On 19 Mar 2004 22:45:18 GMT, (BUFDRVR) wrote:

I go back to the B-52H and here comes a new, fancy interceptor jammer
called the ALQ-117. It has an EWO controlled switch for training and
war. The EWOs complain that the training mode for our interceptors is
worse than the system it replaced. Almost like it had been
deliberately "dumbed down"

Current software on some BUFF ECM gear has that same "train/war" mode. When the
training software is loaded, *some* "enemy" fighters simply get a "J-Code" on
their radar telling them they're being jammed. Newer fighter radars don't even
show the "J-Code", they simply see no ECM effect. I flew a NORAD exercise where
they specified they wanted realistic ECM, we loaded the real stuff and were
never engaged BVR.

Amazing. That was just a dream back in the 70s.
SAC was just starting to break away from the blast them with watts
jamming and starting to go with a little smarter stuff when SAC
captured me again in the 70s. ALQ-117, ALQ-122, ALQ-155 with empty
slots in the receiver for "further expansion, and then just before I
retired in 1982 the ALQ-153. Of course everyone knew the plane was
going to be replaced by something newer and faster.G