U.S., Malaysia Airmen Exchange Electronic Warfare Techniques

29 July 2016

From Tech. Sgt. Araceli Alarcon

BUTTERWORTH, Malaysia -- Pilots use electronic warfare to simulate training scenarios, but they don’t get to decide who they shoot down when they are up there. A team on the ground controls a system called the Joint Deployable Electronic Warfare Range (JDEWR), which controls the scenario. Cope Taufan 16 marks the first time the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has had the chance to use it.

“We are bringing electronic warfare and surface to air threat that is not available here,” said John Karish, 353rd Combat Training Squadron's, Range Engineer. “The RMAF right now does not have the capability to accomplish that part of their training.”

The JDEWR was developed to expand Pacific Air Force’s training capabilities to a broader audience. JDEWR, a mobile Electronic Warfare oriented autonomous platform, is a system of systems that provides tactical-level training to participants in live training events around the world.

“What we are bringing to the fight is that ground to air defense part, for the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses players. They have to come in, take them down and not pass those (enemy threats) that they would have otherwise,” said Karish.

During Cope Taufan 14, there were only talks of the JDEWR system and due to limited RMAF capabilities, they were unable to incorporate the system.

“We had some achievements, but it was minimal level achievements at best,” said Maj. Damian Sendhan Sebastin, JDEWR rep for the RMAF. “We have now built up beyond that stage.”

Cope Taufan 16 has provided more opportunities to the RMAF for more hands on training and participation.

“We have additional operators from the RMAF who are learning to use the JDEWR system and as previously we were only observing… now we have aircraft which are directly engaging the JDEWR system, in addition to more aircraft and more platforms…hopefully everyone comes out with more training and a better understanding of electronic warfare,” said Sebastin.

CT 16 allows for an exchange of techniques and procedures to enhance interoperability and cooperation between U.S. and Royal Malaysian Airmen, and the outcome has been a positive one.

“We have a very good professional working relationship with all levels…crew, aircrew, ground crew, technical staff, and even the civilian contractors,” said Sebastian. “The advisors to the JDEWR here have been most helpful, are very open to the system and we have good and positive learning outcomes from all levels.”