AN Equipment Forecast
ALQ-131(V) - Archived 04/2003
Outlook 10 Year Unit Production Forecast
2002 - 2011
Workhorse EW pod Units
In service; modernization and logistics support continue
Usage will support spares market for fielded systems NO PRODUCTION FORECAST
Further production not likely
0
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Years
Orientation
Description. Airborne dual-mode ECM jamming pod. Licensee
Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Sponsor
Mitsubishi Denki Bldg
US Air Force
12-chome
AF Systems Command
2-3 Manouchi, Chiyoda-ku
Aeronautical Systems Center
Tokyo 100
ASC/PAM
Tel: +1 81 3 490 1971
Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (OH) 45433-6503 Fax: +1 81 3 490 8425
USA
Tel: +1 513 255 3767 Status. In service, with ongoing logistics support.
Web site: http://www.wpafb.af.mil
Total Produced. An estimated 1,350 units have been
Contractors produced. Most Block I pods have been upgraded to
Northrop Grumman Corp Block II.
Electronic Systems Sector
Application. The pod has been certified on the A-7,
PO Box 17319
A-10, F/RF-4, F-16, F-111, AC-130, and C-130.
Baltimore, Maryland (MD) 21203-7319
USA Price Range. The cost of a Block II pod, with
Tel: +1 410 765 1000 receiver/processor, has been estimated to be US$1.2
Fax: +1 410 993 8771 million.
Web site: http://www.northgrum.com
Price is estimated based on an analysis of contracting
BAE Systems – North America data and other available cost information, and a com-
Information and Electronic Warfare Systems parison with equivalent items. It represents the best-
95 Canal Street guess price of a typical system. Individual acquisitions
Nashua, New Hampshire (NH) 06060 may vary, depending on program factors.
USA
Tel: +1 603 885 4321
Fax: +1 603 885 3655
Web site: http://www.baesystems.com
April 2002
ALQ-131(V), Page 2 AN Equipment Forecast
Technical Data
Metric US
Dimensions
Size: 279.8 x 29.5 x 63 cm 111 x 11.7 x 25 in
Weight: 299.2 kg 659 lb
Characteristics
Frequency coverage: 2 to 20 GHz
Configurations: 17 possible (1,2, or 3 bands)
Jamming waveforms: 48 simultaneous
Reliability: MTBF +125 hr (3 times spec)
Fault detection: 100%
MTAT: <2.1 hr
MTTR: <1.5 hr
Design Features. The ALQ-131(V) modular electronic reducing pilot workload in combat situations. The
countermeasures pod is fitted in a canister which system is power managed and has a built-in test system.
provides environmental protection, structural support,
A missile warning and countermeasures dispensing
and cooling. The entire length of the canister is
capability has been designed for the pod. In the future,
bisected by an integral fluorocarbon-cooled I-beam with
it could be enhanced with the addition of communica-
equipment bays located on three sides. Individual
tions jammers, high-power standoff jamming, electronic
mission jamming requirements can be met by 17
support measures, synthetic aperture radar, and
different structural configurations. The design
navigation/targeting capabilities.
emphasizes operational flexibility through flightline
reprogramming as well as high reliability and Operational Characteristics. When integrated with an
maintainability. The design goal was to increase system external radar warning receiver or used with a power
availability. management module, the ALQ-131(V) becomes a
computer-controlled, completely automatic system
The control and interface (C/I) module is based on a
capable of jamming threat radars on a user-pro-
programmable digital computer and is the functional
grammable, pre-assigned basis. A Memory Loader/
heart of the pod. Simultaneous waveforms for jamming
Verifier allows the computer’s operational software to
modulations are provided by a digital waveform
be programmed in less than 15 minutes while on the
generator. To reduce weight and drag for high-per-
flightline. Up to 48 simultaneous waveforms can be
formance aircraft while providing selected frequency
generated by the integrated circuit (IC) module and are
coverage, the ALQ-131(V) offers modular partitioning
designed to counter a wide range of contemporary
in one, two, or three frequency band configurations.
threats.
The Block II update incorporated new countermeasures
The power management system tailors response
techniques as well as redesigned hardware that
technique, frequency, and timing, allowing the pod to
maximized performance in a dense signals environment.
be more efficient and reducing the number of
An improved receiver which is controlled by the
extraneous signals transmitted. This results in more
processor searches for radar signals, and pod response
efficient use of system resources, and reduces unwanted
is tailored for optimum jamming. The pod has a look-
interference among members of a mission package. It
through feature for surveillance of the signal environ-
also reduces the ability of hostile forces to use stray
ment while the jamming feature is being used.
emanations to detect and track aircraft equipped with
The Block II receiver/processor is a wideband, fre- the ALQ-131(V) pod.
quency-agile, double-conversion, superheterodyne re-
Pod maintenance is based on the Central Integrated Test
ceiver using a crystal video receiver for low-band
System (CITS), which provides a comprehensive
coverage. A self-contained processor automatically
functional check of system operation and automatic
sorts signals and identifies threats. The pod is flight-
fault isolation down to the module level. The CITS can
line-programmable and can generate a variety of preset
be used for in-shop maintenance and operates con-
and automatic jamming modes. The enhanced receiver/
tinuously during in-flight operations.
processor reduces the need for cockpit intervention,
April 2002
AN Equipment Forecast ALQ-131(V), Page 3
ALQ-131
Source: North Gruman
Variants/Upgrades
ALQ-131(V) Block I. This was the original version. A weapons pylon to make full capability possible with no
major update overcame reliability and maintainability reduction in weapons-carrying capability.
problems and adapted the pod to a changing threat
ALQ-131(V) Plus. This is a standard ALQ-131(V)
requirement.
Block II pod with a MIL-STD-1553 Augmentation
ALQ-131(V) Block II. The Block II effort was de- Board and a three-sensor AAR-54(V) installed for full
veloped as a quick reaction program to integrate the lower hemisphere missile warning. An off-the-shelf
lessons learned from the ALQ-131(V)’s growth process, countermeasures dispenser and DIRCM can be added.
several System Project Office studies, and the Airborne In addition, an ALE-50(V) fiber-optic towed decoy can
Self-Protection Jammer (ASPJ) program. It consists be added to the rear of the pod, and can be upgraded to
primarily of a new receiver/processor. an infrared (IR) towed decoy. It has been demonstrated
on the F-16.
Block II can generate many advanced jamming tech-
niques and is fully power managed for efficiency. It has A standard pod can be field-modified for the
a look-through feature, is more fully integrated with ALE-50(V), and the towed decoy dispenser inter-
host aircraft systems, and provides three operational changed between pods. The configuration has under-
modes controlled from the cockpit. Block II pods were gone live-fire tests and a flight demonstration.
used during Operation Desert Storm.
ALQ-131(V) Receiver/Processor. This is a self-con-
New receiver/processor units have been in production tained module within the jamming pod that facilitates
since 1985, with over 500 delivered for US and Foreign completely automatic computer-controlled jamming and
Military Sales customers. enhances the pod’s performance in single- and multiple-
radar threat environments. It has been included in
ALQ-131(P). The ALQ-131(V) components can be
roughly 700 US and allied pods.
repackaged by Per Udsen Co of Denmark into an F-16
Program Review
Background. Development of the ALQ-131(V) began in Fifteen Block II pods were delivered to the Air Force in
1972 and it entered full-scale engineering development July and three were delivered to the Royal Netherlands
in 1976. Flight testing and evaluation were completed Air Force. Delivery of the eighth production lot began
quickly and an initial production contract was awarded in July, for a total of 129 Block II pods.
in 1977.
In August 1988, the Air Force advocated a “two-pod”
Full USAF reliability demonstration tests of the strategy. Under this acquisition plan, both the
Block II upgrade were completed in August 1986. ALQ-184(V) and the ALQ-131(V) would be procured,
April 2002
ALQ-131(V), Page 4 AN Equipment Forecast
with quantities based on an annual competition. The system was delivered in December 1994. Production
Air Force argued that each system had advantages over deliveries began in 1995.
the other, and sources believed that the competition
Also in 1994, a US$22 million contract to build and
would run over a five-year period and involve up to
integrate 54 Receiver/Processor units for RNLAF
1,000 pods.
Block II ALQ-131(V) pods was awarded. Deliveries
In September 1989, the Air Force selected only the were completed by June 1996.
ALQ-184(V) to meet its annual requirement. Exclusive
In mid-1994, the Special Operations Command
ALQ-184(V) annual procurement continued through
evaluated both ALQ-131(V) and ALQ-184(V) pods for
January 1993.
use on its AC-130 gunships. The ALQ-131(V) Block II
The Air Force deployed 260 Block II and 130 Block I pod, with the new receiver/processor, was selected after
ALQ-131(V)s to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert test flights. The pods were to be used by the gunships
Storm. They were carried on 8,000+ sorties by a until ALQ-172(V) internal jammers could be installed.
variety of tactical aircraft facing the Iraqi ground
RNLAF C-130s were modified to carry ALQ-131(V)
defenses in the Kuwait Theater of Operations. Block I
Block II pods for use during humanitarian relief and
pods were carried by RF-4C and F-16 aircraft. Block II
troop transport missions. The experiences of air forces
pods were carried by F-15, RF-4C, F-4G, F-16, F-111,
engaged in the Bosnian air lift generated further interest
and A-10 aircraft. The low attrition rate of Coalition air
in C-130 protection. For example, the Belgian Air
forces was directly attributed to the destruction of Iraq’s
Force expressed interest in procuring ALQ-131(V)s for
air defense infrastructure and the effective electronic
use on its F-16 and C-130 aircraft. Pods would come
warfare performance throughout the theater of
from USAF Block I stock and be updated to Block II
operations.
standard later. In early 1995, the Belgian Air Force was
A major reprogramming effort during the Desert Shield trying to acquire 25 ALQ-131(V) pods from US Air
buildup enabled the pods to effectively counter the Force stock to operate in conjunction with the Carapace
variety of threat systems used by Iraq. Because of these radar warning and jamming system on Belgium’s F-16s.
intensive reprogramming efforts, the Block II Belgian F-16s had flown without ECM for 14 years.
receiver/processor achieved Initial Operating Capability The pods and Carapace would work in conjunction with
(IOC) in October 1990 instead of January 1991, as the ALE-40(V) countermeasures dispensers already
planned. Sources indicate that reliability and main- carried by the aircraft. Demonstrations proved that the
tainability during combat operations were good. ALQ-131(V)s would not interfere with Carapace.
ALQ-131(V) pods remained operational in the theater A January 1996 notice in the Commerce Business Daily
of operations and were carried by USAF and RNLAF disclosed that the Air Force was soliciting engineering
aircraft involved in Operation Southern Watch, Provide services and engineering materials needed to integrate
Comfort, and Deny Flight. and test the GEC-Marconi Fiber-Optic Decoy sub-
system with the ALQ-131(V) Block II ECM pod.
In 1993, the Air Force upgraded 60 fielded Block II
pods with low-band modules removed from retired In February 1998, the Belgian pod upgrade effort was
Block I systems. Many of the new pods were ear- completed and all 25 pods achieved IOC. In April
marked for possible use in Bosnia. Responding to 1998, the US Department of Defense published a notice
changing threat analysis, the Air Force extended the that the government of Norway was interested in
low-frequency capabilities of Block II pods. Reports contracting to upgrade 16 ALQ-131 Block I pods to
indicate that fewer than 100 Block II pods were Block II configuration with receiver/processor and low-
acquired with modules to cover all three frequency band capability, along with modification kits, spare and
bands (450 Block I pods carried all three canisters). repair parts, support and test equipment, and the
required training. Estimated cost would be US$47
By 1994, a conversion kit was developed that could
million.
upgrade an existing Block I pod into Block II con-
figuration, producing a pod identical to a production In September 1998, the Pentagon issued an announce-
Block II. The conversion retained common Block I/II ment of the possible sale of Block II upgrades for the 40
components, replacing the others. pods being used by the Israeli government. The
estimated US$76 million effort would include upgrades,
In 1994, the Royal Netherlands Air Force awarded a
spares, support, technical data, and training. Also in
US$17 million, three-year contract to update all of its
September 1998, the DoD announced that the
Block I pods to Block II standard as part of the F-16
government of Egypt planned to upgrade 40
Mid-Life Upgrade program. The first conversion
April 2002
AN Equipment Forecast ALQ-131(V), Page 5
ALQ-131(V) pods from Block I to Block II configura- Pakistan but never delivered owing to concerns about
tion. That project was valued at US$76 million. the Pakistani nuclear weapons program. The Air Force
said that reports that the package would include 12
In April 1999, Mitsubishi Electric Corp awarded
ALQ-131(V) pods were false.
Northrop Grumman a US$19.6 million contract to
supply ALQ-131(V) components for assembly and In January 2000, Egypt awarded Northrop Grumman a
license production. This was a follow-up to annual US$39 million contract for 39 Block II conversion kits
procurements of ALQ-131(V) components since for the Egyptian Air Force. The pods are to be used on
licensing in 1991. Deliveries began in April 2000. the EAF’s F-4, F-16, and C-130 aircraft.
A June 1999 announcement noted that the Royal In April 2001, the Bahrain Amiri Air Force announced
Norwegian Air Force had awarded a contract worth that it would upgrade Block I pods to the Block II
US$15.8 million for 16 ALQ-131(V) Block II upgrades. standard by procuring Receiver/Processors as part of a
Norwegian pods would be upgraded at the Northrop US Navy contract for 12 R/P units. The other six would
Grumman Regional Support Center in Robins, Georgia. be used to upgrade Block I pods in the US inventory for
sale to Bahrain. The pods would be used on its F-16s as
Also in June 1999, New Zealand agreed to buy the 28
part of a larger upgrade and modernization of its air
F-16A/B Block 15 aircraft originally bought by
force.
Funding
Funding is now primarily from O&M or depot accounts.
Recent Contracts
Award
Contractor ($ millions) Date/Description
Northrop Grumman 15.8 Jun 1999 – ALQ-131(V) FMS production for Norway. (F09603-99-
C-0124)
Lockheed Martin 15.8 Nov 1999 – FFP contract for 39 Receiver/Processors for ALQ-131(V)
to support FMS to Egypt. Completed 2001. (F09603-99-C-0417)
Northrop Grumman 39.0 Dec 1999 – FFP contract for 49 Block I to Block II upgrade kits.
FMS for Egypt. Completed 2001. (F09603-00-C-0043)
Northrop Grumman 9.6 Dec 2000 – FFP contract for the upgrade of six ALQ-131(V) systems
from Block I to Block II configuration, including associated support
services. To be complete December 2003. (F09603-01/C-0049)
BAE Systems 6.2 Feb 2001 – FFP contract to provide 12 Receiver/Processors for the
ALQ-131(V) Block II pod. The effort supports FMS to Bahrain.
(F09603-01/C-0094)
Timetable
Month Year Major Development
1972 Engineering development
1976 Full-scale engineering development
1977 Initial production contract
May 1983 Block II production begins
Oct 1984 SEEK RAM contract awarded
Apr 1985 SEEK RAM critical review
Jul 1985 Initial flight tests of Block II pods
Oct 1986 SEEK RAM acceptance tests started
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ALQ-131(V), Page 6 AN Equipment Forecast
Month Year Major Development
1988 SEEK RAM canceled
Jul 1988 1,000th pod manufactured and delivered to USAF
Jun 1989 FFP contract for eleventh production lot
Oct 1990 Block II R/P IOC (planned for Jan 1991)
Mar 1992 Missile warning system additions proposed
1995 End of pod production; upgrades and enhancements continue
Jun 1999 Norwegian upgrade contracted
Dec 1999 Egyptian upgrade kits contracted
Feb 2001 FMS for 12 Block II Receiver/Processor upgrades for Bahrain
Dec 2001 Egyptian upgrade deliveries to be completed
Worldwide Distribution
Procurement estimates are as follows:
Bahrain. Procured 6 pods for F-16s. Upgrading to Block II and procuring six more Block II pods
Egypt. Procured 82 Block II pods for its F-16s. Upgrading Block Is to Block IIs
Israel. Procured 20 pods for F-15 and F-16 use
Japan. Procured 60 pods for its F-4J and F-4E aircraft
Netherlands. Procured 105 pods for its F-16 fleet
Norway. Procured pods for its F-16 aircraft. Upgrading 16 Block Is to Block IIs
Pakistan. Procured 40 pods for tactical aircraft
Portugal. Procured 8 pods for A-7 aircraft
Singapore. Procured pods for tactical aircraft
Taiwan. Procured pods for F-16 aircraft
United States. Carries 1,018 pods on a variety of tactical aircraft
Forecast Rationale
The ALQ-131(V) is used by both US and Allied forces. enhancement program to keep the system up to date.
It is an important EW asset for the USAF tactical fleet The Block II Receiver/Processor performance enhance-
and has proven effective in a variety of combat training ment is popular. The upgrades have an advantage since
environments, including the demanding Red Flag and upgrade kits modify original, on-hand pods.
EW CAS electronic combat scenarios. During the
In 1989, the Air Force decided that the ALQ-184(V)
Persian Gulf War, the ALQ-184(V), ALQ-131(V), and
would be the only pod procured by the USAF in its
ALQ-119(V) pods were carried by the Air Force, with
annual pod buys. The reason cited for the sole contract
the ALQ-184(V) and ALQ-131(V) supporting the
to Raytheon was the lower cost of modifying existing
missions calling for the most threat protection. The
ALQ-119(V) pods compared with the cost of producing
ALQ-119(V) was used as backup and on low-threat
all new pods. Additionally, this approach would not
missions. The ALQ-184(V) was carried by the F-4G
reduce the stock of ALQ-131(V) pods in the inventory.
Wild Weasels that deployed from George AFB,
Another factor favoring Raytheon was the immediate
California. Block II ALQ-131(V) pods were carried by
availability of ALQ-184(V) test equipment.
Wild Weasels from Spangdahlem AFB, Germany, and
by the rest of the tactical fleet. The ALQ-131(V) pods Support continues. The international air forces that
used were Block II versions and are still operated by carry the ALQ-131 consider it their premier pod, and
forces in the region. will continue to support it for many years to come.
Upgrades to existing pods will meet many users’ needs.
Aircrews are familiar with the pod and have confidence
US support will continue for pods in the inventory, as
in its performance, and a logistics support system is in
will upgrades, especially the addition of missile warning
place. The manufacturer has an ongoing upgrade and
system enhancements.
Future jammers will be internally mounted in the next-
generation aircraft or the aircraft will use towed decoys.
April 2002
AN Equipment Forecast ALQ-131(V), Page 7
Pods cause drag, take up a weapons hardpoint, and “peacetime” operations, when crews are not as faithful
cannot be used with low-observable airframes, so about setting up and using protective equipment as they
internal systems will be standard for future tactical are in a combat theater. The launch tactic was creative
electronic warfare equipment. But delays in develop- and minimized the warning time by using offset radars
mental programs, defense budget cutbacks, and to target Captain O’Grady’s aircraft. The missile was
experience with current systems in actual combat make fired from inside the pod’s cone of silence. The need
it unlikely that the new hardware will be retrofitted into for constant vigilance must be re-emphasized. Safety
current aircraft, extending the need for jamming pod during “non-combat” operations cannot be assumed, and
support. missile warning additions are important.
A major lesson learned in the Persian Gulf was the Missile warning system modifications will be the major
importance of missile warning systems to protect tactical market opportunity in the future. Estimates are that
aircraft from heat-seeking surface-to-air missiles. The around 200 pods could be upgraded for use by A-10 and
Air Force initiated an effort to integrate missile warning other tactical aircraft. FMS procurement supports a
and expendable dispensers into existing EW pods, and production run for a spare and repair parts market, as
the Air Force has been testing new systems. well as upgrades.
When Captain Scott O’Grady’s F-16 was shot down Several aircraft that can carry the pod are being retired,
over Bosnia, he was carrying an ALQ-131(V) pod, and discouraging new pod developments, and supporting the
there was concern as to why it did not protect his aircraft longevity of and upgrades to the existing ALQ-131(V)
from the Serbian missile. One of the problems was a and other operational pods. Support will continue as
lack of vigilance and ECM application – typical during long as pods remain in the fleets of the world.
Ten-Year Outlook
No significant new production expected. Upgrade and support continues.
* * *
April 2002
