Electronic Warfare: EW systems for the new AWD

1 September 2007

By Tom Muir

Grey-painted steel is just the skin: the heart and soul of the Navy’s new AWDs and LHDs will include a comprehensive EW suite, and there’s an opportunity for Australian EW firms to secure an important role.

Last year the AWD Alliance outlined to industry its concepts for equipping the new destroyers with electronic warfare systems encompassing the range of ES sensors, EA jamming devices, countermeasure launchers for both IR and chaff cartridges, the Nulka offboard decoy, and a control system for the whole.

Responses were then sought from industry as to the performance, likely cost and availability of products that were suited to these broad requirements, the information then being used for a trade study that would be undertaken to identify the most suitable system.

Now that the Navantia F-100 design has been selected it is timely to update the earlier listing of some of the systems that were likely to be proposed.

The Alliance indicated that two concepts were under consideration for the EW system. These were an EW system integrated within its own domain but with an interface to the Aegis Weapons System (AWS) contained within the AWD Combat System, or for disparate EW elements with interfaces to the AWS and which may be partially integrated within the EW system domain.

For example the MW ES element and MW EA element might be integrated but not necessarily with other EW system elements. The Alliance's preference was for an integrated ES system.

Because the AWD is due to enter service in 2013 and continue to operate for 30 or more years, it was envisaged that new threats would appear and new capabilities needed to counter new threats.

Thus industry was informed that the ability to easily incorporate new equipment and capabilities (such as those currently being developed or about to be introduced into service and future planned equipment developments) would be an important consideration in the selection of EW equipment.

The EW System needs to be able to:
• Passively intercept radar and communications RF emissions
• Identify and classify emitters
• Deny hostile platforms access to accurate own platform surveillance radar information by using EA to jam or to deceive the radar (NB: the purpose of the microwave (MW) EA is to deceive and confuse surveillance radars of hostile air platforms)
• Deny hostile platforms access to RF communications data by using EA to jam the hostile platforms receivers
• Control the CML and launch RF and IR (or joint RF and IR) decoys
• Launch Nulka
• Provide CML status information
• Provide ES and EA information to remote consoles

The system needs to be able to interface to the Aegis Weapons System, other Combat System Equipment (eg navigation, C4I etc) via an IP based network as well as other non-Combat System receivers by distributing RF and IF from emitters intercepted by the EW system.

The primary role of the EW control system is to consolidate EW system operation and status and provide for the integration of the EW elements into an EW system and the interfacing of that system with the AWS.

Also required will be the interfacing of the EW System to other AWD CS Subsystems and control of the launching of counter measures decoy (including an interface to Nulka).

RFI responses
Our somewhat limited market survey suggests that responses are likely to have been received from the following updated list of suppliers of naval EW systems or components.

EDO ES-3701 ES
EDO will be offering the current version of the CS-3701 system, the ES-3701, which is a later version of what was offered for the FFG Upgrade and identical to that fitted in the Collins Class Submarines, but with a different RF Distribution sub-system.

There was considerable Australian content in the Collins antenna design (undertaken by Jenkins Engineering Defence Systems). This combined ESM and RWR system was developed to provide an improved performance replacement for all of the lower performance, simple design, amplitude monopulse systems currently used on ships and submarines.

The manufacturer says that unlike amplitude monopulse systems, the ES-3701 ESM system provides all of the capabilities required of a modern ESM system for operation in difficult electromagnetic environment against complex radar threats.

It uses the latest phase measurement technology for high-precision monopulse direction-finding, combined with a patented receiver to achieve 100 per cent probability of intercept. As an option the standard frequency of 2-18GHz can be extended to include 0.5-2 and 18-40 GHz.

The system can operate in an essentially unattended fashion, displaying all intercepted signals, and generating audible and visual alarms for predefined threat signals. The system also supports operator ELINT quality analysis of intercepted signals and operator intervention in the signal identification and platform reporting process.

For training purposes, the system provides a simulation facility in which signals and scenarios can be generated or recorded and played back.

Extensive maintenance processes are provided, including signal injection at various points in the system, limited RF signal generation, automated frequency and phase calibration, built-in-test (BIT) in all units, and internally maintained system status tables.

According to the manufacturer the ES-3701 operates effectively in coastal regions and provides high-performance processing even in the presence of interfering signals.

It also takes advantage of the latest software design standards. Features include:
• ES-3701 is currently in wide naval service in both submarines and surface ships, including on the Collins submarines
• The system combines ESM and RWR functions
• Built-in signal simulators for training and maintenance
• Mission recording and playback
• Long range passive threat detection and direction finding with reliable ID
• Early threat ID provides for effective defensive responses
• Correlation with radar targets possible due to precision DF simultaneously on strong and weak radar signals

We assume that a big tick in its favour (aside from commonality with the Collins system) is that EDO’s ES-3701 system has been integrated with the Aegis combat system on the Norwegian Nansen-class Aegis frigate. In-service support (ISS) for the EDO system will be handled by Jenkins Engineering Defence Systems (JEDS), the incumbent support contractor for the Collins ESM system.

JEDS has established test and service facilities in Rockingham WA, Adelaide and Sydney to cater for all ISS and depot level repair needs to the ES-3701 system.

Raytheon SLQ-32A(V)
An outsider would be Raytheon’s SLQ-32 (V) which is available as an ESM (V)2 (as in the original FFG-7) and as a (V)5 ESM/ECM as in the DDG-51. The system has been integrated with Nulka, the Aegis combat system and SRBOC. But the system has two problems, it is no longer in production and a palpable problem is the mass of the system and the size of the antenna.

On the issue of system availability, Raytheon continues to upgrade USN systems that are in service to improve their performance and reduce obsolescence.

If the RAN has not trashed the six V (2) s from the FFGs then they could be upgraded relatively cheaply, however it is anticipated that their mass and size would disqualify them from serious consideration.

As a replacement for the now cancelled AN/SLY-2(V) AIEWS program (due to cost growth and development delay issues) the US has introduced the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) a program of Block upgrades to the AN/SLQ-32(V) family of passive and active shipboard electronic warfare (EW) systems.

SEWIP is a spiral development program that in Block 1 configuration incorporates updates to the architecture’s display console and display/pulse processing computers (providing quicker threat identification and better data display Block 1A).

They include a Specific Emitter Identification (SEI) capability (Block 1B) and improved threat correlation/operator situational awareness and a high gain sensitivity capability that facilitates launching active and passive countermeasures based on combat system tracks.

Block 1A includes Electronic Surveillance Enhancement (ESE) which makes use of commercial-off the shelf technology and is designed to facilitate future upgrading, improve supportability and provide the processing baseline for future SEWIP spirals.

The Block 2,3 and 4 Spirals for SEWIP are envisaged as including a major receiver upgrade, improved system sensitivity, precision angle-of arrival measurement and improved EMI immunity.

The restoration program is a co-operative program between the USN and Raytheon and would be available to the RAN through an FMS case acquisition.

The total cost to the RAN for refurbishment of their SLQ-32s will be significantly less than the cost of purchasing a new ESM capability.

Restoration would require RAN SLQ-32 units to be shipped to the Naval Surface Warfare Centre Crane (NSWCC), Indiana where the In Service Engineering Agent for SLQ-32 is based.

NSWCC would responsible for managing the restoration including work not undertaken by the USN. For planning purposes the duration of a restoration of a SLQ-32 unit is about 24 months.

A restored SLQ-32 meets all the essential capability requirements for the RAN and in particular those with respect to frequency coverage, polarisation, dynamic range, sensitivity, parameter measurements, AV display, MMI, and 100 per cent probability of intercept.

However we suspect that minaturisation has not been a feature of the SEWIP program and due to its mass and size, an upgraded SLQ-32 may not be suitable.

Rafael Shipborne EWS/EA Suite
We understand Rafael will be proposing the combined ESM/EA system (SEWS/RAN110) which was originally offered for the FFG upgrade but for which only the C-Pearl ESM component was acquired. Rafael says that the combination of ESM and EA in the one suite permits threat identification and simultaneous jamming and deception of multiple threats including surface ships, aircraft and radar sites.

Rafael claims 100% probability of intercept and very high accuracy of frequency and direction for its lightweight ESM system. A single small antenna array handles both frequency measurement and direction finding.

By siting of the antenna on the top of the FFG mast, the system avoids RF interference. The system has add-on capability to operate up to 40GHz frequency range.

The EA side of the suite is based on their Shark Shipborne ECM system, which Rafael claims is capable of jamming and deceiving a large number of threats simultaneously in different directions. Shark employs simultaneous coincidence jamming with high transmitting power and fast beam switching.

Featuring high Effective Radiated Power (ERP), the SEWS/RAN-1110 employs advanced power management techniques and, operated by a single crew member, features high reliability and maintainability, as well as full modularity, enabling expansion according to user requirements.

The EA system consists of multiple Multi-Beam Array Transmitters, TWT or Solid State technologies, covering 360 degrees. The EA includes a DRFM (Digital RF Memory) techniques generator with most modern coherent and noncoherent techniques.

In addition, the EA detection and tracking is based on unique moden wide band Digital Receiver to support the DRFM jamming effectiveness.

Main SEWS features:
• Very lightweight single receiving antenna providing 100 per cent probability of intercept
• Very high accuracy measurements of frequency and direction
• Digital receivers with intra-pulse measurements capabilities
• High transmitting power, fast beam switching, fast and accurate coherent frequency set-on
• Advanced trackers and techniques generators
• Easy software maintenance through the use of standard communication buses
• and high-level language
• High reliability and maintainability
• Readily interfaces with other combat systems and data sources
• Designed, built and tested to MIL-E-16400

Maigret S 5800 Integrated EW System (IEWS)
MRCM, a strategic alliance between EADS (the former Telefunken organisation of Germany), Grintek ewation of South Africa, Indra of Spain and others, is believed to be keenly pursuing the EW requirements for the AWD and the LHD Amphibious ships.

Founded in 2000, to provide complete solutions and products for SIGINT and tactical EW systems to customers worldwide, the alliance has some Australian history and credentials to satisfy the requirement.

EADS provided Direction Finders for the RAN Oberon class submarines, VHF Communications jammers for the Australian Army, and more recently the Communications ESM systems on the RAN / RNZN ANZAC ships. Indra has provided the SLQ-380 ESM/EA system currently installed on the Spanish F-100 Frigates.

The MRCM alliance, led on this occasion by EADS, is expected to be proposing an integrated COMINT/ELINT/EA solution from the MAIGRET family, comprising a wideband COMINT system, an ESM/ELINT solution based on the Indra digital SLQ-380 system and a countermeasures suite consisting of a phased array EA system derived from the system installed on the F- 100 as well as a Decoy Launcher System.

The EA capability is provided by two high power TWT transmitters feeding a multi-beam antenna array with beam forming.

The Maigret R 5800 is a naval radar ESM/ELINT system based on Indra wideband ESM on the F-100, which has the following features:
• frequency range: 2 GHz - 18 GHz
• optional extensions from 0.5 to 2 GHz and from 27 to 40 GHz
• high sensitive omnidirectional wide open DF/receive system
• azimuth coverage: 360° elevation coverage : -15° to +45°
• DF accuracy: 3°
• jamming immunity by division into 4 subbands
• tracking of 512 emitters simultaneously
• emitter library for up to 10 000 emitters (threat libraries, platform tables)
• optional ELINT software for intrapulse analysis

The MAIGRET R 5800 microwave ES and EA suite is derived from the Indra Aldebaran ESM/Elnath EA suite which will have been integrated with that vessel’s Aegis system.

Although this EW systems company has not sold EW systems widely, the Spanish navy chose Aldebaran as the basis for a family of standardised scaleable modular ESM/ECM systems. Aldebaran, with a DRFM-based ECM system, was been chosen for Spain’s four F-100 Aegis frigates. All ESM and ECM functions can be controlled from a single-operator console.

The German K-130 corvette is also to be equipped with an Indra ESM/ECM system, based on the Aldebaran system developed for Spain's F100 frigate.

The system consists of an ESM subsystem, working in the frequency range of 2-18 GHz, and an ECM subsystem (Elnath) for active radar jamming. The system intercepts and analyses radar signals and classifies them according to data stored in its reprogrammable threat library.

The core system covering 2 –18 GHz, can easily be adapted to provide wider frequency coverage, enhanced bearing accuracy using a wideband interferometer, and a receiver to provide more precise parameter measurements.

Sabre ESM is a development of Thales's (previously Racal’s) UAT system and represents one of the more advanced integrated naval EW systems available.

This Integrated EW suite, which equips the Dutch De Zeven Provincien class air defence command frigates, combines a multi-band ESM system with a Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM)-based phased array jammer, which is capable of tracking and jamming multiple simultaneous threats co-coordinated by a powerful techniques generator.

The Sabre ESM incorporates technology to operate in the presence of the high power APAR radar, without any loss in detection performance

The Sabre system will have two main Phased Array Emitters, one will be located on a small sponson just below the bridge on the left corner of the superstructure, and one located on the right corner of the hangar.

Thales has a range of ESM products such as the E/J Band Vigile, a dual role ESM/ELINT system with options which include accurate DF capability for C/D Bands and K-Band.

Another, the Radar Electronic Support Measures (RESM) for supply to the first three Type 45 destroyers, incorporate a new signal processor, the Minerva GTPA (Graph Theoretic Processing Algorithms), which has been developed and trialled in conjunction with DERA and Thales Research, and a library matching system based on the DERA Palantir system.

These two developments are set to give the system the world's most advanced processing capability, providing a significant reduction in false alarm rates. This will support improved cueing of off-board decoys, enhanced data fusion with the ship's ship's combat management system and other sensors. In the UK, Thales is the major EW supplier to the UK Royal Navy.

The Thales UAT RESM, is midway through a Capability Upgrade Program (CUP) which will add a new signal processor, new LCD displays, and a state of the art HCI.

Thales is also supplying a UAT variant for six Type 45 Daring class destroyers. The Anzac class ships are fitted with the Thales Centaur wideband RESM, which employs a signal processor common to the UAT system.

Indra/Raytheon/Thales Aldebaran ESM/EA
Since the Navantia ship design has been accepted for the AWD then one might expect that that Spanish EW firm Indra (part owned by Raytheon and Thales) will be offering their Aldebaran ESM/Elnath ECM suite which will have been integrated with that vessel’s Aegis system.

All ESM and ECM functions can be controlled from a single-operator console. The Aldebaran-based SLQ-380 is being marketed internationally.

As noted above, the German K-130 corvette is to be equipped with the Ewation UL 5000K electronic-support-measures/electronic-countermeasures (ESM/ECM) system, based on the Aldebaran system developed for Spain's F100 frigate.

It has multiple-target-tracking capabilities and a high signal- and bearing-measurement accuracy. Interestingly, the system does not control the other countermeasures directly but only provides inputs to a combat-management system, which uses multiple data sources (such as radar, Link 11/16/22) to control the countermeasures launchers.

Australian EW capabilities
Defence’s Electronics Sector Strategic Plan recognises the importance of EW as being central to the defensive and offensive intelligence and protection of modern fighting forces and sees as essential that the ADF maintain EW superiority over potential adversaries which suggests that this country must stay abreast of technological developments and ahead of threats and the EW capabilities of potential adversaries.

But trade controls on EW have led this country to diversify its sources of EW technology, leading to a more pronounced focus on the ability to integrate EW originating in one country with systems acquired from another.

The sector plan says the ability to integrate EW subsystems into a highly automated suite is increasingly providing the capability edge this country needs. And if the 2004 sector plan was revised today we expect that that capability edge would have been extended as a result of advances in EW capabilities achieved and in train by Australian companies.

Not only has the design and development of EW suites been tested in this country, they have also been acquired and installed in platforms.

Thales (the former ADI Advanced Systems) and Jenkins Engineering Defence Systems have considerable local expertise in the integration and support of EW systems while companies such as Avalon Systems, Compucat Research, EW Associates, Defcon Technologies and SysTech Consultants have considerable depth of expertise in EW technology which, together with DSTO’s very considerable EW research output, underpins a broad-based—and growing—domestic EW capability.

But the major players of course are BAE Systems Australia and Tenix Defence, each of whom has developed and introduced into service discrete EW system elements.

Tenix has a growing portfolio of EW capabilities which include carrying out a number of unpublicised tasks for Defence and DSTO. And thanks also to its F-111C EL/L-8222 jammer pod expertise and other work programs such as the Sea 1390 ESM system, Tenix appears to be positioning itself as one of Australian defence industry’s technical leaders in EA.

But it seems that Tenix interest in EA is not limited to electronic attack as in RF jamming of radars and RF seeker heads on missiles. While the company acknowledges that platforms such as the Navy’s FFG-7s are unlikely to get an EA capability (otherwise we presume they would have adopted the Rafael ESM/ECM package) and the same may be true of the Anzac-class frigates, Tenix certainly has the AWD and the Navy’s future amphibious ships in its sights for what appears to be an important imaging radar countermeasure, a niche technology which could be widely adopted.

Its capabilities in this EA field came to light when its classified Cuttlefish program won a contract in the current round of Capability & Technology Demonstrator (CTD) projects.

Cuttlefish is designed to protect lightly armed and very large amphibious transport and supply ships from air attack by developing a counter to the imaging radar (typically Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar – ISAR) sensors which equip a growing number of surveillance aircraft, manned and unmanned.

While exact details of how Cuttlefish works will likely remain classified Tenix may claim to be the only Australian company with an EA design and engineering capability that’s able to undertake work of this sort.

BAE Systems Australia has considerable experience in the detection and classification of RF emissions through its work in the development of the ALR-2000 series of airborne radar warning systems for application across F/RF-111, F/A-18, Blackhawk and Chinook, the active Nulka offboard decoy, the SIIDAS (Sensor Independent Integrated Defensive Aids System) EW suite controller, its ongoing development of the maritime ESM system (PRISM) which has been installed in three classes of RAN ships, together with all the ancillary activities and work associated with the integration of complex airborne and maritime EW systems.

In addition, BAE Systems Australia is principal sub-contractor for the RAAF's Wedgetail EWSP suite. The company is the local portal for Australian companies bidding for sub-contracts on the Joint Strike Fighter EWSP system and has shouldered the burden of managing a diverse spread of Australian tenders and sub-contractors on behalf of its sister firm, BAE Systems Information and Electronic Warfare Systems in the US, which has overall responsibility for JSF Electronic Warfare system integration.

We believe that BAES has proposed PRISM 5, the latest development of its PRISM ESM series for both the AWD and LHD requirements. It may be that the Integrated Electronic Warfare System, a CTD proposal under development by BAES and its partners, Avalon Systems, Daronmont Technologies, SAAB Systems and Tenix Defence Pty Ltd, will also be available to meet the AWD’s second pass deadline.

This approved proposal will develop and demonstrate a system to fuse electronic surveillance data and video information in near-real time to detect and track moving objects. It would also provide size and geo-location information to support targeting, and enhance detection probabilities.

Due to Tenix’s presence we assume that this ‘integrated EW system’ will combine ES and EA capabilities. If true this suggests that earlier rumours that BAES and Tenix might work together on an integrated EW system for AWD may have had some foundation in fact.

But there is still a major hurdle ahead: there are many capable in service systems available on the market as we have described!