Sky Shadow (radar)

ARI.23246/1 Sky Shadow is a radar jamming system (ECM pod), initially developed by GEC, and currently operated by the RAF.

History
It was developed by GEC-Marconi Defence Systems Limited, which employed around 48,000 people, in the early 1970s. Marconi Defence Systems started development in 1972, with production starting in 1979. Production finished in 1996.

The system is designed to jam radar-guided air-to-air missiles.

Operation
The Sky Shadow radar jammer currently carried by the RAF's Tornado GR4. The ECM pod weighed around 200kg, and was around 3 metres long. It operated in the G to J bands.

The Sky Shadow was hastily fitted to Harrier GR3 aircraft in the Falklands War, on the aircraft's 30mm gun pod. The RAF purchased around 225 ECM pods for the Tornado GR1 (IDS Tornado) fleet.