The Hornet carries an impressive defensive electronic warfare suite. This includes ALQ-126 jammer transmitter and the Itek ALR-67 radar homing and warning (RHAW) receiver set, which detects, isolates, classifies and initiates countermeasures against a variety of electronic threats. The pilot is informed of threat locations via cockpit displays. Consequently, the pilot may elect to carry out more active countermeasures, such as the release of chaff or the dropping of decoy flares via the ALR-47 dispenser.
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Aircraft built from 1993 onwards have improved defensive systems. Their ALE-39 chaff dispensers are replaced by ALE-47s and their ALR-67 radar warning receivers are upgraded models.
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The aircraft deals with a barrage of voice and other transmissions, including that mediated by the Link 4A datalink. Two blade antennae are located on the dorsal spine. The forward antenna is for the Collins ARN-118 VHF tactical air navigation (TACAN) and the rear antenna is for UHF/DF communications, which can be made secure by the KY-58 encryption device. Other antennae are for upper and lower coded IFF response, HF automatic direction finding (ADF) and global positioning system (GPS) signals.
