ALQ-135 Forecast

Details

Published on Tuesday, 08 January 2013 11:04

Written by Dr. David L. Rockwell, Senior Analyst

The AN/ALQ-135 is part of the TEWS (Tactical Electronic Warfare System) on Boeing/McDonnell Douglas F-15 fighters. The AN/ALQ-135 is a high-powered automatic radar jammer system which is computer-controlled by the AN/ALR-56 radar warning receiver. It is capable of jamming both pulse and continuous wave threat radars in a 360-degree azimuth. It has look-thru-while-jam ability, a large integrated threat library, and Built-In Test (BIT).

Production of the AN/ALQ-135 has ended for US aircraft, but updated systems are still in production for South Korea’s F-15Ks (Singapore turned to Israel for its F-15SG’s EW suite). The F-15 has been among the most successful US fighter programs, and the sale to South Korea was hugely important for its future.

 The F-15K/SG rejuvenates the aircraft, with new systems, weapons, and sensors. Also, both countries have already bought more planes, as a 40 or 12 aircraft force is not a sustainable minimum for the long run. There is little chance for additional USAF F-15/ALQ-135 procurement, but there should be significant upgrade & support funding.

Our forecast for the new Digital Electronic Warfare Suite (DEWS) may be optimistic, but Saudi Arabia seems to be going ahead with the 84 new F-15SAs. If so, upgrading its existing 70 F-15S to a common configuration makes sense, and Saudi can afford it. Saudi is the key to success for BAE Systems’ new DEWS. If DEWS really can use JSF technology to provide a leap ahead for the F-15, it would be the system to have. It would be a huge windfall for BAE Systems, especially to fill in for delayed JSF production. We will tentatively forecast the full Saudi upgrade, but wait on a Japanese buy for now. The 14 undetermined DEWS could be follow-on new aircraft for an existing F-15 operator, or a limited Japanese buy.