What is the purpose of the AN/ALE-47?

• A. Onboard radar jamming
• B. Provides navigation data
• C. Provides aircraft protection in threat environments by dispensing chaff, flares, RF expendables
• D. Controls the radar warning receivers

Answer: (C)

The AN/ALE-47 is a countermeasures dispensing system that protects the aircraft by deploying expendables in threat environments. It automatically or manually releases decoys to defeat or mislead incoming threats: chaff creates radar-reflective clouds to confuse radar-guided missiles and radars, flares produce hot infrared signatures to lure heat-seeking missiles away from the aircraft, and RF expendables emit signals to jam or spoof RF-guided threats. This system works in concert with threat warning receivers to respond to detected threats, enhancing survivability without itself radiating jamming energy. It is not a radar jammer, it does not provide navigation data, and it does not control the radar warning receivers.