AN/ASQ-239

AN/ASQ-239. The AN/ASQ-239 is a sophisticated electronic warfare suite developed by Northrop Grumman for the United States Air Force's premier strategic bombers. It represents a generational leap in defensive avionics, designed to detect, identify, and counter a wide spectrum of modern threats. The system is a foundational element for ensuring the survivability and mission effectiveness of advanced aircraft like the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit and the next-generation Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider in highly contested airspace.

Overview

The AN/ASQ-239 system functions as the core electronic warfare and self-protection suite for America's most advanced penetrating strike platforms. Its primary role is to provide comprehensive situational awareness and defensive countermeasures against integrated air defense systems, which may include surface-to-air missile sites, anti-aircraft artillery, and enemy fighter aircraft equipped with modern air-to-air missiles. By leveraging advanced sensor fusion and signal processing, the system enables crews to operate with a high degree of confidence in complex electromagnetic environments, a critical requirement for missions outlined in strategic concepts like the Air-Sea Battle doctrine. The integration of such systems is a key priority for commands like Air Force Global Strike Command and United States Strategic Command.

Development and Variants

The development of the AN/ASQ-239 traces its lineage to earlier electronic warfare systems fielded on the B-2 Spirit, evolving to address emerging threats from nations like Russia and the People's Republic of China. Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector led its design as part of continuous modernization efforts for the United States Air Force bomber fleet. A significant variant or evolution of this technology is integrated into the B-21 Raider, where it is expected to feature enhanced capabilities and open architecture for future upgrades. The program's development has been managed in close coordination with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center and has involved key subcontractors and technology firms across the United States.

System Description and Components

The AN/ASQ-239 is a fully integrated system comprising several key subsystems. It features a network of strategically placed antennas and sensors around the aircraft's airframe for 360-degree coverage. These include radar warning receivers to detect emissions from systems like the S-400 missile system, and advanced jamming transmitters to disrupt targeting and guidance signals. The suite employs sophisticated signal processors and a central mission computer to correlate data from these sensors with onboard databases, presenting a consolidated threat picture to the crew on displays in the cockpit. This architecture allows for both reactive and preemptive electronic countermeasures.

Operational Capabilities

Operationally, the AN/ASQ-239 provides a multi-layered defensive shield. Its capabilities encompass radar warning, precise geolocation of threat emitters, and the ability to conduct electronic attack through noise and deceptive jamming. The system is designed to counter a broad range of frequencies used by modern air defense radars, including those from manufacturers like Almaz-Antey. This allows the host aircraft to avoid detection, confuse enemy defenses if detected, and ultimately survive to deliver its payload, which may include ordnance like the B61 nuclear bomb or the Joint Direct Attack Munition. This electronic protection is a critical enabler for long-range strike missions.

Operational History

The AN/ASQ-239 suite entered operational service with the United States Air Force's B-2 Spirit fleet, with upgrades being implemented throughout the 2010s. It has supported the aircraft's global power projection missions, including deployments to forward operating locations like Andersen Air Force Base in Guam and RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom. The system's planned integration into the B-21 Raider ensures it will remain a cornerstone of the nation's strategic deterrence and conventional global strike triad for decades to come, forming a key part of future initiatives under the Next Generation Air Dominance program.

Specifications

While detailed performance specifications are classified, the system is known to be a digital, software-intensive suite with an open systems architecture to facilitate rapid technology refresh. It is designed for extremely high reliability and is built to withstand the rigorous environmental conditions of high-altitude, long-endurance flight. The system's components are fully integrated into the aircraft's low-observable design, preserving the stealth characteristics essential for the survival of platforms like the B-2 Spirit and B-21 Raider in advanced threat environments. Category:Electronic warfare systems of the United States Category:Avionics of the United States Category:Northrop Grumman