AN/ALQ-153

AN/ALQ-153 is an airborne Pulse-doppler tail warning radar for detecting missiles, protecting B-1B Lancer and B-52H Stratofortress aircraft.^[1][2][3] It replaced the AN/ALQ-127, introducing a solid-state transmitter, frequency-agile waveform and digital processing using non-scanning antennas that have low backlobes.^[1] The ALQ-153 was originally manufactured by Westinghouse (now Northrop Grumman).^[4]

AN/ALQ-153 analog signal processor (top) and digital signal processor (bottom) at the National Electronics Museum

History

Installed on B-52 aircraft at Barksdale Air Force Base, ten test flights were flown in May and June 1981. During these tests, totaling 39 hours, there were four failures with a mean-time-between-failure (MTBF) rate of 9.75 hours.^[3]

Technical Description

In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/ALQ-153" designation represents the 153rd design of an Army-Navy electronic device for special countermeasures system. The JETDS system also now is used to name Air Force systems.

Features

Although primarily used for missile defense, the ALQ-153 could accurately warn of aircraft threats as well providing continuous range and time-to-intercept indications on the control indicator.^[3][5] When a missile is detected, an audible tone is transmitted to the electronic warfare officer (EWO) allowing him/her to respond with the proper countermeasures.^[3]

Components

The ALQ-153 consists of six line replaceable units (LRUs), with a total size of 2.36 cubic feet (0.067 m³) weighing 138 pounds (63 kg).^[4] The LRUs include:^[3]

• Two antennas
• Radar receiver/transmitter (RT)
• Analog Data Signal Processor (ADSP)
• Digital Data Signal Processor (DDSP)
• Control indicator
• Signal Data Converter

See also

• United States portal
• Electronics portal
• Aviation portal

• List of military electronics of the United States