March 20, 2007 at 1:10 am
It is pretty clear that with AESA radars – with their great range, improvements in resolution, and frequency shuffling that cuts down on their detectability – the hype has reached the point where it is something of a miracle for the next generation of fighters. It almost seems like non-AESA equipped fighters have been written off as obsolete now, well as far as the attitudes around here. I do see where AESA has its advantages and am surprised the idea of mounting them in the tail for something other than as a super RWR hasn’t been brought up yet.
One AESA radar in the front could be potentially coupled to one in the tail to provide an incredibly granular picture of battle-space. With AESA having incredible side-scan perspective, on the order of a near perpendicular detection scope, the two radar groups would act in concert to form 360º coverage at a price much cheaper than a dedicated AWACS platform. Add in the idea that most of the next-generation bvr missiles have command links allowing them freedom to pinpoint targets in any direction and you have a very secure defensive platform. Maybe its too expensive to introduce it into the tail end of all fighters, but I could see it in one or two per wing at first and then filtering down to the squadron level.
Does anyone else think this idea is tenable?