During the US deployment of forces and assets to the Middle East in preparation for a possible new strike against Iran, new ALQ-249 electronic warfare systems were spotted in the underslung pods of US Navy EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft. They are part of the carrier air wing of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).
The ALQ-249 replaces the previous ALQ-99 system and is already being actively deployed to fleet units. The ALQ-99 uses classic cathode-ray tube (CRT) transmitters, flooding the airspace with noise over a wide area. The ALQ-249 is based on a gallium nitride (GaN) active electronically scanned array (AESA). This technology allows for the formation of narrow, powerful beams that precisely target enemy radar frequencies without interfering with the Navy’s own communications.
EA-18G with ALQ-249:
The ALQ-99’s power is often insufficient to “blind” modern digital AESA radars. The ALQ-249 has significantly greater radiated power, capable of “hack[ing]” enemy radars much more effectively and at greater ranges. It can also act as a cyberweapon by inserting malicious code into the enemy’s signal.
EA-18G with ALQ-99:
When operating the ALQ-99, most jamming settings are preset on the ground or require extensive manual adjustments by the operator. The ALQ-249 has an open software architecture that allows it to recognize new, previously unknown radar signals on the fly and instantly select the optimal jamming algorithm for them.
The deployment of a new electronic warfare system in the Middle East theater of operations indicates that the United States intends to actively suppress Iranian radar signals should a military operation begin.
