O’Bryan said the power of the F-35’s EW/EA systems can be inferred from the fact that the Marine Corps "is going to replace its EA-6B [a dedicated jamming aircraft] with the baseline F-35B" with no additional pods or internal systems.
Maybe someone should tell the USMC....
UMC Concepts & Programs - Legacy Aircraft
EA-6B Prowler
EA-6B Prowlers remain an essential, combat-proven element of the MAGTF and joint force. The Prowlers’ primary mission is EW, which includes electronic attack (EA), electronic support (ES), and electronic protection (EP). Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadrons (VMAQs) have completed the transition to the Improved Capabilities III (ICAP-III) weapon system............
We will execute a phased decommissioning of our four VMAQs between FY16 and FY19. VMAQ-1, which formally re-designated as VMAQT-1 in June 2013, has assumed EA-6B Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) responsibilities. VMAQT-1 will function as the EA-6B FRS until it decommissions at the end of FY16. The remaining squadrons will decommission at a rate of one per year until the Marine The EA-6B fleet is fully retired by the end of FY19: VMAQ-4 at the end of FY17, VMAQ-3 at the end of FY18, and VMAQ-2 at the end of FY19. No single platform will replace the EA-6B. Rather, EW capabilities for the MAGTF will be provided from numerous airborne and ground-based systems. The vision of MAGTF EW is a composite of manned and unmanned surface, air, and space-based assets, which are fully networking and collaborating to provide the MAGTF with the ability to control the EM spectrum.............
Marine Aviation Plan 2015
See section 2.1.
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MAGTF EW– The Marine Corps’ comprehensive plan to address post-EA- 6B Prowler Electronic Warfare (EW) requirements is Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) EW. MAGTF EW leverages emerging technologies and integrates multiple aviation platforms (unmanned, fixed wing, and rotary wing assets); payloads; ground-based EW nodes; and cyber effects to provide commanders with an organic and persistent EW capability. MAGTF EW transitions the Marine Corps from a focus on low- density/high-demand (LD/HD) EW capability, to a distributed, platform- agnostic approach.
Any available digitally interoperable sensor can be connected with another to build a scalable, responsive, and cost-effective integrated system, delivering capabilities such as EW, cyber, and signals intelligence (SIGINT) on demand. This approach will also allow the Marine Corps, as a middleweight expeditionary force, to retain direct access to its capability investment throughout the operations as organic and inseparable features of the MAGTF. MAGTF EW will complement joint EW assets in support of ground forces and fifth-generation aircraft flying against sophisticated integrated air defense systems (IADS).
Cyberspace and Electronic Warfare Coordination Cell (CEWCC)– The CEWCC coordinates the integrated planning, execution, and assessment of cyberspace and EMS actions across the MAGTF’s operational environment in order to increase operational tempo and achieve military advantage. To perform this primary function, the CEWCC is placed within the MAGTF at the commander’s discretion, but should be established within the command element S-3/G-3 in order to ensure it can support all phases of the commander’s scheme of maneuver with Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO) and Cyberspace Operations (CO), which can be complex, technical, highly classified, and potentially global in consequence. Wherever the CEWCC exists, it is responsible for coordinating across principal staff sections , major subordinate commands (MSCs)/major subordinate elements (MSEs); working groups, boards, and bureaus; and with higher headquarters to enhance the integration of cyberspace and EMS-dependent capabilities applicable to all warfighting functions and MAGTF objectives.
EW Services Architecture (EWSA)- An extensible data exchange and hardware protocol intended to connect EW/SIGINT airborne nodes to ground Operators, Cyberspace and EW Coordination Cells (CEWCCs), and other air EW nodes. EWSA will provide “on-demand EW fires” in operational conditions under C/EWCC control, and will unite Air EW, Ground EW and SIGINT via an adaptive network with multiple waveforms. Additionally, EWSA will also provide basic digital interoperability between air platforms.
ALQ-231 Intrepid Tiger II (ITII)– IT-II is a platform agnostic, modular open system architecture payload that provides advanced AEA and ES capability to existing and dependable multirole platforms. Just as IT-II can be rapidly reprogrammed to counter evolving and emerging threats, the Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA) design allows for rapid integration on multiple platforms. IT-II (V) 1 currently deploys with AV-8Bs and F/A-18s. This year the IT-II (V) 3 will EOC with USMC light attack helicopters with follow –on IT-II (V) 2 for unmanned aircraft systems in development.
ITII details include:
• EOC of Block ‘0’ pod to OEF conducted in 2012
• 116 pods for counter-communications and irregular warfare RF target sets
• Technology and capacity to field radar variant of Intrepid Tiger II
• MEU focus (AV-8B, F/A18, AH/UH series aircraft)
• Currently deployed V(1) on Fixed-Wing
• V(3) AH/UH series QRA of Block ‘1’ set for FY15
• UAS (future)
Nobody Asked Me.......Bur We Still Need the Prowler