Image source: topwar.ru
During the transfer of US forces and assets to the Middle East in preparation for a possible new strike on Iran, new ALQ-249 electronic warfare complexes were spotted stationed in the outboard containers of the EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft of the US Navy. They are part of the aircraft carrier wing of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).
The ALQ-249 has replaced the previous ALQ-99 complex and is already actively entering the fleet units. The ALQ-99 uses classical cathode ray tube transmitters, "flooding" the space with noise in a wide area. The ALQ-249 is based on AFAR with gallium nitride (GaN). This technology allows you to form narrow and powerful beams that hit exactly the frequency of the enemy's radar without interfering with your own communications equipment.
EA-18G c ALQ-249:
Image source: topwar.ru
The ALQ-99 has a power that is often insufficient to "dazzle" modern digital radar from AFAR. The ALQ-249 has many times more radiation power, which is capable of "hacking" enemy radars much more effectively and at long distances. It is also able to act as a cyberweapon, inserting malicious code into the enemy's signal.
EA-18G c ALQ-99:
Image Source: topwar.ru
When working with the ALQ-99, most interference settings are set in advance "on the ground" or require long manual adjustments by the operator. The ALQ-249 has an open software architecture that allows it to detect new, previously unknown radar signals on the fly and instantly select the optimal suppression algorithm for them.
The deployment of a new electronic warfare system in the Middle East theater indicates that the United States is going to actively suppress Iran's radar in the event of a military operation.
