Electronic Warfare

Communication EA Surveillance and Reconnaissance (CEASAR) pod

Also known as
  • CEASAR
  • CEASAR pod
  • Communications Electronic Attack with Surveillance and Reconnaissance
  • Communications Electronic Attack Surveillance and Reconnaissance
  • NERO
  • Networked Electronic Warfare, Remotely Operated

The Communication EA Surveillance and Reconnaissance (CEASAR) pod is a Raytheon-built U.S. airborne electronic-attack payload developed for C-12/King Air aircraft to provide beyond-line-of-sight communications jamming for ground forces. It deployed with Task Force CEASAR in Afghanistan, later fed the NERO Gray Eagle UAS adaptation, and appeared in Air National Guard planning for EC-130J Commando Solo Multi-Mission Payload-Heavy aircraft.

Communication EA Surveillance and Reconnaissance (CEASAR) pod, Airborne electronic attack and reconnaissance pod, Electronic Warfare
Image source: Army tests putting NERO jammer on UAVs

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Built by
Raytheon
Type
Airborne electronic attack and reconnaissance pod
Service note
2010s-present
Designed
2010
Unit cost
$1,000,000

Specifications

Primary role
Beyond-line-of-sight communications jamming and reconnaissance support
Original aircraft integration
Beechcraft King Air C-12 aircraft
Unmanned adaptation
NERO used the same lightweight pod system on the MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAS
Target set
Military and commercial communications systems
Afghanistan activity
More than 960 flight hours supporting over 300 combat missions in southern Afghanistan
Documented EC-130J planning
Six pods for three Commando Solo aircraft
Carrier Aircraft

CEASAR began as a C-12/King Air airborne electronic-attack pod and later appeared in EC-130J Commando Solo MMP-H planning.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
EC-130J Commando Solo, Airborne information operations and psychological operations aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsEC-130J Commando SoloBroadcast and electronic-attack aircraft

MMP-H added external podded CEASAR, and the 2019 Air National Guard modernization book required six CEASAR pods for three Commando Solo aircraft.

Sources: The Commando Solo bows out | Aerospace Global News, 2019 ANG Mod Book

Platform And Mission Context

CEASAR appears in sources as a compact airborne electronic-attack payload rather than a stand-alone aircraft. The same pod lineage moved through manned C-12 use, unmanned Gray Eagle testing, and later EC-130J planning.

ContextPlatformDocumented role
Afghanistan deploymentC-12/King Air aircraftTask Force CEASAR used the pod for airborne jamming from Kandahar Airfield in support of ground forces.
NERO adaptationMQ-1C Gray Eagle UASRaytheon and the Army described NERO as the CEASAR pod system moved to an unmanned platform for longer missions and reduced crew risk.
Commando Solo planningEC-130J Commando Solo, Airborne information operations and psychological operations aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsEC-130J Commando SoloAir National Guard modernization planning listed external CEASAR pods for three Commando Solo aircraft.
Timeline

Communication EA Surveillance and Reconnaissance (CEASAR) pod Key Events

  1. CEASAR first awarded

    Raytheon describes CEASAR as first awarded in 2010 and mounted on Beechcraft King Air C-12 aircraft for beyond-line-of-sight communications jamming.

    Sources: Raytheon delivers electronic jamming capability for Gray Eagle UAS

  2. Task Force CEASAR arrives in Afghanistan

    Task Force CEASAR arrived in Afghanistan and later reported more than 960 flight hours in support of over 300 combat missions in southern Afghanistan.

    Sources: National Guard Task Force CEASAR Afghanistan

  3. Raytheon delivers NERO payloads

    Raytheon delivered two NERO electronic-attack payloads for MQ-1C Gray Eagle integration, using the same lightweight pod system as CEASAR.

    Sources: Raytheon delivers electronic jamming capability for Gray Eagle UAS

  4. NERO flight testing at Dugway

    The U.S. Army tested the Gray Eagle-mounted NERO payload at Dugway Proving Ground, flying 32 hours with 20 hours of jammer operation.

    Sources: Army tests putting NERO jammer on UAVs

  5. Commando Solo external-pod requirement listed

    The Air National Guard modernization book listed six CEASAR pods for three EC-130J Commando Solo aircraft at $1 million per pod.

    Sources: 2019 ANG Mod Book

Media

Communication EA Surveillance and Reconnaissance (CEASAR) pod Images

Communication EA Surveillance and Reconnaissance (CEASAR) pod, Airborne electronic attack and reconnaissance pod, Electronic Warfare - view 1
Source: Army tests putting NERO jammer on UAVs
Communication EA Surveillance and Reconnaissance (CEASAR) pod, Airborne electronic attack and reconnaissance pod, Electronic Warfare - view 2
Source: Army tests putting NERO jammer on UAVs
Related Weapon Systems
Long Range Broadcast System (LRBS) pod, External broadcast pod used for psychological operations and electronic attack support, Support EquipmentSupport EquipmentLong Range Broadcast System (LRBS) podExternal broadcast pod used for psychological operations and electronic attack supportThe Long Range Broadcast System (LRBS) pod is a U.S. external broadcast pod associated with EC-130J Commando Solo and Super J Multi-Mission Platform-Heavy modernization. LRBS fits within the broader military information support operations broadcast family, while the EC-130J configuration paired the external podded payload with a roll-on internal system, CEASAR, and software-defined broadcast and electronic-attack capability.
EC-130J Commando Solo, Airborne information operations and psychological operations aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsEC-130J Commando SoloAirborne information operations and psychological operations aircraftThe EC-130J Commando Solo is a Lockheed Martin C-130J-derived U.S. Air Force special-mission aircraft that broadcasts information operations and psychological operations messages across AM, FM, HF, TV, and military communications bands. The 193rd Special Operations Wing operates the aircraft, which adds enhanced navigation, self-protection, air refueling, digital message playback, and live-broadcast capability to the Hercules airframe.
ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System, Tactical jamming pod system, Electronic WarfareElectronic WarfareALQ-99 Tactical Jamming SystemTactical jamming pod systemThe ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System is a U.S. external-carriage airborne electronic attack pod family used to jam radar and communications targets for suppression of enemy air defenses. NAVAIR says it entered service in 1971, served on the EA-6B Prowler before transitioning to the EA-18G Growler in 2010, and remains in use alongside Next Generation Jammer pods, including documented VAQ-133 carriage during 2026 Iran War strike operations.
AN/ALQ-249(V)1 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band, Carrier-based airborne electronic attack jamming pod system, Electronic WarfareElectronic WarfareAN/ALQ-249(V)1 Next Generation Jammer Mid-BandCarrier-based airborne electronic attack jamming pod systemThe AN/ALQ-249(V)1 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band is Raytheon's airborne electronic attack pod for U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Air Force EA-18G Growlers, replacing part of the ALQ-99 mission set with two-pod ship sets built around active electronically scanned arrays and a digital back end. It reached initial operational capability in December 2024 and has documented combat-linked use from VAQ-133 deployments in the 2023 Red Sea Crisis and 2026 Iran War.
HC-130J Combat King II, Fixed-wing personnel recovery and helicopter air-to-air refueling aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsHC-130J Combat King IIFixed-wing personnel recovery and helicopter air-to-air refueling aircraftThe HC-130J Combat King II is Lockheed Martin's C-130J-derived U.S. Air Force rescue and helicopter-refueling aircraft. Developed under the HC/MC-130 recapitalization program, it replaced the HC-130P/N King as the service's only dedicated fixed-wing personnel recovery platform, with night-vision-compatible systems, defensive aids, forward-looking infrared, radar and missile-warning receivers, UARRSI aerial-refueling reception, and mission communications for combat search-and-rescue, disaster response, emergency aeromedical evacuation, airdrop, airland, and forward-area refueling work.

Sources

National Guard Task Force CEASAR AfghanistanPublisher: National Guard | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan direct conflict-use by Task Force CEASAR at Kandahar Airfield, the Afghanistan flight-hour and combat-mission figures, and the BLOS jamming role. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Raytheon delivers electronic jamming capability for Gray Eagle UASPublisher: Raytheon | Note: Supports manufacturer context, the 2010 CEASAR award, C-12/King Air mounting, the same lightweight pod used for NERO, and the BLOS communications-jamming role. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Army tests putting NERO jammer on UAVsPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports the NERO adaptation of the CEASAR pod for Gray Eagle, the Dugway flight-test figures, additional C-12 deployment context, and image provenance for the NERO gallery images. | Accessed: 2026-06-29The Commando Solo bows out | Aerospace Global NewsPublisher: Aerospace Global News | Note: Supports the external podded CEASAR carried on EC-130J MMP-H aircraft and the broader Commando Solo retirement context. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Aviation Stack Exchange CEASAR pod photoPublisher: Aviation Stack Exchange | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the CEASAR pod photo on Beech A200 Super King Air N46L. | Accessed: 2026-06-292019 ANG Mod BookPublisher: Air National Guard | Note: Supports the six-pod requirement for three Commando Solo aircraft and the reported $1,000,000 unit cost for CEASAR. | Accessed: 2026-06-29