Flight testing starts for Marine Corps' new rotary-wing EW pod

摘要

Testing has begun of a developmental electronic warfare (EW) pod intended to provide what the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) describes as "a new tactical capability" for US Marine Corps (USMC) light attack helicopters. Although the service has refused to identify the equipment, MS Jane's believes it is likely to be the ALQ-231 Intrepid Tiger Ⅱ (V)3 pod mission-reconfigurable communications-band electronic attack (EA) pod. A first test flight was performed on 8 June by a UH-1Y helicopter from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. HX-21 conducts developmental flight test and evaluation of rotary-wing and tilt-rotor aircraft and airborne systems in support of all navy and marine corps training, operational combat, and combat support missions.