역사 1991년 - EA-6B의 ALQ-99 재밍포드가 작동하자 F-14의 RHAW가 먹통이 됨

[위종민]

EA-6B는 평시 훈련중엔 ALQ-99를 풀출력으로 가동시키는 게 금지돼 있었는데 사막의 폭풍 작전 당시 ALQ-99를 가동하자 F-14의 RHAW를 비롯, IFF 신호와 대부분의 무선통신을 방해했다고 합니다. 추후 조사 결과 전쟁 첫날 미해군기들이 겪은 통신문제의 주요 원인 중 하나가 EA-6B의 재밍전파 방출이었다고 하네요. 

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/during-operation-desert-storm-the-f-14s-rhaw-gear-went-crazy-because-of-the-ea-6b-alq-99-jamming-pods-emissions/

During Operation Desert Storm the F-14s RHAW gear went crazy because of the EA-6B ALQ-99 jamming pods emissions - The Aviation G

• F-14 Tomcat
• Losses and Aviation Safety
• Military Aviation

During Operation Desert Storm the F-14s RHAW gear went crazy because of the EA-6B ALQ-99 jamming pods emissions

By Dario Leone

Jul 19 2023

Sponsored by: Helion & Company

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An investigation revealed that EA-6B jamming pods emissions were one of the principal reasons for communication problems experienced by multiple Navy formations underway over Iraq on the first day of the war.

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In 1960, as part of the development of the new A2F (later A-6) Intruder all-weather attack aircraft, Grumman engineers began eval‎uating an ECM version of the airplane. The result was the EA-6A Intruder, which entered service in Marine Corps squadrons in December 1965. Concurrently, Grumman developed a Tactical Jamming System and defined the requirements for the airplane to serve as a platform for it. The result was the EA-6B Prowler, which built upon the success of the EA-6A, but differed in some respects including size to incorporate a four-man crew consisting of one pilot and three electronic counter-measures officers (ECMO).

The first Prowlers arrived at VAQ-129 at NAS Whidbey Island, WA, in December 1971, and the initial fleet squadrons equipped with the new airplane flew combat missions over North Vietnam as part of Operations Linebacker I and II. This began a lengthy service that lasted over four decades with the Prowler developing into the foremost electronic attack platform in the US military arsenal, supporting combat missions in Grenada, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, Bosnia, and Afghanistan and other crises around the world.

While many assessments about what specific aircraft types can or cannot do are based on experiences from realistic exercises, there are always crucial areas of performance that can never be ‘tested’ in peace. One of these was the full power and capabilities of the ‘music’ — electronic warfare emissions — deployed by aircraft like the Grumman EA-6B Prowler.

This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. EA-6B Prowler VMAQ-3 Moon Dogs, MD01 / 162228. MAG-14, MCAS Cherry Point, NC – 2016

According to the National Naval Aviation Museum a summary of air operations in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 captured the importance of the EA-6B. “Critical to the success of all aviation missions was the role of electronic countermeasures “jamming” or “defense suppression” aircraft. Navy EA-6B Prowlers determined threat location then jammed and destroyed enemy radars. Navy defense suppression aircraft supported all U.S. and coalition forces— in fact, availability of the EA-6Bs was a go/no-go criterion for many strike missions. If Navy defense suppression wasn’t available, the missions didn’t fly.”

As explained by Tom Cooper in his book In the Claws of the Tomcat: US Navy F-14 Tomcats in Air Combat against Iran and Iraq, 1987-2000, compared to the EA-6A the EA-6B was a major step forward. It included a stretched fuselage with a cockpit for four crewmembers: pilot, ECM-officer (who managed navigation, communications, defensive ECM and the dispensing of chaff), and two electronic warfare operators (EWOs). The Prowler came together with much improved and more powerful equipment centred on up to five ALQ-99 high-power tactical jamming pods. While one of these was installed in an aerodynamic shape atop the fin, the other four were carried underwing and included windmill generators to supply their power requirements.

As of 1990-1991, the US Navy had one electronic warfare squadron of four EA-6Bs for each of its CVWs. However, their crews were prohibited from deploying the full power of ALQ-99 during peacetime exercises. Thus, the first time they went into a war – against Iraq, on Jan. 17, 1991 – some of their potential took everybody by surprise. It turned out that when ‘cut loose’, the Prowlers caused the radar homing and warning (system) RHAW gear of F-14s to literally go crazy, and jammed not only their own IFF-signals, but also much of the radio communications. Indeed, a subsequent investigation revealed that their emissions were one of the principal reasons for communication problems experienced by multiple Navy formations underway over Iraq on the first day of the war.

In the Claws of the Tomcat: US Navy F-14 Tomcats in Air Combat against Iran and Iraq, 1987-2000 is published by Helion & Company and is available to order here.

[엽군]

재밍신호를 선별적으로 때리면 좋겠지만, SOJ라는 것이 그렇게 선별적으로 때릴 수 있는 것도 아니고. 어떤 유형의 장비라는 것이 결국 그 유형에서 제일 좋은 성능을 발휘하려면 사용하는 주파수도 적이나 아군이나 비슷하게 따라가니 더더욱 힘들어지는 문제가 있죠. 요즘은 저런 문제 때문에 EMSO 관리를 하긴 하는데... ... ... ... 여기까지.

[Minowski(김유철)]

비슷한 이야기가 EF111도 있지 않았나요? 어디 에어쇼에서 실수로 근처 레이더 다 먹통 만든 적 있다는 이야기를 들은 적 있었던 것 같은데

[백선호]

EA-6B가 재머 테스트하려고 잠깐 켰을 때 이것을 SAM 레이다 전파로 착각하고 놀라 연료탱크 버리고 회피 기동한 일도 있었죠.

https://cafe.daum.net/NTDS/515G/2938