Interesting info on the older MAW, which is scheduled to be replaced in T2 or T3. The biggest drawback with a RF based MAW is that operating it will make you visible on virtually every RwR in the area. RF based systems can also be jammed. These may be some of the reasons why they are going with a UV or IR based system.

The Typhoon’s MAW is an mm-wave radar system, actually three (2 in the wingroots and one in the tail). The system is capable of detection and tracking of multiple missiles and provides enough data to prioritise threats and provide manoeuvre instructions to the pilot on the HuD and possibly HMD in the future. The missiles position is presented accurately on the DASS display format and on the fused Pilot Awareness (PA) format. A passive IR based system, dubbed PIMAWS was studied and developed by Diehl BGT Defence and while it has been retrofitted on C-160 Transalls, the proposed integration on Eurofighter has been abondoned or basically never been commited to at all. There are currently no plans to replace the active MAWS on Typhoon with a passive system! The current MAWS is present since years, but software problems prevented the system from being cleared for operational use. A trials campaign was scheduled for September in Scotland, albeit I have no news on this. A software update is scheduled to solve the current problems and allow clearance for operational use. It is proposed that PIRATE may be used as forward passive MAWS in the future as well.

PIRATE is an IRST that is mounted above and on the left of the EF’s nose.

It cannot see below the EF.

Can it be slaved to the HEA?

It’s actually an IRST & FLIR and yes it will be slewable by HEA (including the FLIR image presented on the HMD. The sensor is not directly over the nose check it from the front and you’ll see that the sensor provides a down view as well.

The real difference is that the f 35 HMD will receive images from the DAS sensors (IR and CCD cameras). So, it will be a full spheric field of view (including under the plane, or behind).

Well HEA receives the images from the PIRATE and allows a look through the cockpit with the sensors FOV.

@Spudman
FOV has been specified with 40° horizontal, probabley 30° vertical, but the later one isn’t confirmed.

Edit:
Is the F-35s new HMD still developed by VSI or by a new manufacturer?

The naming of the engines are kinda confusing sometimes. According to Defunct Humanity it’s just a different labeling for the 117S.

Yep it actually is just a different designation. It’s somewhat like the aircraft’s T-10BM (manufscturers internal designation) and Su-35 the official designation under which the aircraft is sold.

Edit:
I suppose the “C” in that designations is in fact “S”

Does the Eurofighter HEA have a similar spec to the F35s. I assume the F35s is alot more advanced.

Well if you extract the now removed NVE cameras, I see no real difference in terms of functionality between between the F-35s HMD and the HEA. Albeit the F-35s HMD seems to provide a coulored higher resolution display. These were no specs (at least not coulored presentations) for the HEA, though I don’t know if this has been changed in the meantime over all the years.

AFAIK everything delivered before the 2nd quater of 2002 is LF1 or post-LF1

I’m pretty certain that the 2 Rafale M onboard the CdG were F1 when it departed for the Indian Ocean and that 5 aircraft which were ferried to the CdG in 2002 were retrofitted examples.

The F3 upgrade is not just a software upgrade : that is a 2 week work per rafale with a lot of rewiring and some hardware replacement.

I mean to remember it were 6 weeks, not just 2?

@GlobalPress

GESHTAPO?

It’s actually called Gestapo for a starter.