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| F-16 Variant Electronic Warfare |
United States - As a fighter jet born in the 70s, between the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the F / A-18 Hornet has its own story and reputation, even though the United States military uses it equally, the F-16 is shot as a representative of the force air, while the F-18 as a representative of US Navy air power. But in responding to the dynamics of electronic warfare, apparently the F-16 and F / A-18 strategies are slightly different.
The F / A-18 family since 2006 has introduced a figure called the EA-18G Growler, whose fighter jets from the dedicated F / A-18 Super Hornet platform are designed to serve the war (electronic warfare). In contrast, the F-16 extended family during their service debut 'only' served the potential of marriage from the installation of a pod countermeasure device.
Not to diminish the capabilities of the pod countermeasure device, but apparently there is a 'limitation' of the optional use of the EW (electronic warfare) device. Departing from the above, the US Air Force recently announced that it has appointed L3 Harris Technologies and Northrop Grumman to develop the F-16 prototype in the EW variant.
As quoted from airforce-technology (11/15/2019), it was mentioned that the two defense championship companies were rewarded with a transaction agreement to develop and conduct a 'new' F-16 demonstration with the ability to counter the threat of an opposing radar. L3Harris will build and test integrated digital radar warning receivers for electronic countermeasures solutions that are mutually integrated based on proven technology.
While Northrop Grumman will be demonstrating a digital radar warning receiver and mounted EW suite that is designed internally on the aircraft structure.
The company that released the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber will precisely prepare a prototype F-16 with the ability to identify each threat and the capability of spherical radar warning and countermeasure. All of these solutions are planned to protect pilots from threats called ‘modern electromagnetic spectrum threats.
