Project BRF: Radome technology in India

[ramana]

X-post...

^^ BTW guess what I found. EF typhoon page on Euro wiki, machine translated

After the amicable settlement the ECR-90 was prepared by the Euro radar consortium of GEC Marconi and FIAR (now Selex ES), ENOSA (now Indra) (now Airbus Defence & Space) develops and DASA for series production. This also was the BAC 1-11 used. The development steps were the BAC 1-11 to a built-in, which was first flown in DA5. In this first air-to-air radar modes were tested, then air-air modes under ECM -Influence, and finally air-ground modes. The tests were carried out in close coordination with the testing of sensor fusion (AIS), the weapons and the navigation. [19] In May 1996, it was found here that the radar energy the Radom partly could not leave because the Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) for Flashbacks made. The problem was solved by the antenna was changed from vertical to horizontal polarization, and the radome has been redesigned. Main problem was that the design of the radome was conducted by British Aerospace, and the work between AEG in Germany, Alenia in Italy and was split CASA in Spain. In retrospect, it was found that it would have been better to place the orders for radar and Radom to a company. The primary responsibility for the radar was therefore transferred from DASA to BAE Systems. [20]

Looks like we have gone through a similar process with the LCA and so did the EF guys. They too had transmission losses in the radome thanks to its design, which was designed by a different firm than the radar one and had to make radar tweaks in the radar itself, plus redesign the radome. And BAE ended up taking the whole thing.

And these guys have more experience than us in airborne radar tech and access to all of NATO gyaan.

[ramana]

KaranM, AESA radar for fighter aircraft looks like gold standard. Above link shows the difficulty that Eurofighter faced in their development.
Please note ADA had problems even with mono-pulse radar and had to come up with hybrid EL-2032 back end with HAL front end version.
Yes common supplier for both radar and radome would have been nice.
Alternately the radome supplier CSIR should have been a sub-contractor for initial HAL radar.

Do you think the hybrid HAL radar also has the vertical vs. horizontal polarization issue?

[ramana]

Cobham delivers quartz radome and IFR

Dated 20 August 2015

Cobham U.K as finally handed over newly designed quartz radome and in-flight refueling probe for integration with LCA-Tejas MK-1 to speed up its final operational clearance (FOC) which due to non-supplies already has been pushed back to March 2016.


New quartz radome developed by Cobham will replace Composite radome of Indian make to increase the detection range of the Indo-Israeli developed Hybrid ELTA MMR Radar from 50 Kms to 80 plus Km which currently are been used on Tejas MK-I aircrafts.

Cobham U.K were awarded Contract to supply New quartz radome and in-flight refueling probe in early 2014 , which missed multiple deadlines due to which FOC certification for Tejas MK-1 had to be postponed to March 2016 from its December deadline of this year.

Defence Analyst believe that radome integration and testing will begin soon and can be completed in next few weeks, but Integration of IFR probe might take few months since it involves Structural changes but sources close to idrw.org in past have confirmed that fuel pumping and fuel lines have already been installed in all last batch of LSP (Limited Series Production LCA) and SP ( Series Production LCA) aircrafts in anticipation of integrating IFR probes at later stage.

But Mid-air testing of IFR probes, where aircraft receives aviation fuel from the Refuelling tanker aircraft while in flight is not only a time-consuming process but requires months of preparations, which might again delay FOC process unless HAL is able to integrate in-flight refueling probes in multiple LCA aircrafts, to speed up the testing process.

Indian and Israeli team of engineers are closely currently working on Integrating Israeli developed within visual range (WVR) air-to-air Python-V missile and Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air Derby missile in LCA Tejas aircrafts in Bangalore and DRDO plans to carry out first weapons trials in next few months, which are also important requirements of the final operational clearance (FOC) certification process required to be cleared by Tejas MK-1.

[SaiK]

So, what is our plan for getting the homegrown radome - any link/info/chaiwallah analysis? Note: This is as important as Kaveri engine. A super strong radome technology can lead to most advanced stealth skins [differently designed airframe].

[SaiK]

an interesting article for fizzic + math jingos. found when I was searching on something.
http://www.microwaves101.com/encycloped ... -absorbers

[SaiK]

https://www.cobham.com/media/917782/cob ... ies_fa.pdf
resin transfer moulding

[SaiK]

http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=7984
tons of data

check out

Cyanate Ester Quartz Fabric

http://parkelectro.com/parkelectro/images/V-376.pdf