+ years with a full system refurbishment.

Training aspects

While Australian aircrew routinely practice GBAD threat avoidance manoeuvres, this training is procedurally based and does not rely on stimulation of the aircraft’s radar warning receiver. Australian aircrew participating in Red Flag exercises may encounter GBAD systems during missions. Red Flag exercises run for approximately two weeks at Nellis AFB Nevada or Eielson AFB Alaska. With the introduction of the EA-18G Growler aircraft, aircrew will receive specific training in the US at venues yet to be determined. But aircrew exposure to GBAD systems within the Red Flag exercise environment varies and depends upon specific scenario and mission planning activities.

JP 3021 provides an opportunity for the ADF to acquire a MEWTS capable of providing regular highly realistic EW threat training to ADF aircrew across many platforms, with the acquired system available for tactical aircraft self protection training for the majority of the year. Doubtless the system to be acquired will have the ability to connect to the ADF’s training and simulation networks such as through the Joint and Combined Training Capability (JCTC).

South Australia has a number of existing Defence training assets that currently contribute to collective training, however, none of these assets is currently connected to the JCTC. Keen to see greater participation by the State in the JCTC, which will be expanded by JP 3021 to allow it to provide EW training, South Australia has put forward a number of development proposals including operation of the EW threat simulator at the Cultana Training Area, arguing that GBAD EW simulation systems require programming to achieve the desired threat characteristics and that basing the EW Threat Simulation equipment at the JEWOSU on the DSTO Edinburgh site would support the required programming and verification effort.

It appears that operating the EW threat simulator in Cultana would permit the inclusion of a variety of simulated EW threats in joint training exercises for a range of aircraft operating from RAAF Edinburgh, or deployed afloat. The realism in the threat environment could be further enhanced using the ADFs operational Ground Based Air Defence unit, the 16th Air Defence Regiment, based just outside Adelaide, and with the inclusion of constructive threats through the JCTC.

SA sees connection of the Cultana Training Area into the Defence Training Enabled Network (DTEN) (and through that to the US Joint Training Enabled Network) to be a fundamental requirement to establish Cultana as a key land-force exercise area.

Deployment beyond Cultana to the Woomera Range Facility provides access to arguably Australia’s most remote, electromagnetically secure and electro-magnetically benign test and evaluation location, ideal for using the EW threat simulator in platform and EWSP system validation and evaluation where appropriate.

Candidate systems


According to Defence there are a number of US companies who can provide an off the shelf system that will satisfy ADF requirements, with possible opportunities for in-country repair and maintenance once a selected system is introduced into service. A requirement of the tender is the provision of vehicles capable of towing the emitters on Defence ranges and installations. The following are believed to be among the likely contenders for the main JP 3021 requirement.

Joint Threat Emitter (JTE)

Northrop Grumman’s JTE is a multi-threat, high-fidelity simulator with realistic effective radiated power levels.  The JTE simulates both single and double digit Surface-to-Air and Anti-Aircraft Artillery radar systems and accurately trains combat aircrews to defeat or avoid Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS) around the world in a war-like training environment. In addition to providing realistic training for pilots and aircrew it can be used to assess the performance of radar warning systems and ECM systems.

Multi-Band Threat Simulation System (MTSS)


The DRS MTSS supplies a variety of threat signatures from a single platform, and provides the range manager with a cost effective solution to EW threat density and diversity. Controlled from a rugged, trailer-mounted C2 shelter, the system provides man-in-the-loop or fully autonomous operation of up to three threat signals simultaneously. The system can be fully integrated with DRS Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) products, and other DRS threat emitter products for a fully integrated battlespace.

Aircrews are trained in threat recognition, the use of aircraft RWR and Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) equipment. System options can include enhancements such as UV/IR stimulators, IR cameras, and fully-reactive ECM receivers.

ATR MRES

Atlantic Test Ranges (ATR) fields a number of mobile EW threat systems that can be deployed anywhere in the world. The Mobile REmote emitter simulator (MRES) provides a mobile, highpower, ground-based threat EW simulator capability to support aircraft and ship electronic system testing and combat crew training. It uses Combat Electromagnetic Environment Simulator software to define threats and run EW simulations.

MRES provides additional radar emitter density and greater signal complexity, and creates a realistic electronic combat environment. 

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