Air Education and Training Command, Studies and Analysis Squadron (AETC SAS) in conjunction with the 58th Special Operations Wing (58 SOW) at Kirtland AFB, NM, assessed the suitability and effectiveness of using an embedded simulator to stimulate the HC/MC-130P AN/ALR-69 radar-warning receiver (RWR). The AN/ALR-69 is Air Force Special Operation Command's (AFSOC) operationally employed radar warning receiver (RWR), currently installed on AC-130, MC-130, and MH-53 aircraft. It continuously monitors the radar environment to alert the pilot of any hostile or foreign activity that may be taking place. Currently, the only way to effectively train aircrews in the use of the RWR is by scheduling flights at electronic warfare (EW) ranges. Although these ranges provide excellent training, they are expensive, constrained by scheduling considerations, and consume additional flying hours in transit time. Ultimately, this training approach is limited by the scarcity of training opportunities necessary to teach and reinforce learned behaviors.
The 58 SOW, in conjunction with the Air Force Research Laboratory, Warfighter Training Research Division (AFRL/HEA), has created an on-board system to stimulate the HC/MC-130P AN/ALR-69 RWR with fully correlated and validated threat parametric data. Advances in technology now permit hosting of a transportable, affordable, and credible "electronic combat range in a box" utilizing a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) personal computer (PC). In addition to overcoming the cost and inconvenience associated with geographically constrained EW ranges, this solution allows instructors to manipulate the order of battle in support of diverse training scenarios. The ability to regularly engage countermeasures against adversary air defense radar systems during routine training sorties infuses increased realism into the training domain and permits aircrew to "train the way we fight."
The study focused on real-time interactions between aircraft positional data, line of sight (terrain masking) calculations, clutter degradation, and RWR visual/aural cueing to provide accurate threat representation. Additionally, the test confirmed that no permanent aircraft modifications are required and the system installation/removal does not exceed 30 minutes. This paper presents the test and study results and recommendations.