A more advanced scenario, would be to have an electronic library with the 3d model’s dimensions of the enemy aircraft. Having the 3d model, you can even compare the image with that of an aircraft manouvering (the software can make the 3d model rotate until it adjusts to the enemy’s profile at the time of the snapshot). Take 3 successive snapshots for more reliability and let again the processor compare with the 3d model’s data and give you the range. This requires more processing power.

That’s exactly what I had in mind actually… and with successive snapshots you can even get the speed of the contact. Surely the processing power required wouldn’t be greater than the one you need to analyse the radar data.

Nic

Let me tell you a little story – David Hart-Dyke, CO of HMS Coventry in the Falklands, went on to serve as Naval Attache to the US in the years after the conflict. At one function he is quoted as declaring to some USN brass that he ‘hoped they, the US, could get their issue with the Soviets resolved properly so that everyone could get back to fighting the real enemy – the French!!!’.

The good Captain was not stating declared UK policy with regard to our closest continental neighbour or even suggesting a course of action he would like to see (at least I dont think so!). He was in fact telling a, modest, joke!.

In every joke there is a little bit of truth. In that particular case, the true part is the fact that the RN is scared of the MN, and that they would need the help of the US and of the Russians to beat us :diablo:

well yes it can shoot with just link 16 feed, as exemplified by the 180° shooting.

Nic

In 1999 Yugoslav MiG-29 were easily downed by AMRAAM. The AMRAAM would approach, turn on its active radar seeker close in. The RWR only had a brief moment to alert the pilots before the missile would impact.

Some recent aircraft EW suites can actually detect AAM mid-course datalinks. Eurofighter is supposed to be able to do this, as SPECTRA covers the same frequencies I’m guessing it can also detect AAM datalinks.

The MiG-35 SOAR passive MAWS is rated against 10 km MANPAD, 30 km AAM, 50 km SAM – they’ll detect the initial launch of a missile at these ranges. SPECTRA also uses a passive MAWS, whereas Eurofighter went with an active one.

In the scenario above, the Rafale SPECTRA has already detected the APG-63/70 radar whilst its in search mode, detects the mid-course AMRAAM datalink and alerts the pilot (or if close enough the MAWS detects the missile launch).

I’m unsure of OSF laser rangefinder range, but it would only be 10-20 km?

Very informative post Peter. From what i’ve read here the laser rangefinder’s range is about 20 to 30km in the OSF in good weather. Much weaker in bad conditions…

30km against AAMs leaves much room to fire a Mica undetected. The target would be out of the range of the laser seeker so range would have to be provided by the Radar.

But I just can’t figure out how comes you can’t tell the range from the size of the 3D shape of the opponent. If you can identify it you know how big it is, so judging how big the image is on your osf at given magnification should give you its size. Devising an algorithm to calculate it should be hard. Isn’t it the ways submarines get the range of the ships in periscope view?

Nic

Nick,

At your daftest, when you’re at your most nationalistic, you can give Fonk/GlobalPress/LordAssap/Sampaix/PilotTHG/Thunder a run for his money when it comes to impassioned but illogical defence of the aircraft you love.

The drooling aside of course

F105? 😮

Ok I admit I love it too… but it’s ugly.

There’s good stuff in every generation fighters except the fifth, aesthetically speaking.

Nic

Impressive indeed but not quite a “world first”, at a Mica IR had already hit a target in the 6’O clock of the shooter. :diablo: