The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is launching a concept design effort intended to address US Navy (USN) needs for a next-generation expendable offboard decoy system able to stay airborne on station for at least one hour.
Known as the Long Endurance Advanced Off-board Electronic Warfare (AOEW) Platform (LEAP), the programme seeks a carrier flight vehicle and compatible countermeasure payload(s).
Forming part of a multi-layered defence against anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), the AOEW programme is intended to introduce a new generation of offboard electronic warfare (EW) decoys to provide enhanced soft-kill defence. The AOEW programme is currently developing the AN/ALQ-248 Active Mission Payload (AMP) for integration with MH-60R/MH-60S helicopters.
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Japan is moving forward with efforts to acquire a new fighter aircraft to replace the F-2: its 1990s F-16 derivative. However, undefined requirements, industrial base issues, and US-Japanese sensitivities over the F-2 development are making this procurement tricky. Pat Host reports
