Jamming pods for helicopters a B-52 gets an air-to-air kill
Lockheed is testing jamming pods for helos and a BUFF gets an air-to-air kill on the opening night of Linebacker II
Do not hit at all if it can be avoided, but never hit softly.
-Theodore Roosevelt
Mission Briefing
In a recent milestone for electronic warfare, Lockheed Martin, in collaboration with the U.S. Navy, successfully tested the Advanced Off-Board Electronic Warfare (AOEW) system's electronic attack capabilities. This landmark event took place on a U.S. Navy MH-60R helicopter at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. It was a first in the program's history, demonstrating the system's threat deterrence and performance measurement capabilities while being integrated and controlled by the host platform.
The test, focusing exclusively on the MH-60R helicopter, showcased the AOEW system's compatibility and functionality on this platform. Although AOEW is designed for both MH-60R and MR-60S helicopters, the latter was not part of this testing phase.
Deon Viergutz, Vice President of Spectrum Convergence at Lockheed Martin, highlighted the significance of the AOEW system. He described it as a groundbreaking electronic warfare tool, offering unparalleled capabilities and adaptability. According to Viergutz, the AOEW system empowers naval personnel to control the battlespace effectively without direct combat, adapting swiftly to evolving threats.
Delving deeper, the AOEW system is a pod-based electronic warfare and missile defense solution, enhancing the Navy's capabilities against anti-ship missile threats. It has undergone extensive testing at Lockheed Martin's Syracuse facility in New York. Notably, the system integrates seamlessly with both the Aegis Baseline 9C.2+ and the Surface Warfare Electronic Warfare Improvement Program Block II. It can operate independently or in conjunction with other onboard systems, offering a versatile defense solution.
The AOEW system benefits from an open-systems architecture, which facilitates quick updates, interoperability, reduced lifecycle costs, and the integration of new hardware. This architecture also paves the way for deploying similar capabilities on various platforms, including small ships and unmanned aerial and surface vehicles.
Looking ahead, further tests and demonstrations of the AOEW pod on different host platforms are scheduled for 2024. These trials will inform ongoing refinements to the system's performance. Under a low-rate initial production contract, the first units of the AOEW system are expected to be delivered within the next year.
This week in aviation history
18 December 1972: During the first night of Operation Linebacker II, a remarkable act of aerial defense unfolded echoing back to the days of WWII. Staff Sergeant Samuel Olin Turner of the United States Air Force, serving as the gunner aboard the Boeing B-52D-35-BW Stratofortress with the call sign "Brown 3," encountered a high-speed Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG 21 interceptor closing in from below and behind. A second MiG was trailing further back.
During the MiG 21's attack run, Turner skillfully manned the bomber's tail turret, equipped with four Browning AN-M3 .50-caliber machine guns. In a brief but intense burst lasting 6–8 seconds, he fired 694 rounds, witnessing a massive explosion behind the aircraft, signaling a successful hit.
Master Sergeant Louis E. LeBlanc, operating the guns on another B-52, "Brown 2," confirmed the destruction of the MiG 21, validating Turner's defensive prowess.
Turner, an Atlanta, Georgia native born on August 15, 1942, had a rich personal history. The son of William Edgar Turner and Beatrice Honnicutt Turner, he attended Russell High School in East Point, Georgia, before studying at David Lipscomb College in Nashville, Tennessee.
Enlisting in the Air Force on January 13, 1970, Turner trained as a B-52 gunner and spent two years in Southeast Asia. By 1977, as a Technical Sergeant, he transitioned to the B-52H Stratofortress, handling the advanced remotely-operated M61A1 20 mm rotary cannon.
After an illustrious career garnished with awards like the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and numerous Air Medals, Senior Master Sergeant Turner retired from the Air Force on January 31, 1982. He passed away in Stockbridge, Georgia, on April 9, 1985, at 42.
Turner's legacy endures through the Samuel O. Turner Airman Leadership School at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. And the B-52D Stratofortress he once operated, tail number 56-676, stands as a historic exhibit at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington, the last of its kind.
In case you missed it
The F-5 Freedom Fighter is a timeless design and still looks sleek to this day. Here is the first in a two part series on this iconic jet:
Photo Outlet
Viper Demo Team pilot “Rebel” waving at the crowd as she taxis by on the flightline, if you get a chance to see this F-16 in action you should!
Post Flight Debrief
Next Monday is of course 25 December, Merry Christmas from my family to yours, and Happy Holidays to all. That’s all for this week, thanks for reading! If you know a fellow aviation enthusiast that would enjoy these weekly newsletters, then please forward this along. Now you know!
-Tog