Iraqi Air Force has revealed plans to bolster its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft with cutting-edge electronic warfare capabilities. The focus lies on integrating the L3Harris AN/ALQ-211 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suite (AIDEWS) into its existing arsenal, marking a significant stride in Iraq’s efforts to modernize its air force. The initiative entails retrofitting 34 Iraqi Air Force (IqAF) F-16C/D Block 52M aircraft stationed at the Martyr Brigadier General Ali Flaih Air Base (formerly known as Balad Air Base) with the advanced EW system. While specific contract details such as value and timeline remain undisclosed, the solicitation posted on the SAM.gov US government procurement website confirms the intent to equip the F-16 fleet with the AIDEWS system.
The versatility of AIDEWS is evident in its availability in both integrated (AN/ALQ-211(V)4) and podded (AN/ALQ-211(V)9) configurations, catering to the varying needs of different operators. Given that newer Block 52 and above aircraft possess the internal space required for integration, they will benefit from the AN/ALQ-211(V)4 configuration. This adaptive approach ensures that the entire spectrum of IqAF’s F-16 fleet can leverage the capabilities offered by the AIDEWS suite effectively. The IqAF currently operates a mix of 24 single-seat F-16C and 10 twin-seat F-16D aircraft, with deliveries commencing in 2014. The decision to equip these aircraft with AIDEWS reflects Iraq’s strategic vision to reinforce its air combat capabilities, thereby enhancing its ability to counter emerging threats and safeguard national security interests.
The L3Harris AN/ALQ-211 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suite (AIDEWS) detects, denies, disrupts, degrades and evades lethal threats and provides multi-spectral (radio frequency, infrared and laser) situational awareness. Deployed by six military customers worldwide under the US Government foreign military sales (FMS) programme, the Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suite (AIDEWS) is a next-generation radar warning system designed to provide F-16 pilots with situational awareness and protection against radar-based threats, including modern surface-to-air and air-to-air weaponry. Available as an internally installed system or an externally mounted pod, AIDEWS can be tailored to unique customer requirements to provide integrated radar warning and radio frequency (RF) countermeasures, along with advanced stand-alone radar warnings.
AIDEWS is based on modular electronic warfare (EW) technology, meaning upgrade costs are shared and affordable. New and legacy F-16 users have the advantage of sharing the exact same components for the internally mounted and external pod versions, significantly reducing the cost of ownership at a time when MoDs – hamstrung by swingeing budget cuts – are turning in ever greater number to the commercial aerospace sector in search of economies of scale, technical innovation and systems support. The original AIDEWS design is based on the ITT Exelis ALQ-211 Suite of Integrated RF Countermeasures (SIRFC), a modular, scalable system developed to protect rotary aircraft, such as the AH-64D Longbow Apache, the MH-47 and the MH-60, against RF air defence systems actively engaging the aircraft.
