halloweeneTo be precise, 800 nmi with external tanks, 6 AASM, 4 MICA (values shown to Brazilian senate) in HiLo profile.
halloweeneFirst of all, there aren’t public clues of F22 shot in bvr. True. Remember Maj Gruene (one of the raere typhoon pklots that can claim bfm victories over Rafale btw) saying “today we had a raptor salad”?
About Rafale closd to F22 in bfm, i guess everyone ks aware of it since a certain video…
halloweeneCool down. the only announces we have atm are about studies about KH31…
halloweeneThose very txts are about RAfale and F35 only
halloweeneAbsolutely true, and it is also a question of doctrine. AdlA want to keep their Rafale swingrole (omnirole concept is a bit outdated, in fact in the origin it meant that one dont have to reconfigure plane between pure A2A and A2G configs). all the time. And miss the money to integrate/buy dedicated ARM missile and heavy jamming pod (pod carbon was successfully experienced at a Red Flag, but…)
So considering that, french doctrina is : known heavy threat, long range, SCALP. Short range, AASM. Other threats occuring during missions, spectra (which can locate sufficiently precisely a ground radar) for either avoidance of the radar or shooting it with AASM. All in all, they consider they can deal with 95% of threats (proved to be efficient during MACE XII). For the 5% remaining, well for such very heavy threat environmnet, it is quite unlikely that France will operate solo, no?
I’m intently not taking in account tactical assetes (awacs, shipps, other planes etc.)
halloweeneI think they would have done both, transfer them secretely then broadcast so as the menace is enough to disrpt some ops. Aswell for Nuke submarines. We are a bit touvhy when someone wants to take some ofour territories…
halloweeneGrrr … Nvm. Expected people to discuss about the quite comprehensive analysis, not arguing on future vastly better or present no capability mates, an effort please 😉
halloweeneIs it me or the thread is derailing?
halloweeneThats exactly why considering the size and location of control surfaces of EFT i wwonder how they will release 1300 kg scalp. (notice i didnt say they wouldnt manage)
halloweenehalloweeneWhat is Sweetman doing in this discussion?
halloweeneIn the end he quotes another pilot, he doesnt assume that.
halloweeneAnd part 4
Rafale Data fusion
To exploit the smart data fusion management system, the Rafale propose to the Pilot its suite of sensor and an advanced Man-Machine Interface (MMI).
Advanced MMI
The situational awareness is displayed on large color screens in order to reduce aircrew workload.
The Hands On Throttle and Stick technology has been adopted to make function selections easier. To accelerate and facilitate information assimilation, the instrument panel of the Rafale cockpit is divided into one large Head-Up Display (HUD) and three color multifunction screens:• Two touch-sensitive lateral displays,
• And a wide angle, high-resolution head level display collimated to infinity to enable the pilot to shift instantly from head-up flying to head-down mission monitoring without a need to refocus.In the two-seat Rafale variant, the front and rear cockpit displays can be operated in a tandem mode, which presents the pilot and the back-seat with the same information, or de-coupled so that crew members can carry out different tasks simultaneously: an obvious advantage during complex missions.
Multi-sensor technology
The Rafale is equipped with :
• RBE2 multimode electronic scanning radar,
• Front Sector Optronics (FSO) passive IR/TV/laser system
• Spectra multi-spectral electronic warfare system,
• Plus the infrared seekers of the Mica IR missiles.This combination of multiple sensors enhances the probability of detecting hostile targets, including stealth aircraft. It also lowers the risk of fratricides fight.
The Rafale’s weapon system can also simultaneously deal with airborne and ground threats, a crucial advantage over the nearest competitors because pilots are now able to attack targets on the ground while engaging the enemy fighters presenting the greatest threat.
Silent intercepts can be conducted with the radar switched off.On the Rafale, there is no preferred sensor: the radar, the FSO, and the Spectra electronic warfare suite all contribute to situational awareness, and the data obtained from the different sources is fused into a single tactical picture shown on the central, head-level display, offering the pilot a clear image of the evolving tactical situation.
Sensors have inherent advantages and drawbacks: the passive FSO has excellent countermeasure resistance, and its angular resolution is better than that of the radar. On the other side, the radar is able to determine the target’s position and velocity vector in all weather conditions.
The Spectra suite can analyze enemy radar emissions to precisely identify an emitter.The powerful data fusion algorithms combine and compare the data gathered by all Rafale sensors, and accurately position and identify targets. It’s much more than simple correlation as it gives the pilot an accurate and unambiguous tactical picture.
When all tracks are positively identified, the system automatically creates a synthetic image with all enemy and friendly tracks shown in a clear and explicit way. Off-board sensor can also contribute data to the integrated tactical air picture, via the data link. Wingmen or AEW aircraft can feed their data to the leader’s system, thus helping target-sorting and co-operation within the formation.
The Rafale sensors fusion is also a crucial advantage in BVR combat, because it provides accurate synthetic information coming from multiple sensors, which offers the pilots a much better understanding of the tactical situation during combat, and this, 360 degrees around the aircraft.
In conclusion with its sensor suite, its MMI and its smart sensor fusion the Rafale is able to:– Avoid all kind of detection,
– Jam enemy radar with intelligent AESA Jammer,
– Use multispectral passive sensors in defensive and offensive roles,
– Penetrate enemy airspace low and deep carrying high loads, to long ranges
– And it is highly manoeuvrable in dog fights
– all this from land bases and carriers, available today and combat provenF35 Data fusion
Avionics Magazine :: F-35 Integrated Sensor Suite: Lethal Combination
The F-35 pilot receives situational awareness from a mission systems package that incorporates modular open systems architecture, object-oriented design and, as often as possible, common commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) processors. Mission systems software fuses data from the following sources:
• The electronically scanned array radar,
• The electro-optical targeting system (EOTS) with forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and infrared search-and-track (IRST) system,
• The electronic warfare suite, developed by BAE Systems,
• The electro-optical distributed aperture system (DAS), and
• The communication, navigation and identification (CNI) suite, providing identification friend or foe (IFF) and off-board data delivered via a high-speed data link.Combined with onboard precision weaponry: missiles, smart bombs and a 25 mm cannon the F-35 is meant to “compress the kill chain”.
Each of the F-35’s sensors provides powerful situation awareness and targeting information, but their integration to form a single, fused image makes them even more powerful, while not burdening the pilot with information overload.Each sensor has its own processor to automatically determine the appropriate modes, acquire targeting data, and deliver the imaging data over a Fibre Channel backbone bus within the integrated core processor (ICP), where it is fused to present a clear, comprehensive picture of the target and its setting.
To analyze and prioritize the incoming targeting data, the ICP uses algorithms dedicated to the various tasks: air-to-air, air-to-ground and the target identification received from the CNI suite. And these algorithms are distinct from those used to fuse other onboard data, for example, the GPS and inertial nav data for a comprehensive navigation picture.
The fused targeting data can be overlayed onto a battlefield situation display that the F-35 pilot has uplinked from a ground base or another aircraft.The intent of these features is to produce battle scene awareness to support and observe, orient, decide and act (OODA) sequence for F-35 pilots.
In a typical scenario the pilot would first detect a beyond-eyesight target in a predominantly radar image on the MFD. As the target gets closer, the EOTS imagery automatically creates a clearer picture of the target on the MFD.
At this point the pilot assesses an operational picture of the battle space, evaluates the threat responses and rapidly plans a route to secure minimum exposure and maximum weapon effectiveness, and determines the best choice of weapon.
Once he has made his decision to attack the target, the pilot would switch from the head-down to the head-up display in his helmet-mounted visor.
In addition to presenting a centre cross that locks onto the target for a point-and-shoot capability, the HMD also presents the status of available weapons, a symbol for IFF and indication of the target’s range, closure and velocity.
With most of the target detection and presentation achieved automatically, the OODA process, from acquisition to destruction, can be done within a few minutes.All told, the targeting sensors and processors make the F-35 not just a combat aircraft firing weapons, but a first-day-of-the-war, multi-mission aircraft able to perform autonomously, cooperatively or remotely, using information from off-board sources.
In a cooperative mission, for example, the F-35’s ICP would package and format targeting data to form a waveform for delivery by the CNI to a ground base or other aircraft via Link 16 or an internal data link.
halloweenePart 3
Radio Frequency Surveillance System and Countermeasures
AN/ASQ-239 (Barracuda) Electronic Warfare System.
The Joint Strike Fighter is to be equipped with a BAe Systems designed RFS, modelled on the larger ALR-94 system in the F-22A, but built to a lower manufacturing cost. It is reportedly many times more sensitive than previous generations of RWR.
Public disclosures include the use of ten sets of RF antennae which are distributed on the both wing leading and trailing edges and rear edges of the horizontal tail surfaces of the aircraft to collectively provide forward and aft Band 2,3,4 coverage. These locations provide excellent, almost spherical, spatial coverage allowing detection and geolocation of threats.
Public data about this system is limited.
On paper the EW suite appears to be a good match for the overall performance of the aircraft. Sensor fusion and data sharing within the IAS and offboard to another asset is smart and undoubtedly will reduce the pilot’s workload and improve the effectiveness of the aircraft’s combat capability. The architecture of the EW suite lends itself to evolution, weight permitting.
As a penetration aid the RFS can be expected to provide similar surveillance and threat warning capabilities to other extant designs in this class.
Cited defensive countermeasures for the Joint Strike Fighter include flares and chaff, but not internal active Electronic CounterMeasures (ECM) i.e. trackbreaking jammer equipment.
Spectra
The Rafale is equipped with the Spectra electronic warfare system, giving the aircraft a multi-spectral threat warning capability against hostile radars, missiles and lasers.
SPECTRA include:
• A RF detection system with high probability of long range detection & identification and accurate direction finding.
• A Laser warning detection and direction finding to face last generation threats.
• A Passive Infrared Detection missile warning system to counter air-to-air and surface-to-air threats.
• Threat Warning Display to make fusion of all sensors tracks in 2D or 3D localization.
• Multi-Threat RF High Power phased array radar jamming, integrating multi DRFMs and solid-state transmitters.
• Built-in ELINT capabilities
• Self learning / Artificial intelligence
• Decoy dispenser for threat countering.This system is fully integrated into the Rafale for excellent survivability against air and ground threats. Thales Group and Dassault Aviation have mentioned stealthy jamming modes for the SPECTRA system, to reduce the aircraft’s apparent radar signature.
Spectra also contribute to passive tactical situation awareness, all-weather long-range detection, identification location of threats and passive targeting, within a short response time. The system’s cutting-edge defensive measures use artificial intelligence processing to make threat danger evaluation, and are based on combinations of Omni-directional AESA jamming, multi-band decoying and evasive manoeuvres, as well as on state-of-the-art technologies such as Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) signal processing.
Spectra’s angular location on the aircraft allows it to locate ground threats, to target them for destruction with precision-guided munitions, or to avoid them. Its threat library – which can be defined, integrated and updated on short notice by users in the home country – is instrumental to this performance. As operations unfold, protection on board the Rafale can be continuously and fluidly enhanced using the system.
halloweeneWith permission of the author, comparison Rafale/JSF part2
Active Electronically Scanned Array – AESA RBE2 radar
Active Electronic Scanning in the RBE2 radar has incorporated expertise coming from the current PESA Rafale radar. RBE2 PESA is said to have a range of 80 km against a target of 1 sqm: until now the AESA version was credited of a 50% improvement giving 120 km of range, but extensive test of the first serial RBE2 AESA has shown a 100% increase and hence the range is 160 km.
It allows all radar functions to be performed in the same flight concurrently. These functions meet the needs of Air defence, Deep low level penetration, Strike mission and sea skimming attacks.Air Defence
• Very long detection and track ranges
• Fully automatic, sorting and ranking of tracked targets
• Fully target tracks independent of search volume.Deep low-level penetration
• Automatic terrain following and avoidance
Strike mission
• En Route update of target area situation
• High resolution imagery modes (SAR) – DesignationsSea skimming attacks
• Detection and multi-tracking
Active electronic scanning makes it possible to switch radar modes quickly, thereby enabling operational functions to run simultaneously.
TECHNICAL FEATURES
Antenna block
• Active electronic scanning
• Very low side and scattered lobes in azimuth and elevation
• Very high reliability (T/R modules)Active transmit / Receiver modules and exciter / Receiver
• Multipole Waveforms
• Coherent X band frequency generation
• Excellent spectral purity
• Wide bandwidth
• Full monopulse
• MMIC/GaAs technologiesProgrammable signal processor and data processor
• Target detection and ECCM processing
• Fully programmable
• Anti-obsolescence solutions: open architecture – COTS components
• Tracking computation
• High resolution map generationAESA radar contrary to any other radar including a PESA is able of operating as several separate radars simultaneously. It can change its beam form very fast, and its receiver can operate in a passive (receive-only) mode. Its revisit rates are not constrained by the antenna drive, and it can concurrently revisit different points within its field of regard at different rates.
RBE2 AESA is likely to upgrade Rafale sensor fusion and to add emission control. The radar’s signals are managed in intensity and duration to upgrade the situational awareness while minimizing the chance to be intercepted. Sensor fusion and emission control are linked. The more the link 16 and SPECTRA can be used to build the common operational picture, the less the system needs to use the radar.
APG-81 Multimode AESA Radar
The Northrop-Grumman APG-81 X-band pulse Doppler multimode radar developed for the Joint Strike Fighter is closest in concept to the APG-77(V)2 in the F-22A, and the APG-79 in the F/A-18E/F Block II aircraft. It is designed with a smaller number of modules than the APG-77(V)2, and with a lower per module power rating than the APG-79, making it shorter ranging than both alternatives, but comparable in frequency agility.
APG-81 is optimised for ground attack operating modes, with good capabilities for high resolution imaging and Ground Moving Target Indication.
In addition, the APG-81 radar’s AESA aperture will likely be used as an X/S-band interferometer for precision direction finding in the forward hemisphere, as is the case with the APG-79 AESA.
General Functionalities are likely to be similar to the one describe for RBE2 AESA radar but it seems that the processing is done in the central computer instead of the equipment.
The range of APG-81 is also given for 160 km against a target of 1 sqm.
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