I am certainly no expert on such matters but was just thinking a bit about the issue of using rwrs as emisson detectors and now as targeting sensors. Modern aircraft such as the Rafale, Typhoon, F-18E/F all claim such devices.
I can understand the use of passive detection/targeting by stealth aircraft, which can detect at long range, enter detection zones of enemy a/c/SAM radars, do their bit and get away.
But how practical is it for non stealthy aircraft? The probability of their detection before they can launch missiles is much higher, especially since VLRAAMs are not yet available.
Consider an advanced S-300 type system with long range detection and missiles. Can a rafale or super hornet (after detecting the big bird emissions) actually do anything about it? These a/c will need to get within 200km at least to launch ARMS to be really effective. In that distance, there is a good chance that they’ll be facing some incoming SAMs. Launching outside the 200km zone will mean almost certain interception of subsonic missiles. Even within the 200km range, they have an uphill battle against SAMS that are much faster. Plus the low level interceptors like Buk/Tunguska. May be with a growler package they could jam the radars? But by themselves what can they really do?
It is said that the S-300 was compromised when NATO was able to practice against Slovak SAMs, resulting in jammers that can overcome this system. Can a stand off jammer carried by a fighter defeat the bigbird/tombstone?
All in all, whats the point of the passive detectors on 4.5 gen birds? They know where the S-300 is, but an AWACS can give you that info as well. Ditto with enemy fighters. I can see great use of this technology in stealth a/c. But for 4-4.5 gen birds?
IN an A2A scenario, again, what can you really do with a passive detector or even targetting system? Firstly, can you really target and fire off a missile based on such information? I hear the rafale does it, pretty nifty.
If possible, then at what ranges can you actually target enemy emitting a/c? Can you target and direct missiles at BVR ranges? 100km? 200km?
Can you provide MCU to a missile launch without turning on your own FCR? Again, the rafale seems to do this esp. with the IIR Mica.
If all the above is possible, the problem that I still see with 4.5 gen birds is that they don’t have missiles that can be fired at ultra long ranges (the meteor is your best bet).
Another issu – I don’t see enemy a/c beaming continuously, what happens when it goes silent?
IOWs, if you can actually fire at the enemy only at distances well within enemy radar/missile ranges, won’t your chances reduce considerably?
USS
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May 22, 2009 at 5:55 am