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.