{ "id": "R44572", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R44572", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 598350, "date": "2019-05-14", "retrieved": "2019-12-20T19:11:17.505936", "title": "U.S. Airborne Electronic Attack Programs: Background and Issues for Congress", "summary": "U.S. airborne electronic warfare (EW) programs involve developing and procuring EW aircraft and EW systems that are mounted on U.S. aircraft. The President\u2019s FY2020 budget request for the Department of Defense (DOD) proposes funding for a number of airborne EW programs.\nThe Role of Airborne EW in Modern Warfare\nEW is a component of modern warfare, particularly in response to threats posed by potential adversaries such as Russia or China. EW refers to operations that use the electromagnetic spectrum (i.e., the \u201cairwaves\u201d) to detect, listen to, jam, and deceive (or \u201cspoof\u201d) enemy radars, radio communication systems, data links, and other electronic systems. EW also refers to operations that defend against enemy attempts to do the same.\nThe shift in the international security environment from the post-Cold War era to an era of renewed great power competition has led to an increased focus on EW in U.S. defense planning and programming, particularly aspects of EW related to high-end warfare.\nU.S. Airborne Electronic Attack Capabilities \nAirborne EW capabilities are a component of U.S. military airpower. Although dedicated U.S. EW aircraft are relatively few in number compared with U.S. fighters, strike fighters, and attack aircraft, they play a role in helping to ensure the combat survivability and effectiveness of other aircraft and friendly forces on the ground. \nDOD\u2019s three primary manned EW electronic attack aircraft are the Navy EA-18G Growler, the Air Force EC-130H Compass Call, and the Air Force EC-37B Compass Call Re-Host. A fourth manned aircraft\u2014the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter\u2014has extensive, integrated EW capabilities. DOD\u2019s primary airborne electronic attack payloads include the AN/ALQ-99 electronic attack suite, the Next Generation Jammer, and the Miniature Air Launched Decoy-Jammer.\nEW Oversight Issues for Congress\nCongress has continually shown interest in EW, and the decisions it makes regarding EW could affect future U.S. military capabilities and funding requirements. In particular, EW programs pose several potential oversight issues for Congress\nWhether DOD is prioritizing appropriately airborne EW programs in its planning and budgeting relative to other U.S. military EW programs (such as those for U.S. ground forces or Navy surface ships) and to other DOD non-EW priorities. \nWhether DOD\u2019s proposed mix of airborne EW capabilities and investments is appropriate. \nThe evolution of technology and how new technologies can be employed for EW operations. \nThe Air Force\u2019s planned rate for procuring EC-37Bs and replacing EC-130Hs.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44572", "sha1": "4022cfa9ee0857233377206921056e912fc9f14b", "filename": "files/20190514_R44572_4022cfa9ee0857233377206921056e912fc9f14b.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44572_files&id=/11.png": "files/20190514_R44572_images_439f9699bffd9910bc598576e26ff8d5dee11aed.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44572_files&id=/2.png": "files/20190514_R44572_images_7a3e628eabd39c296b6c27d3c5357da662f33027.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44572_files&id=/6.png": "files/20190514_R44572_images_e2b7d1b5461e84361a97624cf133ce8efe42977b.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44572_files&id=/1.png": "files/20190514_R44572_images_9db6bd26598fcb4ed11a28f145030a4f9e4acfce.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44572_files&id=/3.png": "files/20190514_R44572_images_255e7253d155aaf1cb3150bcefb72ba39c194aa1.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44572_files&id=/4.png": "files/20190514_R44572_images_c35bc61fc9d682224c14071ed8badb9b6fef0310.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44572_files&id=/0.png": "files/20190514_R44572_images_fca43ff35d4c92cf1dc42e9b2d1418608bc76ce9.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44572_files&id=/8.png": "files/20190514_R44572_images_12889eec25374c4be22ddf285944b768244d13f5.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44572_files&id=/10.png": "files/20190514_R44572_images_281cdf09775a5cdc8fac6628328e6ebb394687b0.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44572_files&id=/9.png": "files/20190514_R44572_images_6ab793921b0d9cf8151db7d3ad1f4d65af2852e0.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44572_files&id=/12.png": "files/20190514_R44572_images_1102f6b951076ca8c2ab31f82404f85fa42ac9c0.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44572_files&id=/5.png": "files/20190514_R44572_images_6a80b6a39dd97d542dc2be3d43cd6fbd281a0e6f.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44572_files&id=/7.png": "files/20190514_R44572_images_52006b134fefbdb62d6b5d24e74773d95e4b1464.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44572", "sha1": "769a91128c4f2e1fb6948c40ab1b4e00e3d51fee", "filename": "files/20190514_R44572_769a91128c4f2e1fb6948c40ab1b4e00e3d51fee.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4902, "name": "Air, Land, Sea, & Projection Forces" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 454724, "date": "2016-07-26", "retrieved": "2016-11-28T21:51:45.860452", "title": "U.S. Electronic Attack Aircraft", "summary": "Electronic warfare (EW) has been an important component of military air operations since the earliest days of radar. The advent of the airplane enabled the United States to project power faster than land and naval forces had ever done. It also spurred the development of technologies, such as radar, that could detect and track enemy aircraft, thereby protecting military forces, infrastructure, and populations from aerial threats. \nDepartment of Defense EW Activities \nThe Department of Defense (DOD) is engaged in numerous developmental EW activities. These activities include research and development (R&D) programs, procurement programs, training, and experimentation. Such activities are designed to improve various electronic attack (EA), electronic countermeasures (ECM), and suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) capabilities both in the near and long term. DOD EW activities often cut across service and intra-service community boundaries and defy easy categorization and oversight, making it difficult to determine and assess DOD-wide EW priorities. Although DOD does not have an overall EW procurement strategy, it is focusing more on this aspect of military operations in response to emerging threats. \nThe DOD budget request for FY2017 showed an increase in Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation (RDT&E) funds for EW. Congressional appropriations and authorization conferees often matched or exceeded DOD\u2019s request for EW programs to help ensure the survivability of numerous aircraft and to increase the military\u2019s ability to suppress or destroy enemy air defenses.\nCongressional Decisions Regarding EW\nCongress has the authority to approve, reject, or modify Air Force and Navy funding requests for EW aircraft sustainment and modernization. Congress also has the authority to provide oversight of the nation\u2019s EW requirements and capabilities. Congress\u2019s decisions on appropriations for the airborne EW aircraft fleet may affect the United States\u2019 EW capabilities, as well as the U.S. defense industry. \nAs part of its FY2017 budget authorization, appropriations, and oversight responsibilities, Congress may influence DOD\u2019s EW force structure, aircraft survivability, and air campaign effectiveness. Potential congressional oversight, authorization, and appropriations concerns for the sustainment and modernization of DOD\u2019s airborne EW force include the following:\na potential shortfall in EW capabilities if funds are not available for sustainment and upgrades that would keep the weapon systems viable until they are replaced;\nascertaining DOD, Air Force, and Navy priorities for sustainment and modernization; and\npotential implications that changing the number of EW aircraft may have on future rounds of base realignment and closure efforts.\nReport Focus\nThis report focuses on the definition of EW and the four primary aircraft that are the main assets for this mission area:\nthe Navy\u2019s EA-18G, \nthe Marine Corps\u2019 EA-6B Prowler, \nthe Air Force\u2019s EC-130H Compass Call, and\nthe F-16CM Block 50 \u201cWild Weasel.\u201d\nThe report also addresses potential congressional oversight and appropriations concerns for the sustainment and modernization of the DOD\u2019s EW aircraft. It does not address options for recapitalization currently being offered by industry.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44572", "sha1": "bf8b4690d0cee1f21e73e9faba05278cdc3866d9", "filename": "files/20160726_R44572_bf8b4690d0cee1f21e73e9faba05278cdc3866d9.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44572", "sha1": "2a51cdc4899b20866fcbe04719f30416e7d77bf9", "filename": "files/20160726_R44572_2a51cdc4899b20866fcbe04719f30416e7d77bf9.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4902, "name": "Air, Land, Sea, & Projection Forces" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Foreign Affairs", "Intelligence and National Security", "National Defense" ] }