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AN/ALQ-172

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AN/ALQ-172 Auxiliary Control Box

AN/ALQ-172 is an integrated airborne defensive electronic countermeasure system for the B-52 Stratofortress, MC-130E Combat Talon, MC-130H Combat Talon II, AC-130H Spectre and AC-130U Spooky.[1][2] Originally produced by ITT Defense & Electronics Corp (now part of L3Harris Technologies) in the early 1980s, it was designed to improve low-level penetration survivability of the B-52.[1]

History

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A study in 1996 by analysts of the Battelle Memorial Institute determined problems with repair of the ALQ-172 resulted in the highest cost per flying hour (CPFH) of any system on the B-52.[2][3] The United States Air Force instituted Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) 93 modifying the system's memory and processing capability. By fiscal year 1997 (FY97), it also reported a second system was needed on the aircraft for full threat protection.[2]

Also in FY96, Air Staff directed the ALQ-172 be installed on AC-130H gunships replacing the non-supportable AN/ALQ-131 jamming pods.[2] Also installed on special operations forces (SOF) AC-130U, MC-130H and MC-130E aircraft, two subsystems were installed; one forward and one aft, with a single common display and control unit. Other engineering differences on these aircraft involved adding low-band transmitters, antennae and antenna control units.[2]

Upgrades have incorporated geolocation capabilities, advanced countermeasures and new technologies.[4][5] Nine Line-replaceable units (LRUs) have been upgraded, with five of those tested as of mid-2024.[5] The upgrades are part of the maintainability and reliability system (MARS) upgrade; a 10-year, $947 million project enhancing the performance of the B-52's electronic countermeasures systems.[5][3] With continuing support and upgrades, the ALQ-172 is expected to be in service well into the 2040s.[4]

Technical description

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Features

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Integrated with aircraft controls and displays, the system provides countermeasures capabilities for multiple sophisticated pulse, continuous wave, doppler and monopulse threats simultaneously.[1][4] Using digital frequency discrimination (DFD) technology, the system is capable of determining pulse width, angle of arrival (AOA), and pulse-repetition frequency (PRF) of threat signals, deinterleaving and processing them.[2]

In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the AN/ALQ-172 designation represents the 172nd design of an Army-Navy electronic device for an electronic countermeasures system. The JETDS system also now is used to name Air Force systems.

Characteristics

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  • Weight per aircraft: 1,631 pounds[1]
  • LRUs per system: 7[1]
  • Systems per aircraft: 2[1]
  • Antennas per aircraft: 7[1]
  • Systems produced: 943 (over 6,000 LRUs)[1]

Variants

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  • AN/ALQ-172(V)
  • AN/ALQ-172(V)1 - on AC-130U and MC-130H aircraft[2]
  • AN/ALQ-172(V)2
  • AN/ALQ-172(V)3 - on AC-130H Gunships[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "ALQ-172(V) - Archived 03/2003" (PDF), Forecast International, March 2002, retrieved December 20, 2024
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Pike, John (April 22, 2000), "AN/ALQ-172 Countermeasures System (CMS)", FAS Military Analysis Network, retrieved December 23, 2024
  3. ^ a b Wolfe, Frank (September 1, 2021), "L3Harris Receives U.S. Air Force Contract Worth Up to $947 Million for AN/ALQ-172", DefenseDaily, retrieved December 23, 2024
  4. ^ a b c "AN / ALQ-172 B-52 Self Protection System", L3Harris, retrieved December 23, 2024
  5. ^ a b c Cenciotti, David (July 12, 2024), "B-52's Upgraded AN/ALQ-172 Self-Protection System Tested During Recent Flight", The Aviationist, retrieved December 23, 2024
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