ALQ-167 and ALQ-188 ECM pods

AN/ALQ-188
[ATTACH=CONFIG]224275[/ATTACH]
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/equip/an-alq-188.htm
Electronic Attack Training Pod; used with F-16, CT-133 (Canada)

AN/ALQ-167
[ATTACH=CONFIG]224276[/ATTACH]
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/equip/an-alq-167.htm
“Yellow Veil” 0.85-18GHz ECCM/ECM Noise/Deception Jamming Pod; manufactured by Rodale; used on A-6E, EA-6A/B, EP-3J, F-14A/B, F/A-18, EC-24A, NKC-135, MQM-8G, Sea King HAS.5 (UK), Lynx (UK); British name is “YELLOW PERIL”

The following excerpt is from NAVAIR 01-85ADF-2-23 A-6E Principles of Operation – Electronic Countermeasures Systems (15 July 1990 Change 1 – 15 December 1991):

44. COUNTERMEASURES SET AN/ALQ-167. The AN/ALQ-167 countermeasures set is an ECM system used for radar and missile system test and evaluation and personnel training. It is essentially a pod mounted AN/DLQ-38 countermeasures set, which is installed on a tray within the pod for carriage on the aircraft. Noise and deception jamming are generated by the set to provide an ECM environment for microwave-oriented weapons. The AN/ALQ-167 countermeasures set is presented in NAVAIR 01-85ADF-75.

I presume that the primary purpose of the AN/ALQ-167 was for training, but when Desert Storm rolled around intel discovered the ALQ-126 didn’t provide as much coverage as was necessary. Subsequently modifications (most likely software only) were made to the pod and it was hastily readied for combat.

The following is a picture of an A-6E that was hit by a SAM on 17 January 1991 and had to make an emergency landing:
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As can be seen the aircraft is carrying an AN/ALQ-167 ECM pod indicating the system was used tactically in a real threat environment.

ALQ-188 and ALQ-167

Hi, I’m a new member. A few more bits of information (corrections) to the ownership and use of these pods.

The USAF and USN are the owners of the designs (government owned source data). Both pods are manufactured and maintained organically by each service and suplemented with service contracts to specific suppliers. Rodale markets thier pod line to non-US customers. The ALQ-167 pods produced by Rodale are not sold/supplied to the USN and are not the same configurations maintained by the USN. Seems to be a lot of interest in these 2 pods – hope this information helps.

Mercurius,

The Jane’s info comes from this link:

http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jav/jav_1189.html

I have purchased a copy of Jane’s Avionics, but I have not received it yet. I will let you know what I can find.

167: yes, a ‘typo’. The company is Rodale and I have the PDFs. Interesting info and gives a good idea about the capabilities.

188: no idea if the pod is manufactured by Northrop Grumman or another company. Thanks for the info on the jamming modes.

cheers,

If I understand it correctly, both are ECM pods for training purposes, and not tactical use, though some sources (Jane’s) tell that the 167 can be tactically used.

I hadn’t heard that – can you steer me to the Jane’s info?

The only tactically-useable equivalent I’m aware of is the S200 self-defence jammer, which uses a standard ALQ-167 pod shell, radomes, and antennas, and some of the electronics.

I know the 167 is manufactured by Rodane, and I wonder if the 188 is manufactured by the same company, if it is an evolution of the 167 or something.

You’ve got a slight ‘typo’ there – the company is Rodale Electronics, and its website has various PDF spec sheets and info you can download.

ALQ-188 is a Northrop Grumman product I believe.

I have read some more info about the jamming modes, but all my knowledge about these comes from readings (History of US Electronic Warfare, and so on) and it sounds gibberish to me.

If those books are your idea of light reading, here comes a list of some ALQ-188 jamming modes:

amplitude modulated blink fixed, sequenced, swept square wave and random blink; barrage, spot and swept-spot noise;
cover pulse;
false target;
narrowband repeater noise;
pseudo-random noise;
random Doppler;
range gate pull-off;
velocity gate pull-off.

I was in a hurry when I last posted, and didn’t want to take the time to type them all out.

Mercurius Cantabrigiensis

Mercurius,

Thanks for your kind reply. If I understand it correctly, both are ECM pods for training purposes, and not tactical use, though some sources (Jane’s) tell that the 167 can be tactically used. In the few pictures I have seen both pods look similar. I know the 167 is manufactured by Rodane, and I wonder if the 188 is manufactured by the same company, if it is an evolution of the 167 or something.

I have read some more info about the jamming modes, but all my knowledge about these comes from readings (History of US Electronic Warfare, and so on) and it sounds gibberish to me.

Merry Christmas,

what is exactly the use of two ECM pods, ALQ-167 and ALQ-188? I have tried to find information on books, web, etc., but by the moment all I know is that both look similar, the 167 seems to be used by the US Navy and the 188 by USAF agressor squadrons and some ANG units.

They are both designed primarily for training purposes, presumably to allow the large-scale use of realistic jamming without compromising the capabilities of operational jammers.

The ALQ-167 exists in at least three models that between them cover the commonly-used radar bands, and all offer several jamming modes, typically including noise and deception modes. A specialised version known as the Radar Simulator Pod simulates the active radar seeker heads of air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missiles.

The ALQ-188 operates around X-band, and has about 30 different jamming modes – listing them woudn’t be meaningful unless you have a basic understanding of jamming techniques.

Is that enough to answer your question?

Mercurius Cantabrigiensis