Quite lacking in the stache department though.

Nic

It is not likely and trust me, I am a huge F-35 fan and would love to tout BVR fighter tracking ability for the EODAS if it was possible. The main problem is zoom. Because the EODAS has to cover a 360 sphere, it cannot zoom (optically) because that would mean that it would loose track of other things in that area as it zooms in.

That’s pretty much what I was trying to say.

Oh and since it’s warplanes and not fighters:

nic

Also, that new DDM NG thing looks amazing- apparently they’re going to add DIRCM at some point. Looking ahead to the Rafale of 2015-2018, we have:
AESA
DDM NG with DIRCM
Active Stealth
9t engine
More SPECTRA modes
METEOR
OSF-IR
Helmet Mounted Display (?)
and who knows what else. I hope it will give the F-35 a nice bit of competition.

I think the HMD is a must, laser satcom would be a huge asset too.

Another feature I would like to see added would be some other variants of the Meteor, with at least an IIR variant.

Nic

Maybe, however I would be very surprised if the range was superior to that of a modern missile seeker.

Nic

I haven’t seen any figures listing likely ranges. I’d suspect that the range is considerably more than that of the IR seeker on an AAM though.

I disagree with you. The FOV in those systems is much wider than that of a missile’s seeker, so its range should be impacted considerably. Even with the old Magic II, mirage pilots used the seeker to find tankers before they could make visual contact. So imagine what a 9X, or Mica could do.

Nic

I know the LM website claims the algorithms required to update the MLD software to detect other FJ’s are only planned – as they have for years now – but from what both DJCROSS – an engineer on the F-22 and Showers have implied – the capability is already a reality.

One of the reason’s the F-22 needs no IRST – as DJCROSS put it – is the fact it has 360 deg MLD coverage. This is supported by a bit of literature – where the F-22 MLD situational awareness is fused into the with the rest of the integrated sensors – I’d not bet against the the F-22 being able to detect aircraft at BVR ranges with 360 deg ranges thanks to the MLD’s currently installed.

It also would lend support to the claim that Showers made about the F-22 not needing HMD to cue the 9X to exploit its full envelope.

I had completely forgotten about the MLD. It’s especially silly since this article about the DDM-NG was just out. It would be awesome it it could be used to cue the AIM 9X indeed. I wonder if it’s already capable of discriminating between aircrafts and missiles or if it’s integrated with other sensors.

Nic

TV + link 16 can enable a fighter to home in on a F22 silently; besides, there is always a risk when using a radar, however much LPI it might be, especially when you want to go undetected.

So having a missile that serves as an IRST would be a pretty good idea; especially if you find a way to minimise drag, RCS penalty and complexity.