AN/ALQ-221
AN/ALQ-221 Advanced Defensive System is a radar warning receiver and electronic countermeasures system manufactured by BAE Systems in Nashua, New Hampshire for use on the U.S. Air Force U-2 Dragonlady reconnaissance aircraft.[1][2] It provides U-2 pilots with situational awareness and protection against threats that might reach the aircraft at mission altitudes of 70,000 feet plus.[1][3] The system is part of the Block 20 modernization program of the U-2 aircraft integrated with upgraded avionics and multifunction cockpit displays.[1][2][4]
History
[edit]Development of the ALQ-221 began in 2004 at the Nashua, New Hampshire facilities of BAE.[1][3][4] It reached Initial Operationing Capability (IOC) in October of 2005.[1][4] The system was delivered as part of the Reconnaissance Avionics Maintainability Program (RAMP).[5][6] Reportedly,[7] the system had a 2005 unit cost of $5.8 million per system.
In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/ALQ-221" designation represents the 221st design of an Army-Navy electronic device for protective countermeasures system. The JETDS system also now is used to name all Department of Defense electronic systems.
In 2018, plans were drafted to upgrade the system's low-band subsystem to operate in "moderately contested environments".[8]
Technical description
[edit]The ALQ-221 detects, classifies and counters threats using 13 receivers and transmitters.[9] Software allows the system's target recognition algorithms to be updated inflight.[10]
See also
[edit]
- AN/ALR-20 – USAF B-52 electronic countermeasures receiver system
- AN/ALR-46 – Military aircraft radar warnging receiver (RWR) system
- AN/ALR-67 – Military aircraft radar warnging receiver (RWR) system
- AN/ALQ-218 – Military aircraft passive radar warning receiver (RWR) system
- List of military electronics of the United States
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Air Force picks BAE radar warning system for U-2", Military Aerospace, 20 October 2005, retrieved 8 January 2025
- ^ a b "BAE Upgrades U-2", Air&Space Forces Magazine, 21 October 2005, retrieved 8 January 2025
- ^ a b "BAE Systems defense system deployed on U-2s", NH Business Review, 21 October 2005, retrieved 8 January 2025
- ^ a b c "AN/ALQ-221 ADS", Deagel, retrieved 8 January 2025
- ^ Goebel, Greg (1 March 2024), "2.0 U-2 Evolution", AirVectors.net, retrieved 8 January 2025
- ^ "U-2 High-Altitude Reconnaissance Aircraft", Airforce Technology, 6 June 2020, retrieved 8 January 2024
- ^ "The Concise Global Industry Guide Radar and Electronic Warfare Systems Handbook" (PDF), Shephard Media, p. 94, April 2022, retrieved 8 January 2025
- ^ Pocock, Chris (25 May 2018), "THE SUN MAY NEVER SET ON THIS JET", DragonladyToday, retrieved 8 January 2025
- ^ Pocock, Chris (16 July 2019), "GLOBAL HAWK SHOOTDOWN: COULD A U-2 MEET THE SAME FATE?", DragonladyToday, retrieved 8 January 2025
- ^ "U-2S Dragon Lady : The Electronic Pilot", VAYU Aerospace & Defense Review, 6 April 2022, retrieved 8 January 2025
External links
[edit]
U.S. Air Force - U-2S Factsheet
| Active Countermeasures (Jamming) | |
|---|---|
| Passive Radar Warning Receivers | |
| Missile Warning Systems | |
| Flare and Chaff Sytems | |
| Directional IRCM | |
| Dedicated ECM / ESM aircraft | |
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