AN/ALQ-218

The AN/ALQ-218 is an American airborne electronic warfare radar warning receiver (RWR) system, found on Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler and Boeing EA-18G Growler aircraft.

AN/ALQ-218
Radar warning receiver
AN/ALQ-218(V)2 on the wingtip of an EA-18G Growler
Manufacturing Info
Manufacturer(s)	Northrop Grumman
Usage
Used by country	United States
Used by military	US Navy
Platform(s)	EA-18G Growler

In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/ALQ-218" designation represents the 218th design of an Army-Navy airborne electronic device for special countermeasures equipment. The JETDS system also now is used to name all Department of Defense and some NATO electronic systems.

Description

The AN/ALQ-218 is an airborne passive radar warning receiver / electronic warfare support measures / electronic signals intelligence (RWR/ESM/ELINT) sensor system designed for airborne situational awareness and signal intelligence gathering. It detects, identifies, locates and analyzes sources of radio frequency emissions. The current version AN/ALQ-218(V)2 is manufactured by Northrop Grumman.^[1]

The AN/ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) is able to integrate with AN/ALQ-218.^[2]

Platforms

The ALQ-218 is mainly featured aboard the US Navy's EA-18G Growler aircraft,^[3][4] which has replaced the EA-6B Prowler.^[5] The ALQ-218 was previously on the EA-6B Prowler, after which the Improved Capability III (ICAP III) ALQ-218 was modified and integrated into the EA-18G's Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) system.^[6] Avionics from the EA-6B were modified to fit into the gun bay and wing tip pods of the Growler.

The EA-18G may carry up to an additional five jamming pods on under wing pylons.^[7] The system is being considered for modification to serve on unmanned aerial vehicles. The Growler is part of the same family of aircraft as the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.