The advantage that MADL has is being a narrow-beam communication and LPI.

The F-22 IFDL and F-35 MADL are low power, short range datalinks – “If you emit you die….”

The MADL system is not only LPI, but also directional. What this means is that the only hope of signal interception is to be between the sending and receiving units. The likelihood of that happening is next to zero.

It’s not know publicly how many can participate, but I can see the AWACS acting as a hub of info allowing many more sources to exchange info within a MADL network.

Think of it this way:
1. Let’s assume a the limit of 10 AC.
2. One of the AC is an AWACS.
3. That AWACS could be part of multiple, 10 AC networks.
4. This would allow many more than the original 10 to be on a larger, virtual network.

This is like the older, star-shaped Cat5 10-baseT networks.

Which is…?

All the data, from all the sources (radar, IRST, EODAS, RwR, AWACS, F-22s and fellow F-35s) is integrated automatically into a single display. No need to look at different displays to see data from different sources.

If the MADL is turned on, the data is integrated automatically and does not need actions from the pilot to complete.

The F-35 will act as a mini-ISR and return data about what it detects back to HQ to update the known battlefield map.

Cola, I did not say that IIR cannot be obscured, just not jammed.

Modern IIR AAMs are designed with target recognition. Notice that when it could detect the shape from above as a plane, it aimed for the center of mass. When coming from the side, it aimed for the engines. In either case it was not fooled by the flares. Hitting the tail when aiming for center mass was likely due to the fact that the 9X was coasting at the time without a motor. They all still hit and would have been blown out of the sky.

A smoke screen would not work for several reasons:
1. It would only obscure from the rear.
2. Missiles would still be guided to thier targets with midcoarce updates.
3. Too much weight of expenditures for such a small result.
4. The smokescreen is a big arrow in the sky saying “here I am, come shot” to everyone within sight.

The only way to possibly jam an IIR is with a DIRCM. This has a problem of being an active jammer. Some jets today already carry laser detectors that give bearing of the laser emitter. With the advent of MADL for the F-35, the sensors of all the other members of the flight are shared and the “blinded” F-35 will still know where all the targets are.

The F-35’s EODAS cannot be blinded, washed out, fooled, etc by flares. You may be getting it confused with generic IR cameras. The IIR systems in the F-35 (both EODAS and EOTS) are thermal based. Here is a Youtube vid that demonstrates some early AIM-9X test shots. Several of the scenarios involve a VERY LARGE number of flares being launched from the QF-4 drones.

Vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g4_jzqBJnA

Screen shot

Notice that the seeker can see the QF-4 despite DOZENS of flares being launched. The seeker on the AIM-9X is at least one generation behind the F-35. The 9X never gets distracted and the image never waivers.

The EF’s MAW cannot display any kind of image to the pilot. All it does is provide defensive maneuvering queues to the pilot. The exact capability of modern (especially the F-22 and F-35) RwR sets is a very well kept secret.

Btw, just like the F-22, the F-35 will rely on its RwR for initial contact along with it’s EOTS.

BBtw, the EF’s MAW only covers the forward and rear sectors, not from below, the sides, or above.

BBBtw, space has been reserved in the F-35’s RwR wing areas for future active and passive antenna upgrades.

Nice info update.