Comprehensive Guide to US Naval Electronic Warfare Systems and Standards (copy)

Joint Electronics Type Designation System

A standardized military system used to identify electronic equipment that helps with configuration management, identifies similarities and differences between electronic materials, and ensures flexible and broad applicability to current and future equipment.

Signals Descriptor File/Signal Identification Module

A standardized digital library and associated software that stores the technical fingerprints of known emitters and automatically matches incoming signals against those fingerprints.

Strengths of Signals Descriptor File

Near-instant recognition; scalable, handles thousands of emitters; can fuse multi-parameter matches.

Limitations of Signals Descriptor File

Accuracy only as good as the descriptor currency and quality; library growth increases storage and search time; closely related emitters can be mis-classified if parametric overlap.

Production of Signals Descriptor File

Includes signal collection & analysis in national or theater ELINT/SIGINT centers, parametric extraction, descriptor authoring & testing, and configuration-controlled release.

System Utilization of Signals Descriptor File

Used in surface & subsurface EW suites, airborne receivers, space & ground nodes, and joint/coalition networks.

AN/SSX-1

Role: Ultra-fine 'fingerprint' collection of radar/comm emitters to support threat attribution and lawful intercept.

Capabilities of AN/SSX-1

GHz-wide instantaneous bandwidth, captures pulse trains with

Limitations of AN/SSX-1

Library freshness governs accuracy; fit only on ships with adequate cooling/rack space.

Platforms for AN/SSX-1

SEWIP-equipped CGs, DDGs (Flights 1-III), select LPDs, and USCG National Security Cutters.

AN/SLQ-32 (all variants)

Legacy ES/ESM 2-18 GHz, bearing-only; no built-in EA, cannot process modern LPI waveforms.

AN/SLQ-32 (V)6

Adds threat ID and MK 36 auto-launch; limited ECM power.

AN/SLQ-32 (V)4

High-power active jammer for amphibs/CVNs; big footprint, cooling.

AN/SLQ-57 (WBR-2000)

Role: Littoral Combat Ship ESM / threat-warning; capabilities include wide-band 0.5-40 GHz receiver.

Limitations of AN/SLQ-57

Not integrated with RAM or Nulka fire-control; crew proficiency impacts performance.

Platforms for AN/SLQ-57

Freedom-variant LCS (LCS-1/3/5/7).

AN/SLQ-59

Role: Bolt-on digital receiver/EA pod answering 7th Fleet UON for forward DDGs.

Capabilities of AN/SLQ-59

Two-box rack+ topside AESA, spot-jam & cue hard-kill.

Limitations of AN/SLQ-59

Limited transmit power; no below-deck integration on older ships.

PCMS - Passive Counter-Measures System

Role: Radar-absorbent tile kit; capabilities include self-adhesive elastomer tiles.

Limitations of PCMS

Difficult for maintenance; tiles degrade >5 yrs or after hull work.

Platforms for PCMS

CGs, DDGs, LPDs, and CVNs.

AN/ULQ-16 - Pulse Analyzer

Role: Precision lab or afloat bench tester for emitter parametrics.

Capabilities of AN/ULQ-16

Auto pulse-width, PRI, intrapulse modulation measurement, graphic CRT/read-out.

Limitations of AN/ULQ-16

1970s hardware; single-channel; manpower intensive.

Platforms for AN/ULQ-16

CVNs, TG afloat trainers, NIOD shore labs.

AN/SLA-10

Role: Protects ES/ECM receivers from own-ship radar burn-through.

Capabilities of AN/SLA-10

Generates composite blanking gates for SLQ-32, SSEE.

Limitations of AN/SLA-10

Has to be re-timed whenever new radars installed; failure causes 'blanked' coverage gaps.

MK 36

130 mm mortar tubes; chaff (Mk 182/214) & IR (Mk 186/245); ballistic only; on most USN surface ships.

MK 53

Trainable launcher for Nulka (Mk 234) active RF decoy; costly and takes a lot of deck space.

MK 59

IDS-300 inflatable radar reflector; sea-state >4 reduces effect.

MK234 NULKA

Rocket-hovering RF repeater, effective compared to seeker ECCM; launched as decoys to trick incoming missiles.

MK 214 NATO Sea Gnat-S

Center-burst chaff; launched as decoys to trick incoming missiles.

MK 245 Giant Infrared

Spectrally matched multi-sub-munition IR flare for dual-band seekers; launched as decoys to trick incoming missiles.

JTT

Joint Tactical Terminal

Role of JTT

Integrated Broadcast Service (IBS) transmit/receive of threat, ISR and Blue-Force data.

Capabilities of JTT

Four L-band channels, SATCOM LOS relay, crypto-modernized.

Limitations of JTT

Requires antenna pointing for narrow-beam modes, message latency if SATCOM contested.

Platforms for JTT

All Aegis CG/DDG, CVN, LHD, P-8A, EP-3E, E-2D, and major shore intel sites.

GCCS-M

Global C2 System-Maritime

Role of GCCS-M

Correlate, fuse, maintain track info and displays as a tactical picture (COP).

Capabilities of GCCS-M

Fuses AIS, Link-16, SAT track feeds. Link feeds create GCCS tracks.

Limitations of GCCS-M

Bandwidth heavy.

Platforms for GCCS-M

All afloat flagships, DDG/CG, LCS, SSN, and Maritime Ops Centers ashore.

DCGS-N

Navy node of DoD all-source PED enterprise.

Capabilities of DCGS-N

Multi-INT fusion, automated tasking, containerized apps, cloud deployable.

Limitations of DCGS-N

Relies on high-side bandwidth, sailor training curve for analytic tools.

Platforms for DCGS-N

CVN, LHD, CG, DDG, Intel sites ashore.

AN/SSQ-137 SSEE Increment E

Modular SIGINT/ESM suite replacing outboard receivers.

Capabilities of AN/SSQ-137

Open VPX receiver cards, 2 GHz IBW, direction-finding array.

Limitations of AN/SSQ-137

Still uses legacy UI, spectrum-dense ports can overload.

Platforms for AN/SSQ-137

DDGs, CGs, LSDs.

RADIANT MERCURY

Cross-Domain Solution (guard) for moving data between TS/SCI, Secret and Unclass enclaves.

Capabilities of RADIANT MERCURY

XML & USMTF guards, 1 Gb/s throughput certified by UCDMO.

Limitations of RADIANT MERCURY

Policy files must be meticulously maintained, stops at releasable data types only.

Platforms for RADIANT MERCURY

Embedded in GCCS-M, DCGS-N, CVN LANs, shore NCTAMS.

DRAKE

Drone-Restricted-Access Using Known EW

Capabilities of DRAKE

RF jammer & spoofing suite for shipboard UAS defense.

Limitations of DRAKE

Line-of-sight only, effectiveness drops against optical-nav drones.

Platforms for DRAKE

Deployed on DDGs and Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) forward.

AN/ALQ-190

Expendable RF countermeasure that lays wide radar-opaque clouds.

Capabilities of AN/ALQ-190

Programmable chaff packet for any radar band in library.

Limitations of AN/ALQ-190

One-shot, effectiveness depends on wind & aircraft airspeed.

Platforms for AN/ALQ-190

SH-60/SH-3 helos, P-3C, S-3B and EA-6B.

AN/ALQ-142

Helicopter ESM to extend shipboard SLQ-32 coverage.

Capabilities of AN/ALQ-142

Passively detects radar emitters, sends bearing via datalink.

Limitations of AN/ALQ-142

No onboard jammer, limited frequency range by today's LPI standards.

Platforms for AN/ALQ-142

SH-60B / S-70B LAMPS Mk Ill Seahawks.

AN/ALQ-99

External pod set for stand-off escort jamming.

AN/ALQ-99 Capabilities

10-band (64 MHz-20 GHz) programmable DRFM jamming.

AN/ALQ-99 Limitations

High drag, ram-air turbine limits top speed, interferes with own AESA radar.

AN/ALQ-99 Platforms

EA-18G Growler (ICAP III), retired EA-6B & EF-111A.

BANSHEE

High-performance recoverable drone for EW / weapon-test realism.

BANSHEE Capabilities

Mimics UAV, cruise-missile or fighter threats.

BANSHEE Limitations

Requires launcher/ground gear, limited to sub-sonic threat envelope.

BANSHEE Platforms

Used by USN test ranges, UK MoD, and allied air-defence ranges worldwide.

MINOTAUR

Government-owned C4ISR backbone that fuses sensors, tracks and communications.

MINOTAUR Capabilities

Integrates radar, EO/IR, AIS, ADS-B, SIGINT and C2 links; real-time COP & replay.

MINOTAUR Limitations

Relies on high-bandwidth data pipes, high upgrade cost for legacy aircraft.

MINOTAUR Platforms

USCG HC-130J, HC-144B, C-27J; USN P-8A, MQ-8C, EP-3 replacement path; DHS CBP P-3/C-130.

CCOP

Cryptologic Carry on Program provides direct support systems worldwide.

DMSS

Roll-on cyber-operations 'hunt-kit' for CPT detachments.

DMSS Capabilities

Harden/assess/clear functions, USCYBERCOM-baselined, self-contained rack of servers & sensors.

DMSS Limitations

Limited amount of personnel, high bandwidth.

DRT

Portable SDR/IF capture receivers for COMINT/ELINT.

DRT Capabilities

20 kHz-6 GHz tune range, record-and-replay, DF when paired with antenna set.

DRT Limitations

Requires external laptops for analysis.

mWBR

Small-form-factor COTS wideband front end for CCOP.

mWBR Capabilities

100 kHz-3 GHz IBW, USB-powered, streams I/Q to analyst laptop.

mWBR Limitations

Receive-only, operator must supply antennas and storage.

HITS

Mission-data/threat-library loader used with SSEE/SEWIP kits.

HITS Capabilities

Pushes updated parametrics, crypto, maps to deployed kits.

HITS Limitations

Needs periodic shore reach-back, no collection on its own.

RED FALCON/RED HAT Systems

Life-cycle and test rigs that replicate SSEE Inc F/CCOP signals for training and software validation.

SHOCKWAVE

Shipboard data-logger that captures radar/ESM pulse trains for after-action.

MTP

Suitcase set that combines RF capture, sat-IBS receive, and cross-dam guard for small craft.

GALE

All-source SIGINT mapping and geo-analysis toolkit.

TURBULENT WAVE/SAIL/WIND

Software pipeline that turns raw BLQ-10 or CCOP I/Q into IBS tactical messages.

FLYING SQUIRREL

NRL GOTS WLAN discovery and geo-mapping suite.