TECHNOLOGY SURVEY

A SAMPLING OF RADAR JAMMERS

By OIlie Holt

his month's technology survey is

focusing on radar jammers. Radar jammers are typically designated either
as self-protection jammers or support
jammers. (Some newer jammers blend
these capabilities.) A self-protection
jammer's function is to prevent a hostile radar
system from being able to track the host platform
(own ship) and launch a missile or aim a gun at it.
This is done through a combination of denial and
deception techniques. A support jammer's function is to operate at stand-off or stand-in ranges
and to prevent another friendly aircraft from
being detected and tracked by radars using denial
and deception techniques. Self-protection jammers typically are installed on aircraft and ships.
The support jamming mission usually is conducted by aircraft, such as the EA-18G Growler,
the EC-30H Compass Call and UAVs. Ground-based
support jammers are designed to jam the multimode radars of attacking aircraft.
A radar jammer is actually a complete system
that consists of receive antennas, receivers, signal
processing, technique generators (possibly including a Digital RF Memory (DRFM)), a power amplifier
and transmit antennas. The antenna, receiver and
signal processing serve as the eyes for the radar
jammer. Without these functions, the jammer could
only transmit high power broadband noise hoping
to prevent any radar receiver operating within
the transmitted frequency range of the noise from
being able to detect a target. With a receiver function, the jammer can selectively determine which
radar emissions are threats to the platform and through a process of determining threat mode and
ID - select the most effective technique against
that threat. Selection of the most effective technique can become a complex action if more than
one threat is to be jammed and the power amplifier
has limited duty cycle.
Today's radar systems are becoming more complex and harder to detect and jam. This also makes
them harder to ID for selecting the best technique.
They are becoming more frequency agile, some
with the ability to change frequency after each
pulse. That means the jammer needs to be able to
predict the next frequency or be able to detect.

process and initiate a jamming response within

the received pulse. The simplest and probably oldest method of responding to this type of threat
would be a straight through repeater path that
just passes the received signal to the power amplifier to retransmit, possibly with some amplitude
and/or phase modulation to try to deceive the
radar. The problem with repeaters is they repeat
to anything in the bandwidth of the receiver,
which means that they become a beacon to other
radar systems. The challenge with these emerging
radar threats is to find new methods of denying
their ability to track own ship.
THE SURVEY
The first parameter in the survey, "internal"
or "pod" configuration is self-defining. The next
parameter is the operational frequency range. Most
of the support jammers cover frequencies as low as
100 MHz and a few even lower and go up to around
6 GHz. Most self-protection radar jammers have a
low frequency of around 2 GHz and up to around 18
GHz, though it's not uncommon to see capabilities
below 2 GHz and above 18 GHz.
The installed receiver sensitivity defines the
ability of the radar jammer to detect the radar signal and provide the necessary jamming techniques.
The lower the installed sensitivity value, the greater
the systems detection range capability. Self protect
jammers typically provide installed sensitivities
of between -45 and -60 dBm. Sensitivity has to be
balanced with the jammer ERP to prevent interference between receive and transmit paths. A support
jammer needs more sensitivity because it typically
needs to operate beyond a threat's missile range.
ERP is the maximum output power of the jammer
system; in some cases, this includes antenna gain.
For support jammers using noise techniques, the
larger the ERP, the more disruption it will cause.
For self-protection jammers, the ERP required is a
balance between radar cross section of the aircraft
and the detection range of the threat radar system.
The goal is to generate greater jamming power than
the radar return power reflected from the aircraft.
JED's next technology survey, which will be
published in the June issue, will cover spectrum analyzers. =<

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TECHNOLOGY SURVEY: AIRBORNE RADAR JAMMERS

MODEL

CONFIGURATION

JAMMER TYPE

FREQ RANGE

SENSITIVITY

ERP/GAIN

Airbus Defence and Space; Uim, Germany; +49 731-392-2861; www.airbusdefenceandspace.com

Multi Frequency Jammer
System (MFJS)

pod

selt-protection, support
jammer, stand ott, stand in

1-18 GHz

ASELSAN A.S.; Ankara, Turkey; +90 312 5921000; www.aselsan.com

Helicopter Electronic
Wartare Seit Protection
Suite

internal

self protection

Land Based Mobile

Electronic Attack System

BAE Systems; Nashua, NH, USA; +1-603-885-6065; www.baesystems.com

Digital EW System (DEWS)

internal

seit protection

Eibit Systems EW and SIGINT - Elisra; Bene Beraq, Israel; +972-3-6175411; www.elbitsystems.com/elisra
UEWS

internal

selt-protection, support
jammer, stand ott, stand in

full band

SPJ-20V5

internal

seit protection

full band

ALQ-903

pod

self-protection, support
jammer, stand in

full band

SPJ-20G

internal

seit protection

tull band

transmitter dependent
(selectable)
transmitter dependent
(selectable)
transmitter dependent
(selectable)
transmitter dependent
(selectable)

Elettronica; Rome, Italy; +3906 4154 745; www.elt-roma.com

ELT/553 & ELT/558

internal

seit protection

E to J and B to D bands high

ALQ/703

pod

support jammer

B to J bands

very high

very high

ELT/568 FAMILY

pod/internal

seit protection, support

jammer

B to J bands -i- K

very high

high/very high

NETTUNO 4100 FAMILY

self protection, support

jammer, area protection

E to J bands

very high

very high

self protection, support

jammer, area protection

E to J bands

very high

very high

6.5-18 GHz

*
*

ELT/333 FAMILY

medium

ELTA Systems Ltd.; Ashdod, Israel; +972 8 857 2190; www.elta.co.il

ELL- 8212

pod

seit protection

ELL- 8222

pod

self protection

6.5-18 GHz

ELL- 8222WB

pod

seit protection

2-18 GHz

ELL- 8251

pod/internal

escort jammer

1 -18 GHz

ELL- 8248

internal

seit protection

2-18 GHz

Exeiis; Clifton, NJ, USA; +1-973-284-2180; www.exelisinc.com

ALQ-211

pod/internal

self protection

ALQ-214(V)4/5

internal

seit protection

6-18 GHz

-40 dBm

Indra; Madrid, Spain; +34-91-480-50-01; www.indra.es

ALQ-500 (Export Version)

internal

seit protection, support

jammer

MODES

SIZE (HxWxL inches/mm)

WEIGHT

PLATFORM

FEATURES

coherent/noncoherent

400 X 600 X 2700 mm

280l<g

air

Jamming pod mainiy for radar operator training and Test

& Evaiuation.

air

Fuiiy integrated EW Seif Protection Suite for helicopters

and transport aircrafts. Autonomous and smart jamming
with AESA and SSPA transmitters.

grd-mob

iVlounted on a 6x6 vehicie; provides capabiiity of

intercepting and jamming and/or deceiving hostiie radar
emitters; digitai receiver inicudes aii the functions of a
support receiver, technique generator and DRFiVl.

DeveiopedforF-15
aircraft.

coherent/noncoherent

195/127/345 mm

12 Kg

air, shp, grd

coherent/noncoherent

175/164/300 mm

12 Kg

air, shp

coherent/noncoherent

590/864/3628 mm

180 Kg

air

coherent/noncoherent

175x164x300 mm

12 Kg

grd

coherent/noncoherent

2 ATR(3/4) -Fantennas

110 kg

air

TWTTX

coherent/noncoherent

29 Dx 157Lin.

650 l<g

air

Solid State TX/RX

coherent/noncoherent

SP: 1 ATR + active arrays SJ:

version dependent

SP: 65 kg; SJ:

version dependent

air

Solid State TX/RX

coherent/noncoherent

version dependent,
1475Lx1906Px1900Hmm
for iarge naval units

version dependent,
1480 Kg for iarge
navai units

shp

Soiid State TX/RX

coherent/noncoherent

verion dependent, 840 x 702 x

680 mm

version dependent,
shp, grd
155 Kg

1 8 x 2 4 x 2 3 4 cm

95 kg

Power managed jamming regime.

2 4 x 1 9 x 2 4 3 cm

100 kg

Power managed jamming regime.

Power managed jamming regime.

Soiid State TX/RX

2 4 x 1 9 x 2 4 3 cm

108 kg

Power managed jamming regime.

Power managed jamming regime.

iVIuitipie versions. Part of AIDEWS fiown on F-16s in

internai and podded configs. Aiso flown on MH-A7 and
MH-60 helicopters.

Flown on F/A-18E/Fs. Version deveioped for F/A-18G/Ds.

coherent/noncoherent

19.7x94.5 in.

115 kg

Multipie techniques; multi-threat capabiiity.

TECHNOLOGY SURVEY: AIRBORNE RADAR JAMMERS

MODEL

CONFIGURATION

JAMMER TYPE

FREQ RANGE

SENSITIVITY

ERP/GAIN

MC Countermeasures; Kanata, Ontario, Canada; 1-613-592-0818; www.mc-cm.com

-60 dBm

0.8-12 GHz

-60 dBm

0.5-18 GHz

-60 dBm

training

0.5-18 GHz

-60 dBm

training

0.5-18 GHz

IREWTS-0840

pod

training

IREWTS-0812

pod

training

IREWTS-0518

internal

training

IREWTS-0518-short

internal

IREWTS-NJAM

internal

0 . 8 - 4 . 0 GHz

Northrop Grumman; Rolling Meadows, IL, USA;+1-847-259-9600; www.northropgrumman.com

ALQ-135M

internal

self protection

2-20 GHz

ALQ-162(V)6

internal

self protection

6-20 GHz

Rafael; Haifa, Israel; +972-4-879-4444; www.rafael.co.il

Sky Shield

pod

support jammer

1-18 GHz

-70 dBm

70 dBm

Green Shield

pod

support jammer

1-6GHZ

-65 dBm

65 dBm

SEWS-DV

naval

self protection

0 . 5 - 4 0 GHz

-65 dBm

7 5 - 8 0 dBm

Raytheon; Goleta, CA, USA; +1-805- 967-5511; www.raytheon.com

ALQ-187(V)2

pod/internal

self protection

6.5-18 GHz

ALQ-184

pod

self-prof ecf ion

Rodale Electronics; Hauppauge, NY, USA; +1-631-231-0044; www.rodaleelectronics.com

ALQ-167

pod/internai

self-protection, support
jammer, training

various across
0.85-18 GHz

-96 dBm
(narrowband);
'-60 dBm
(wideband)

4-8 kW

Saab, business area Electronic Defense Systems; Jrflla, Sweden; +46-8-580-840-00; www.saabgroup.com
BOQ-X300

pod

self protection

2-18 GHz

-60 dBm

300 W-3 kW

SELEX ES; Luton, UK; +44 (0) 1 58 28 86 000; www.selexgalileo.com

Modular Counter Measure
System

pod/internal

self protection, support

jammer

E to J bands

high

20W-10kW

Sky Shadow III

pod

self protection

G to J bands

high

medium

EuroDASS / Praetorian

internal

self protection

G to J bands

high

medium

Thaes Airborne Systems; Elancourt CEDEX, France; +33 (0)1 34 81 60 00; www.thalesgroup.com
PAJ-EA (Podded Airborne
Jammer)

pod

self profection

H to J bands

HBJ (High Band Jammer)

internal

self protection

H to J bands

SPECTRA

internal

self protection

G to J bands

variable

68.8 dBm

TJR Electronics Inc; Rockledge, FL, USA; +1-321-632-1130; www.tjrelectronicsinc.com

Threat Radar Jammer

pod/internal

self protection

5.25-10.5 GHz and

9-18 GHz

MODES

SIZE (HxWxL inches/mm)

WEIGHT

PLATFORM

FEATURES

coherent

full ATR

601b

air

Real-time de-interleaving receiver, PRI Prediction.

coherent

full ATR

651b

air

Data collection package.

coherent/non-coherent

5U ruggedized rack

951b

air, grd-mob

Real-time de-interleaving receiver, PRI Prediction, RF

Agility prediction.

coherent/non-coherent

6U ruggedized rack

951b

air, grd-mob

Real-time de-interleaving receiver, PRI Prediction, RF

Agility prediction.

non-coherent

5U ruggedized rack

751b

air, grd-mob

Flown on F-15s as part of TEWS.

Flown on a range of aircraft and on Egyptian Air Force

AH-64 helicopters

coherent/noncoherent

380 X 56 X 86 cm

650 kg

Solid State steered array; fully autnomous and accurate

jamming against several targets, includes accurate
direction finding. One certified pod that contains the
entire system.
Solid State steered array; fully autnomous and accurate
jamming against several targets, includes accurate
direction finding. One certified pod that contains the
entire system.

220 X 41 (dia) cm

220 kg

coherent/noncoherent

High performance ship protection suite based on digital

receivers, techniques and solid state array transmitters

air

Part of ACES Suite. Flown on F-16s in internal and

podded configs.

air

Front line defensive ECM pod for USAF and allied F-16s.

coherent/noncoherent

350 X 26 (dia) cm

175 kg

air

Provides jamming against both airborne and ground

based AI radars and GCI radars during air intercept and
simulated attack missions (including jamming combined
with threat radar simulation).

coherent, noise, CW
repeater.

16.9 (dia) X 160.2 cm

270-330 kg

Option for 0.5-40 GHz; integrated with towed

radar decoy.

coherent/noncoherent

one or more 1/2 ATR

profile chassis

4 kg

Uses industry standard modules and racks. Customer

selectable frequency range, receiver type, sensitivity,
DRFM configuration and transmitter.

coherent/noncoherent

420 mm (dia) x 3.6 m (length)

330 kg

coherent/noncoherent

Approximately 15 avionics units

with various dimensions

170 kg

coherent/noncoherent

135 X 6.3 (dia) in.

85 kg

coherent/noncoherent

coherent/noncoherent

cockpit: 1/4 ATR; pod:

6 . 7 x 1 5 x 1 7 cm

Upgrade to Sky Shadow II standard; installed

on Tornado GR4.

Fully integrated DASS including ESM, ECM and active

MAW; part of Eurofighter Typhoon.

In service on Mirage-F1 and Super Etendard.

62 kg

In service on Mirage 2000.

in service on Rafale.

175 kg

Jammer Scenario Switch; Transmit Command Switch;

Forward/Aft Switch; Horizontal Vertical Test Switch;
range of DRFM based techniques.

Survey

Key -

Airborne

Radar

Jammers

WEIGHT
Product name or model number

Weight in kg

CONFIGURATION

PLATFORM

Jammer configuration (Internal, pod or both)

JAMMER TYPE
"fype of radar jammer (self protect, support jammer, etc.)

Host platform
air = airborne
grd-fix = ground-fixed
grd-mob = ground-mobile
shp = shipboard

FREO RANGE
FEATURES

Operating frequency range (in GHz)

Additional features

SENSITIVITY

* Indicates answer is classified, not releasable or no answer was

given.

Typical receiver installed sensitivity

ERP/GAIN
ERP or Gain (whichever is applicable to the system)

JUNE 2014 PRODUCT SURVEY:

SPECTRUM ANALYZERS

MODES

This survey will cover spectrum analyzers for military

electronics applications. Please email the editor,
John Knowles, jknowles@naylor.com, to request
a survey questionnaire.

Coherent, non coherent, both

H X WxL/D in inches or centimeters

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