Core Avionics Master Plan - NAVAIR - U.S. Navy

Core Avionics Master Plan 2011 Appendix A-6The AN/ALE-47, an expendable countermeasures dispensing system, protects thehost aircraft in a multi-threat environment. The AN/ALE-47 CMDS provides expendablecountermeasures dispensing capability through the use of programmable dispenseprograms and parameters that are programmable through a Memory Loader/Verifier Set(MLVS) over a MIL-STD-1553 type data bus. It is capable of full integration with thedefensive avionics suite of the host aircraft for automatic threat-adaptive dispensing ofexpendable countermeasures. It can be operated independent of any other avionicssystem in a manual mode for direct pilot control in the event of interfacing equipmentfailure, non-availability or mission requirements. The AN/ALE-47 has four operationalmodes to dispense expendables: manual, bypass, semi-automatic, and automatic. Inthe automatic and semi-automatic modes, the AN/ALE-47 receives threat informationfrom the threat sensors and uses the data to calculate dispense program parametersusing a “cocktail” of expendables to implement against specific threat(s). The AN/ALE-47 also has up to six manual dispense programs that the pilot/aircrew can release. TheCMDS provides the aircraft with an expendable countermeasures capability against RF,IR, and EO threats from Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA), Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs), Airto-AirMissiles (AAMs), and Airborne Interceptors (AIs). The CMDS design isprogrammable that will allow the system to counter future threats when deployedthrough mission data file modification, which increases capability with newly developedexpendables and dispensing sequences (a.k.a. cocktails) that will meet the threat.The F/A-18 T3F Launcher for the AN/ALE-50A and the AN/ALE-55 AdvancedAirborne Expendable are designed to seduce incoming RF-guided missiles away fromthe aircraft in the endgame phase of an enemy missile's flight. The decoys are launchedwhen needed and towed behind the host aircraft until it is severed before landing. TheAN/ALE-55 is an advanced Fiber Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD) that is capable of moreadvance techniques than the AN/ALE-50. Both Decoys use the version of the AN/ALE-50A. The complete system uses the Integrated Multiple Launch Controller (IMPLC)Dispenser and the towed decoy.IR Countermeasures: The IR decoy is a device designed to provide an alternativeheat source and seduce the threat missile away from the aircraft towards the flare. Itsfunction is to act as a false target or decoy to the approaching heat-seeking missile.When dispensed from the target platform, the flare falls away in such a way as to divertthe threat missile from the target. Because of the complexity of advance threat missilesand the lack of Situational Awareness (SA) about which missile type is inbound,comprehensive techniques utilizing multiple decoys must be devised and tailored foreach type aircraft.RF Passive Countermeasures: Chaff is one of the most widely used and effectiveexpendable self-protection devices. It is a form of volumetric radar clutter consisting ofmultiple metalized radar reflectors designed to interfere with and confuse radaroperation. It is dispensed into the atmosphere to deny radar acquisition, generate falsetargets, and to deny or disrupt radar tracking. Chaff is designed to be dispensed from anaircraft and function for a limited period.Active RF Expendable Jammers: Active RF expendable jammers are designed toprovide endgame protection for tactical aircraft against surface-to-air and air-to-air radarguided missiles.A-6 Self Protection 4