A specialized US Air Force electronic warfare unit has upgraded the F-16 fighter jets Denmark and the Netherlands delivered to Ukraine, enhancing the aircraft’s survivability against evolving Russian electronic warfare.
The 68th Electronic Warfare Squadron stepped into uncharted territory as it accepted the upgrade request involving unfamiliar electronic warfare systems.
“Most reprogramming centers would have said ‘no way’ when approaching this challenge; it’s uncharted policy,” the 68th EWS chief engineer said.
“We looked at each other and we said, ‘If not us, then who? We’re the best people to do this.’”
A dedicated team comprising seasoned experts and young engineers approached the challenge, relying on data provided by Denmark and Norway.
New approaches and processes were adopted to understand the system for two weeks before the commencement of work.
“After understanding the system, the 68th EWS deviated again from normal methods and sent its members overseas to a partner-nation lab to collaboratively develop and test the system alongside coalition teammates,” the US Air Force explained in a press release.
Electronic Warfare
Electronic warfare is the “ability to use the electromagnetic spectrum — signals such as radio, infrared, or radar — to sense, protect, and communicate,” according to Lockheed Martin.
Conversely, it also pertains to denying, disrupting, and degrading the adversary’s capability to use these signals.
Electronic warfare systems rely on in-house data to detect, categorize, and respond to electronic waveforms.
Reprogramming is required to update the database to respond to evolving threats.
“Both Ukraine and Russia’s militaries heavily rely on unfettered access to the electromagnetic spectrum to achieve commander objectives and both sides have continuously engaged in EW through techniques such as jamming and spoofing throughout the war to achieve spectrum superiority,” the US Air Force said.
Possible EW Capabilities
The exact electronic warfare capability the Ukrainian jets have been equipped with is not disclosed.
However, The War Zone reported that the jets have been “spotted with pylons from defense contractor Terma in Denmark,” featuring “built-in approach warning sensors that can be fitted with electronic warfare jammers, as well as dispensers for decoy flares and chaff.”
“The pylons are tied to the jet’s internal self-protection suite to provide synergistic effects,“ the outlet wrote.
Now that Ukraine has been onboarded as an official foreign military sales case for the 68th EWS, the future reprogramming capabilities will be based on combat-tested data from the Ukrainians.
Ukraine received its first batch of F-16s earlier this month from Denmark and the Netherlands.
Around 90 F-16s have been pledged for Ukraine by the two countries, in addition to Belgium and Norway, to bolster Kyiv’s air defense capability.