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2017-02-23
COMPASS CALL AIRCRAFT CHALLENGES COMBAT COMMUNICATIONS
The EC-130H Compass Call, a US Air Force electronic attack aircraft, sets new rules. “If you can’t talk, you can’t fight. It’s very simple.”
The EC-130H Compass Call is an airborne tactical weapon system, which uses a heavily modified version of Lockheed Martin’s C-130 Hercules airframe.
Military operations are complex. Attacking an adversary requires significant co-ordination and communication between a commander and their fighters.
The complexities of war often mean even the best laid plans are adapted on the fly. Competent leaders need the ability to redirect their forces in real-time in order to react to enemy actions. If a commander cannot issue orders, his capabilities are severely degraded and his likelihood of success plummets. Attacking those lines of communication is an effective, innovative way to reduce an enemy’s capability.
The US Air Force uses this knowledge every day in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) through employment of the EC-130H Compass Call.
“When the Compass Call is up on station supporting our Iraqi allies, we are denying [ISIL’s] ability to command and control its forces, to coordinate attacks,” said Lt. Col. Josh Koslov, the 43rd Expeditionary Electronic Attack Squadron commander. “If you can’t talk, you can’t fight. It’s very simple.”
Disruption
The system disrupts enemy command and control communications and limits adversary coordination essential for enemy force management. It employs offensive counter-information and electronic attack (or EA) capabilities in support of US and coalition tactical air, surface, and special operations forces.
In order to target and jam those communications, the EC-130H employs around a dozen airmen, including a standard C-130 flight crew on the flight deck, and a contingent of electronic warfare officers and linguists in the rear of the aircraft. Each of these individuals is a piece in accomplishing the mission.
“(The linguist’s) weapon is language,” Koslov added. “They help us to efficiently find, prioritise and target (ISIL). They prioritise the signals we’re targeting from the strategic [level] through the tactical level and they also help the electronic warfare officer make jamming decisions in order to provide the effects desired by the ground force commander.”
When used effectively, the EC-130H disorients ISIL fighters, helping make them easy targets for troops on the ground to engage.
Challenges
The aircraft’s capabilities offer a distinct advantage for American, Iraqi and coalition forces. It is currently in demand with ground force commanders, but Koslov and his team face significant challenges executing their operations.
There are only 14 EC-130Hs across the entire Air Force. That relatively small number of aircraft, coupled with the sheer volume of mission requirements levied upon it, makes the Compass Call a low density, high demand asset. Additionally, the aircraft themselves are more than 50 years old and require a dedicated maintenance crew to ensure they are capable of carrying out their zero-fail mission.
The EC-130H, EA-6B or EA-18G, and F-16CJ, form the Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) triad. Programmed upgrades have expanded its mission by procuring a secondary EA capability against early warning and acquisition radars. The EC-130H continuously tests new capabilities and tactics to respond to emerging threats and requests from combatant commanders.
Background
The Compass Call had its first flight in 1981, was delivered to the US Air Force in 1982, and reached initial operating capability in 1983.
Over its 33- year-long operational life, the aircraft has demonstrated a powerful effect on enemy command and control networks in multiple military operations including Kosovo, Haiti, Panama, Libya, Iraq, Serbia and Afghanistan.
All Compass Call aircraft are assigned to US Air Combat Command.
Crew
The EC-130H aircraft carries a combat crew of 13 people. Four members are responsible for aircraft flight and navigation (aircraft commander, co-pilot, navigator and flight engineer), while nine members operate and employ the EA mission equipment permanently integrated in the cargo/mission compartment.
The mission crew includes the mission crew commander (electronic warfare officer), weapon system officer (electronic warfare officer), mission crew supervisor (an experienced cryptologic linguist), four analysis operators (linguists), one acquisition operator and an airborne maintenance technician.
The Compass Call integrates into tactical air operations at any level. The versatile and flexible nature of the aircraft and its crew enable the power of electronic combat to be brought to bear in virtually any combat situation.
Block 35 Baseline 1 & 2
The EC-130H fleet is composed of a mix of Baseline 1 and 2 aircraft. COMPASS CALL’s adaptability is directly attributed to its spiral upgrade acquisition strategy guided by the Big Safari Program office and Air Force Material Command’s 661st Aeronautical Systems Squadron based in Waco, Texas. Combined efforts between these agencies ensure the EC-130H can counter new, emergent communication technology.
The Block 35 Baseline 1 EC-130H provides the Air Force with additional capabilities to jam communication, Early Warning/Acquisition radar and navigation systems through higher effective radiated power, extended frequency range and insertion of digital signal processing versus earlier EC-130Hs. Baseline 1 aircraft have the flexibility to keep pace with adversary use of emerging technology. It is highly reconfigurable and permits incorporation of clip-ins with less crew impact. It promotes enhanced crew proficiency, maintenance and sustainment with a common fleet configuration, new operator interface, increased reliability and better fault detection.
Baseline 2 has a number of upgrades to ease operator workload and improve effectiveness. Clip-in capabilities are now integrated into the operating system and, utilizing automated resource management, are able to be employed seamlessly with legacy capabilities. Improved external communications allow Compass Call crews to maintain situational awareness and connectivity in dynamic operational and tactical environments.
Baseline 2 has a number of upgrades to ease operator workload and improve effectiveness. Clip-in capabilities are now integrated into the operating system and, utilizing automated resource management, are able to be employed seamlessly with legacy capabilities. Improved external communications allow Compass Call crews to maintain situational awareness and connectivity in dynamic operational and tactical environments.
Delivery of Baseline-2 provides the DoD with the equivalent of a “fifth generation electronic attack capability.” A majority of the improvements found in the EC-130H Compass Call Baseline-2 are classified modifications to the mission system that enhance precision and increase attack capacity. Additionally, the system was re-designed to expand the “plug-and-play” quick reaction capability aspect, which has historically allowed the program to counter unique “one-off” high profile threats. Aircraft communication capabilities are improved with expansion of satellite connectivity compatible with emerging DoD architectures, increased multi-asset coordination nets and upgraded data-link terminals. Furthermore, modifications to the airframe in Baseline-2 provide improved aircraft performance and survivability.
Reference Text/Photo: http://www.af.mil ,www.lockheedmartin.com
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