The US Navy is arming itself with a new generation of non-kinetic missile defense
The U.S. Navy is working to strengthen its non-kinetic shield by deploying next-generation non-kinetic anti-ship and anti-missile defense capabilities.
Along with the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP), the Navy is also procuring AN/ALQ-248 Advanced Offboard Electronic Warfare (AOEW) systems for helicopters and ships.
The SEWIP includes electronic attack capabilities from Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. These include modules for electronic scanning, radars for jamming and target tracking, missile homing systems, and systems for destroying electronics installed on enemy drones.
The USS Pinckney, a destroyer equipped with new electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, is undergoing testing. The next vessels to receive new equipment under SEWIP will be the Chung-Hoon and James E. Williams. DDG 51 ships will receive AN/SLQ-32(V)7 systems.
At the same time, Lockheed Martin is developing the AN/ALQ-248 AOEW electronic warfare system for the MH-60S/R helicopter. It is a self-contained unit containing both a highly sensitive receiver and subsystems for electronic attacks.
It is noteworthy that the AN/ALQ-248 AOEW can operate independently or in coordination with the ship’s SEWIP system. In the latter case, the AN/SLQ-32 system will detect approaching anti-ship missiles, then signal and control the AOEW unit. AN/SLQ-248 electronic attack assets will be coordinated with other radio frequency (RF) countermeasures for “soft destruction” during combat.
The U.S. Navy is also investing in the development of a new long-endurance electronic trap (LEED) that combines a modular radio frequency payload with a UAV. The drone will have a communication channel to be able to maneuver. The Navy says that LEED will provide the fleet with improved coordination and electronic warfare capabilities to counter missile attacks.
