UNITED24 - Make a charitable donation in support of Ukraine!

Military


EC-24A

The EC-24A was a McDonnell Douglas DC-8-54F modified for fleet electronic warfare support missions. This single airframe (Bu 163050, ex N80480), acquired second hand from United Airlines, was used until October 1998 as an "electronic aggressor" aircraft with the Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group [FEWSG] for electronic warfare tests.

The Naval Test Wing Pacific provides test aircraft and the ability to modify these aircraft in support of test and training operations. During realistic Fleet training and weapon systems Test and Evaluation (T&E), representative target vehicles are used in a realistic, radio frequency (RF), threat environment. The AN/ULQ-21(V) modules are mounted inside the AN/ALQ-167(V) pod in many different combinations of modules. As the airborne ³host vehicle² for ECM systems, the AN/ALQ-167(V) pod can be carried on manned aircraft. These aircraft include the A-6E, the EA-6A, the EA-6B, the EP-3J, the F-14A/B/D, the F/A-18A/D, the EC-24A, the NKC-135 and the Q-Lear.

In December 1998 the Navy announced its intention to conduct a full and open competition for the procurement of commercial air services to replace the Navy's EC-24A program. The contractor will provide two contractor-furnished and maintained aircraft capable of supporting contractor-acquired and Government-furnished mission equipment used for high power radar jamming electronic warfare training services. Performance would be mostly on the East and West Coasts of the United States. However, some overseas missions would be required in Hawaii, the Far East, the North Eastern Pacific, but missions are not limited to these areas and operations may be required anywhere worldwide. Initially the contractor will be required to modify its aircraft with a high-powered radar jamming system. The Navy anticipates awarding a contract with one base year and up to nine option years. The Navy intended to issue a draft RFP on or about 15 January 1999.

A draft RFP for commercial air services to replace the Navy's EC-24A program was posted on the NAVAIR home page on 24 February 1999. Comments and recommendations from industry were solicited and were due by 8 March 1999. Those comments and recommendations were reviewed, and comments and recommendations were carefully considered and the RFP was been amended accordingly. The Final RFP for commercial air services to replace the Navy's EC-24A program was released on 20 April 1999.

On December 21, 2001 Flight International Inc., Newport News, Va., was awarded a $12,258,984 modification to previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00019-96-D-2047 to provide additional funding for a three-month extension to the commercial air services (CAS) military operations support (MOS) contract. The services provided under the CAS MOS contract are for airborne threat simulation capabilities to train shipboard and aircraft squadron weapon systems operators and aircrew how to counter potential enemy electronic warfare and electronic attack operations in today's electronic combat environment. Work will be performed at Virginia Beach, Va. (60%), and San Diego, Calif. (40%), and is expected to be completed by March 2002. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

FACSFACSD is responsible for scheduling all Commercial Air Services (CAS) for EASTPAC. FACSFACPH is delegated responsibility for scheduling all CAS for MIDPAC Fleet OPAREAs. A CAS Contract Representative is co-located in the FACSFACSD Scheduling Office and receives all message traffic through FACSFAC. The contractor may also be contacted through "BEAVER" via radio communications. The contractor provides services seven days a week (excluding major holidays). The representative is authorized to receive and handle classified messages and attend classified briefings.

FACSFACSD is the COMNAVAIRPAC commercial air services scheduler. Requesters should submit quarterly Air Service Requests to their ISIC two weeks (14 days) after receiving their approved quarterly schedule from COMTHIRDFLT. OTCs for JTFEX/COMPTUEX/ MEFEX and Orange Force OTC should submit air service requirements to COMTHIRDFLT NLT three weeks after the COMTHIRDFLT Schedule Conference. Exercise OPAREA requests are still required for OPAREA and service confirmations. If aircraft cancellations are required due to equipment problems, weather or schedule changes, it is requested that the unit involved advise "BEAVER" at least three hours prior to COMEX. COMNAVAIRPAC San Diego, Quarterly Air Services Schedule DOES NOT constitute confirmation of Commercial Air Services (CAS). These services WILL NOT be confirmed without an OPAREA/Air Services request.

Commercial Air Services (CAS) aircraft can be equipped with any two of the following packages: Active jamming pods (ALQ-167) (B through J bands), threat simulators (AST-6), chaff dispensers (ALE-43). These packages can be used for exercises, individual ship requirements, or as needed for fleet exercises. CAS can be tailored to meet the needs of the requesting unit.

Radar systems to be jammed must be specified in the request message. Prioritize radar to be jammed. Each Lear is limited to two pods which are frequency band/radar specific. Specific communications circuits and frequencies (voice, data, etc) to be jammed must also be identified in order to electronically attack the correct communications circuit. NOTE: Classify "Jamming request message" as required.

Threat simulation is available in the "H", "I", and "J" bands, utilizing the "standard AST-6 signal simulation list" in ref (A). Requests for AST-6 pods are not classified due to use of lettered frequency bands vice individual frequencies in the OPAREA/air services request message. Users will advise EW aircraft to emit or "shine" a band and number (e.g., "shine india 99"). Do not use name of the threat signal as this is an OPSEC violation. This may result in termination of the event. Units or unit commanders must specify the band pod(s) shown in the standardized AST-6 signal simulation list. Each band is a separate and distinct pod and must be requested as such. NOTE: The OSE/OCE is responsible for "small/large scale ECM notification" message to appropriate agencies. NOTE: AST pod is highly recommended for AAW-24-SF Detect To Engage exercise.



NEWSLETTER
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list