Electronic countermeasures suite controller: Difference between revisions
imported>Howard C. Berkowitz (New page: A device used in electronic warfare (EW) that emphasizes the older term of electronic countermeasures, but, in the modern classification, usually combines features of [[electronic supp...) |
imported>Howard C. Berkowitz No edit summary |
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A device used in [[electronic warfare]] (EW) that emphasizes the older term of electronic countermeasures, but, in the modern classification, usually combines features of [[electronic support]], [[electronic attack]], and [[electronic protection]]. Practical implementations usually contain at least one basic electronic warfare function, such as a [[radar warning receiver]] or [[electronic warfare expendables dispenser]]. | A device used in [[electronic warfare]] (EW) that emphasizes the older term of electronic countermeasures, but, in the modern classification, usually combines features of [[electronic support]], [[electronic attack]], and [[electronic protection]]. Practical implementations usually contain at least one basic electronic warfare function, such as a [[radar warning receiver]] or [[electronic warfare expendables dispenser]]. | ||
[[Image:Electronics countermeasures suite controller.png|thumb|left|450px|Electronics countermeasures suite with conceptual central controller]] | |||
As a controller, the device has multiple ways to interconnect with the devices it controls. Most commonly, in Western EW systems, this is the [[MIL-STD-1553]]B bus, but there is an increasing tendency to use [[commercial-off-the-shelf]] interconnection technology such as [[Ethernet]]-family devices, possibly ruggedized for the military environment. | |||
Also connected to the controller, either through a bus or purpose-built interface, is a programming and testing device. Some programming devices can use wide area network (WAN) communications to take new threat and countermeasure information, in real time, from a remote command and control system, and load it into the controller. | |||
The diagram also shows that while the basic controller connects to "soft kill" devices such as jammers and decoys, it can also [[cueing|cue]] "hard kill" weapons to destroy an adversary's defensive device. For example, cueing can include telling an [[anti-radiation missile]] the frequency and other signatures of a threatening radar transmitter. The cueing can be even more interactive, as the controller can cue the imaging sensor of an electro-optically guided missile, such as the [[AGM-65 Maverick]], to the threat, and let the weapons system operator visually verify the hard-kill weapon is aimed at the desired antiaircraft gun or missile launcher. Newer hard-kill mechanisms included directional infrared countermeasures, which, rather than sending a missile with an explosive warhead, send a beam of intense light into an infrared sensor to burn it out. | |||
Examples include the [[AN-|AN/]][[ALE-47]], of which the core feature is a countermeasures dispenser, and the [[AN-|AN/]][[APR-39]], based around a radar warning receiver. Some of these devices, such as the AN/ALE-47, have alternate operating modes that let the controlled devices operate autonomously or under manual control, especially if the controller fails. | |||
Revision as of 09:20, 9 December 2008
A device used in electronic warfare (EW) that emphasizes the older term of electronic countermeasures, but, in the modern classification, usually combines features of electronic support, electronic attack, and electronic protection. Practical implementations usually contain at least one basic electronic warfare function, such as a radar warning receiver or electronic warfare expendables dispenser.
As a controller, the device has multiple ways to interconnect with the devices it controls. Most commonly, in Western EW systems, this is the MIL-STD-1553B bus, but there is an increasing tendency to use commercial-off-the-shelf interconnection technology such as Ethernet-family devices, possibly ruggedized for the military environment.
Also connected to the controller, either through a bus or purpose-built interface, is a programming and testing device. Some programming devices can use wide area network (WAN) communications to take new threat and countermeasure information, in real time, from a remote command and control system, and load it into the controller.
The diagram also shows that while the basic controller connects to "soft kill" devices such as jammers and decoys, it can also cue "hard kill" weapons to destroy an adversary's defensive device. For example, cueing can include telling an anti-radiation missile the frequency and other signatures of a threatening radar transmitter. The cueing can be even more interactive, as the controller can cue the imaging sensor of an electro-optically guided missile, such as the AGM-65 Maverick, to the threat, and let the weapons system operator visually verify the hard-kill weapon is aimed at the desired antiaircraft gun or missile launcher. Newer hard-kill mechanisms included directional infrared countermeasures, which, rather than sending a missile with an explosive warhead, send a beam of intense light into an infrared sensor to burn it out.
Examples include the AN/ALE-47, of which the core feature is a countermeasures dispenser, and the AN/APR-39, based around a radar warning receiver. Some of these devices, such as the AN/ALE-47, have alternate operating modes that let the controlled devices operate autonomously or under manual control, especially if the controller fails.