we already discussed this couple of page ago, using RWR for BVR air to air engagement will be highly inaccurate. RWR passive ranging ability can be quite easy negated by enemy’s tactics ( both in 1 vs 1 and multi ship engagement )
The point of Rafale is sensor fusion, nobody ever argued that the ESM would replace radar. Even if SPECTRA alone can’t give you a decent fix (which I doubt, but let’s imagine for a second), your other sensors will know where to look and you will need minimal radar emissions to track the target & get a fix, or you can slave your IR channel to it, or you can ask for another asset to look overthere & give you a better fix.
Which of the following two options do you like better?
1. fly silently using AWACS/ground/see assets to do the radiating and use your ESM to detect enemy emissions (yes including DAS, since if you want to fly silently in your beloved EF you have to turn DAS off :highly_amused:), & then slave your radar a couple seconds to get a fix & a shot off if other assets can’t provide it.
2. patrol the skies with your radar on scanning everywhere, letting anyone with a decent ESM system know your whereabouts but detecting what gets in your radar’s FOV.
Air combat has nothing to do with 2 fighters flying towards eachother in full afterburner & with radar @ full power. The more discrete you are the easier you can surprise your opponent, & in air combat surprise is 90% of a kill.
Nic
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