Marines Hone Information, Electronic Warfare Proficiency
by U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Kyle McGuire December
16,
2021
Marines refocus their priorities,
opting to train their electronic warfare capabilities to defeat
adversaries in the information environment aboard Marine Corps Air
Station Camp Pendleton in December 2021.
The training
enabled U.S. Marines from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron
(HMLA) 267 to familiarize themselves with the AN/ALQ-231 Intrepid
Tiger II (IT II) Electronic Warfare (EW) pod from signals
intelligence specialists with Team Ronin of the 3rd Marine Aircraft
Wing (MAW) intelligence section.
 A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom with Marine Light
Attack Squadron 267, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine
Aircraft Wing, is staged on the flightline with an
AN/ALQ-231(V)3 on Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton,
California on December 3, 2021. The AN/ALQ-231(V)3 enhances the airborne electronic warfare capability for fixed and rotary wing aircraft by maintaining a distributed and adaptable network to defend against current and future threats. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Samuel Ruiz)
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The IT II is a precision, on-demand,
external carriage EW weapon system designed to provide Marine Corps
aircraft with an organic, distributed and networked EW capability
that can be controlled from the cockpit or by a ground operator. Its
open architecture design and rapid reprogrammability give IT II the
flexibility and adaptability to meet current and future threats.
The Marines of HMLA-267 are the first squadron in the 3rd MAW to
conduct this style of training on the IT II with Team Ronin. Team
Ronin’s signals intelligence and electronic warfare chief, Master
Sgt. Chris Meser, expects to continue building familiarization with
additional squadrons.
“The training was crucial in enhancing
our readiness and capability,” said Meser. “By integrating with our
organic rotary wing squadrons, this allowed for an improved concept
of employment for future operations. This was the first of many in
the training series for Electronic Warfare Integration. We intend to
help foster an environment which provides a greater contribution to
Operations in the Information Environment & Intelligence efforts.”
Training began with hands-on time with the IT II to develop a
cursory understanding of its capabilities. Later, the system was
loaded onto a UH-1Y Venom before running a variety of test-missions
across its capability set to demonstrate its rapid reprogrammability.
Once the practical application portion was completed, training
concluded with signals intelligence specialists briefing all the
systems capabilities and limitations to the pilots of HMLA-267.
 U.S. Marines with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, configure the AN/ALQ-231(V)3 on Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton,
on December 3, 2021. The AN/ALQ-231(V)3 enhances the airborne electronic warfare capability for fixed and rotary wing aircraft by maintaining a distributed and adaptable network to defend against current and future threats. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Samuel Ruiz)
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1st Lt. Dylan Wesseling, intelligence officer for HMLA-267, was
one of the training participants. “Communications jamming is going
to be key in breaking down the kill chain for the enemy, and
exploiting possible vulnerabilities,” said Wesseling. “The IT II
provides the HMLA an organic electronic attack and electronic
warfare support capability that is more accessible than the Marine
Corps’ other high-demand, low-density assets, and I think that’s
going to vital in a high-traffic littoral and maritime environment.”
While the IT II has been used in conflicts dating back to
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, this was the
first time many of the participants got the opportunity to train
with the system. Given the renewed emphasis EW is expected to play
on the next battlefield, the trainees appreciated the opportunity.
“The IT II is something that allows us to be relevant when
coupled with the other capabilities of the HMLA,” Wesseling
continued. “There’s no sugarcoating it. The next fight is going to
be tough, but training that acknowledges our need to exploit the
enemy’s dependence on technology and communications are exactly what
we need to come out of that conflict as the winners.”
Team
Ronin is next expected to put their knowledge of the IT II to the
test in February 2022 for Exercise Winter Fury 2022. Winter Fury
2022 is a capstone annual exercise that allows the 3rd MAW to refine
and validate emerging service level and unit level concepts that
enhance aviation readiness in support of Fleet Marine Force and
naval fleet maritime campaigns. Meser plans to distribute his team
throughout 3rd MAW with various rotary wing squadrons, now that his
Marines have a strong foundation in the fundamentals and can teach
others in a field environment. Team Ronin also expects to work with
the U.S. Navy aircraft participating in Winter Fury 2022 to enhance
their ability to work as a joint littoral force.
This
iteration of training utilized the IT II V(3), which can be employed
on the UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper. This asset is not limited to
these platforms alone. Other versions include the V(4), which was
recently tested on the MV-22 Osprey, and the V(1), which can be
flown on the AV-8B Harrier, F/A-18 C/D Hornets, and KC-130J Super
Hercules aircraft.
3rd
MAW continues to “Fix, Fly and Fight” as the Marine Corps’ largest
aircraft wing, and remains combat-ready, deployable on short notice,
and lethal when called into action.
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