EA-18G Growler and the Electromagnetic SpectrumPresentation to RadComms 16

FLTLT Matthew Murphy

Growler Transition Office – Air Force Headquarters

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Scope• Why Growler?• What is AEA?• Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations• How & when

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Why?• 2016 Defence White Paper:

• EW - The ability of our forces to control the electromagnetic environment can provide a decisive tactical advantage

• Defence must be able to protect and defend electronic systems … that the ADF relies on to conduct operations, while denying or degrading the electronic systems of an adversary

• The Government will enhance command and control, and other spectrum management systems, to support a joint approach to electronic defence and attack

• EM spectrum can no longer be viewed as an enabler, but rather as a primary warfighting domain, on par with land, sea, air and space operations

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AIR5349 Phase 3Introducing EA-18G Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA)

• Government approved in 2012• Conversion of 12 F/A-18F+ to EA-18G• ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System• Anti-Radiation Missile training capability• Initial aircrew and technician training (2014-2016)

• Government approved in 2014• Facilities (Amberley & DELAWR, NT)• Mobile Threat Training Emitter System• Ongoing aircrew training (2016+)

• Personnel & jets are already operating in the US• Future considerations

• Upgrades to maintain USN EA-18G commonality• Next Generation Jammer

May 13 = 12 New Jets

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What – Airborne Electronic AttackThe Mission• Deny, Delay, Deceive, Degrade, Targeting the human layer via their equipment• Jam the adversaries’ radars, disrupt communications, induce indecision• Service provider for ‘Protected Entities’ – risk reduction

The Aircraft• Most advanced dedicated tactical AEA aircraft in the world, Growler covers more of

the militarily-relevant portion of the EM spectrum than any other tactical asset

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AEA Mission Areas

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Protect blueAffect red

Growler Dominates the Relevant Spectrum

• Warfighters love this concept…but what could it mean for others?

EA-18G Covers the Relevant RF Spectrum

Terminal threat suppression

Long range surveillance

Mid range surveillance

Acquisition

Comm Comm GCI

Long range fire control

Short range

fire control

IFF

GPSRange of

AESA radar

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Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations

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• EMS operations - overarching function enabling the commander to integrate, synchronize and direct joint operations

• Military operations and systems rely heavily on EMS• A vital resource, increasingly overpopulated• We must understand the EM Operational Environment, coordinate actions

• C2 is critical – pre-planning, prioritising and coordinating with other users to optimise bandwidth usage, avoid EMS fratricide

• Constrained by national and international legislation (protection)• Military concept for what telecommunications do every day• ADF are expanding planning, tasking and execution organisations to

improve coordination• HQ Joint Operations Centre • Creation of ADF Joint EW Centre

• Risk assessments• Effects modelling• Resource allocation

How and when?• Assured spectrum access is a key pillar

of AEA capability – comes with management and employment responsibilities• Relevant during both operations and training• ADF are introducing specific spectrum

management training courses and personnel• AEA training will be carried out IAW

proven Defence instructions and procedures• Careful coordination between Defence Spectrum

Office and AEA operators• Consideration of the needs of others and

interoperability• Dedicated EW training ranges are

expanding for ADF assets• Mobile Threat Training Emitter System (MTTES)

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Darwin

Delamere Air Weapons Range

BrisbaneOakey

Growler Timeline

Jan 15 Jan 16 Jan 17 Jan 18 Jan 19

Initial Operating Capability

Jan 20

First aircraft delivery

Jan 21 Jan 22 Jan 23

Twelfth aircraft delivery

Ferry #1

Ferry #2Ferry #3

EA training limited to isolated locations or accessible spectrum

Tailor EA profiles to limit affects – range, altitude, orientation, RF parameters, time

EW Ranges

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AEA Training• EA & ES training require a ‘real world’ threat

• Aircraft systems capable of detailed signal analysis• Simple ‘training’ emitters lack complexity required

• Operator interaction in controlling EA output and coordinating with the Protected Entity - impacts profiles / emissions

• Radar, Comms and combined scenarios required• Combination of ES and EA serials

• Unlike a traditional EW Range, the emitters are the Targets• Detect, ID, locate, pass data, jam, assess• Emitter feedback essential• Can conduct simulated EA but this limits the training benefit

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Key Takeaways• Growler is an AEA service provider

• ES & EA capabilities• High demand asset critical to Governments

Defence strategy• Has utility across the full spectrum of conflict• Requires realistic training• Large focus on Joint Force support

• Must adapt via Spiral Upgrades to maintain pace ahead of evolving electromagnetic spectrum environment

• Assured spectrum access is a key pillar of AEA capability – comes with management and employment responsibilities (training & operations)

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QUESTIONS ?

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