MH-60R - ESM System Flashcards
(11 cards)
What is the function of the ESM?
The ESM system has two functions. The rst is Electronic Support (ES), functioning as an electronic warfare (EW) search, surveillance, and corroboration sensor. The second is to provide the aircrew with situational awareness regarding EW threats to the helicopter via the Helicopter Threat Warning (HTW) function.
What is the nomenclature of the system?
AN/ALQ-210
What does the ESM system consist of?
The ESM system consists of the ESM receiver processor and four antennas
What does the ESM Receiver Processor consist of?
- Two RF baseband down converters;
• Two analog baseband receivers;
• A digital frequency discriminator;
• A pulse processor;
• SBC (Single board computer); - Synthesizer module.
What do the down converters do?
Each down converter provides the necessary antenna switching, preselection, attenuation, and rst RF down conversion to an intermediate frequency (IF).
What do the baseband receivers do?
Each baseband receiver performs the second and nal IF conversion, IF ltering, video ltering, and amplitude/phase measurements.
What does the digital frequency discriminator do?
The digital frequency discriminator provides a frequency measurement on each incoming pulse.
What does the pulse processor do?
The pulse processor generates descriptor words, called pulse descriptor words (PDW) for each pulse detected. PDW are sent to the SBC module for data processing to correlate specific emitter pulses into pulse trains. PDW data is then used to form emitters and de ne their characteristics and to determine emitter parameters such as identification, threat level, bearing, and location.
What does the synthesizer module do?
The synthesizer module provides multiple frequency references used for the local oscillator (LO) and built-in test (BIT)/calibration signals. Calibration functions provide correction factors to compensate for amplitude and phase measurement drift. The ESM system active calibration capability injects known RF signals from the synthesizer into the antenna RF chains, to correct for system measurement errors. These errors are a function of the system environment and fluctuate over time (mainly due to temperature).
Describe the ESM antennas
The ESM system antennas are four identical antennas, mounted on the nose (forward starboard and forward port) and transition section (aft starboard and aft port). Each antenna element pair in a single antenna forms an amplitude resolved phase array that has a minimum of 100° field of view. The ESM system employs a total of four antennas, with one in each aircraft quadrant. This enables a full 360° azimuth coverage and angle of arrival (AOA) measurement capability for each band. Each ESM antenna contains four separate, spiral antenna elements, two in low band and two in high band and passive RF electronics.
How do the ESM antennas operate?
The ESM antenna design divides the RF operating range into two primary bands: low band and high band. The ESM receiver processor further subdivides the RF operating ranges into six sub-bands. The ESM system provides surveillance and radar threat warning functions by reporting emitter data using the 1553B data bus system interface with the primary MC. The ESM/1553B data bus interface provides threat alert data, general surveillance data, navigation data, and control capability for both aircrew display and downlink to the ship. The weapons/ASE 1553B data bus interface allows for threat alert communications and integrated aircraft response to detected hostile RF emitters.
