well how about
– outdated Mig 21 of your flavour
– 2020 Israeli helmet display (maybe a Google Glass type display, doesn’t have to be anything fancier)
– 2020 Derby 2nd generation medium range missile, can be linked to external radar guidance or Python’s seeker
– 2020 Python 6+ with 300 degree dual IR/optical seeker that can independantly recognize, track and engage even stealth aircraft
– 2020 Israeli EW pod
– 2020 Israeli data link and small computer that links all these systems, plus (thigh) mounted new display
let’s say the Mig can carry 2 Derby’s with hypothetical range of 150 km, and 2 Pythons with 25 km hypothetical range
at long range the Mig doesn’t have a new radar
but instead it relies on external data from AWACS, ground radar, other forward operating aircraft, satellites, ground intel… to get target data
all of which is connected via the data link to the Derby’s
at medium range the Mig pilot can use the same external target data as that for the Derby to launch the Python’s beyond visual range
or he can use the Python’s seeker data to launch the Derby’s
or he can use the Derby’s seeker data to launch the Pythons (not sure what the detection range it is)
at short range the Python seeker functions as passive short range sensor, sending target images to the pilot’s helmet display or his external display
WVR the pilot just has to look at the target and tag it, using the Python seeker. the computer will then show an enhanced image of the target on the helmet (or thigh) display, and a make a suggestion of what type it thinks it is
then the pilot launches a missile of his choice at the target
the EW pod is important to jam enemy radars and incomming missiles
it can also be used to passively detect enemy radars, and launch the missiles against them, like the A2A equivalent of HARM missiles
the point is that this way, anyone with some old Migs lying around and pilots qualified to fly them, can turn this weapon into something that can match off against 4.5 gen aircraft, and stealth aircraft when within visual range
all for the price of the systems and the missiles
and because it’s an independant add on system (you wouldn’t change anything to the Mig itself, and most connections would be wireless), you can install that equipment onto any aircraft you want, so you can reuse it if you buy new aircraft later on, like you would reuse a good scope and quality bullets on a different rifle
this classic design would also work 🙂
well the question is how do they compare in usefuleness and cost to manned attack helicopters and armed UAVs
they seem interesting compared to armed Army UAVs (Shadow, Grey Eagle) mostly because they don’t need a runway
meaning you can launch them from forward positions, from inside of buildings or vehicles
so if there’s a sudden engagement, you can flip open a nearby bunker/building/truck roof and send one of these out to give immediate fire support and an eye in the sky. they could get there in minutes
and they wouldn’t have to carry much fuel either, as they’d just have to fly over, shoot their weapons, maybe stay a while for other UAVs to take over, and then fly home
or just land nearby and wait for a unit to pick them up, they don’t necesairily need to fly back home, so that’s another fuel saving
and if it’s light enough and empty of fuel and ammo, a few soldiers could load it onto a truck or jeep manually and bring it back to base
the big advantage compared to manned helicopters would be cost and expendability
meaning they can act as forward scouts, relaying target data, forward shooters using targetting data provided by attack helicopters or any other assets, they could laser up a target allowing the manned assets to shoot from a safe distance…
hell, you could even deploy these from a transport aircraft or helicopter (if you can figure out how, with the rotors and all)
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