F-16, F-18, Grip, MiG-35 and Rafale Technical Resource Only

[mandrake]

The bloody things looks even better than F22's cockpit...

Why cant we put a bit towards asthetics of LCA cockpit? I mean making the MFD color suitable with the inside color, the brown color looks really nice! instead of the ugly teal color sukhoi uses.

[Drevin]

Nice Pic. What different functions do the right/left joysticks do? Obviously only one controls the aircraft.

The two look different so its not the same function. Is one for the canards and the other for the main controls?

[Jaeger]

Nice Pic. What different functions do the right/left joysticks do? Obviously only one controls the aircraft.

The two look different so its not the same function. Is one for the canards and the other for the main controls?

On the left is the throttle and the right is the control stick, which traditionally is mounted in the cockpit centre.

[NRao]

US Marine Corps :: Jun 17, 2007 :: (US) Navy: Super Hornet rep for problems untrue

[SaiK]

rafale: wow!.. regarding those rear view mirrors. would they be useful in dog fights other than the intended use at ground level?

[Sumeet]

AWST, May 28, 2007. Vol. 166, Iss. 20; pg. 24

MBDA last week performed a high-altitude control-and-dispersion firing of its Meteor rocket/ramjet air-to-air missile, the first shot to be carried out in the U.K. A Saab Gripen was used for the test firing from the Defense Ministry's range in the Hebrides Islands off the northwest coast of Scotland. Further flutter trials of the Meteor are also underway, examining missile characteristics when fitted to wing stations of the Eurofigher Typhoon. Alenia Aeronautica is leading the flutter tests. These are being conducted at test centers in Turin and Decimomannu, in Sardinia. The trials will assess performance at subsonic and supersonic speeds, up to Mach 1.8.


The high-altitude shot was carried out at 42,650 ft., with the Gripen aircraft being flown at supersonic speed. Following "a couple of seconds in the boost phase" the missile's ramjet was successfully ignited. The munition then carried out a series of pre-planned maneuvers, including bank-to-turn control. The planned flight profile lasted "several minutes," according to MBDA, and examined the missile's endgame performance at maximum kinematic ranges. Along with the Gripen, the Tornado F3 is also to be used as part of the Meteor test program. Guided firings from an F3 are due beginning in 2009. Qinetiq will modify two F3s for the program. The F3 is being used to cover for the lack of availability of the Typhoon for the guided firing trials. The missile is now expected to enter service with the Typhoon in 2013.

[karkera]

BAE Systems Begins Production of Typhoon Helmet-Mounted Display

[quote]Rochester, United Kingdom. — BAE Systems has begun production of the head equipment assembly (HEA) for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to begin early in 2009.

The Typhoon HEA is the first binocular, visor-projected, night-vision-capable helmet-mounted display developed for a fighter aircraft. The helmet’s fully integrated design ensures compatibility of the electro-optics with head protection and life support, and also incorporates a respirator for protection in nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare environments.

“The Typhoon HEA is the most technologically advanced helmet in the defense avionics market,â€

[Kartik]

Rafale, Mica Shoot Down Target in Pursuit
Posted 06/18/07 10:48 Defense News

By PIERRE TRAN, PARIS

In a test firing, a French air force Rafale F2 fighter fired a Mica air-to-air missile to down a target flying behind and in pursuit, the Delegation Generale pour l’Armement procurement office said in a statement.

The shootdown of a target in pursuit was a first in French operations, the DGA said in the June 18 statement, released at the 47th Paris Air Show. The MBDA Mica missile was equipped with an electromagnetic seeker, and the target was designated by a second Rafale delivering tactical data over a NATO standard Link 16 connection. The DGA gave no details of the pursuit aircraft.

It took place June 11 at the DGA’s test range in the Bay of Biscarosse, conducted under the auspices of the military center for air experimentation, based at Mont de Marsan.

The test firing was the 12th in the campaign of technical and operational evaluation of the Mica on the Rafale and Mirage 2000-5F, performed by the air force, with technical support from the DGA, Dassault Aviation, MBDA, Thales and Safran’s Sagem Défense Sécurité.
A last firing from a Rafale in the next few weeks will close the evaluation program.

Success in the test fires have permitted the entry into service of the electromagnetic version of the Mica on the Rafale and Mirage 2000-5F SF1-IR in 2006, and an infrared version on Rafale and Mirage 2000-5 F at the beginning of 2007.

[JaiS]

SAAB Selects Rockwell Collins Avionics for Gripen Demonstrator Program

PARIS --- Rockwell Collins has been selected by SAAB to supply a suite of avionics for the new Gripen Demonstrator program.

"Our expanded role for the Gripen Demonstrator program reflects a high degree of customer satisfaction for our performance on the JAS-39, as well as our reputation for providing world-class cockpit solutions for fighter aircraft," stated Bernard Loth, vice president and general manager of Rockwell Collins International Operations. "We look forward to delivering cockpit systems that significantly complement and enhance Gripen's evolving technology insertion program."

Rockwell Collins currently provides its Head up Display System (HUD), ARN-147 Very High Frequency (VHF) Omni Ranging/Instrument Landing System (VOR/ILS) receiver, and ARN-153 Tactical Air Navigation system (TACAN) to the Gripen. On the new Gripen Demonstrator program, Rockwell Collins has significantly increased its content to include Flight Management Computers that feature data transfer and switching, video processing capabilities, and three advanced six-inch by eight-inch Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Display (AMLCD) color Head Down Displays (HDD).

This expansion in content on the demonstrator program for the premiere Swedish fighter reflects Rockwell Collins' growing presence in the European market. The work will continue over a three-year period at Rockwell Collins' facilities in the U.S. and Europe, and at SAAB's headquarters located in Linköping, Sweden.

[NRao]

AWST:

Paris Air Show 2007

Radar Threatens Stealth
Aviation Week & Space Technology
06/18/2007, page 132

David A. Fulghum
Washington

The debate continues over whose black projects are most effective

Printed headline: Stealth Rules

The stealth versus radar contest is making another of its periodic swings--this time in favor of new, advanced radars. But stealth specialists say it won't be enough because stealth is improving even faster than the radars.

There's a new generation of stealth on the way that will be seen in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the Navy's new Unmanned Combat Air System. It will provide protection against high-frequency radars traditionally associated with advanced air defenses. But stealth designs will also be tuned to evade low-frequency radars that can detect older stealth designs like the F-117.

Meanwhile, advanced radars are being developed by the U.S., France, Britain and Russia, with Moscow expected to share the technology with the Chinese military. The active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars are made up of thousands of efficient transmitter/receiver modules that produce a versatile, long-range radar. The F-22's radar, which measures about 2 X 3 ft., has an estimated range of about 125-150 mi. The MP-RTIP radar--designed for the E-10 with a 4 X 20-ft. antenna to counter stealth--would have had an estimated range of perhaps 300 mi. or more. U.S. officials hint at ground-based radars with even greater ranges. It's known that Israel's Green Pine AESA radar is big and powerful enough to watch missile tests in Syria and Iran.

Even more intriguingly, if all the beams can be focused on a single spot--perhaps an enemy cruise missile, radar or a headquarters packed with computers--an electronic spike of electricity can be produced large enough to blind sensors, fill them with false targets and scramble computer memories. Raytheon has already tested an air defense system that uses radar transmitters to shoot down shoulder-fired air defense missiles.

Perhaps best of all for the U.S., researchers discovered how to take the products of electronic warfare effects generators and pump them through AESA radars on fighter aircraft--in particular, the latest F/A-18E/F and EA-18G models. That means electronic effects, such as false targets and other misleading data, can be fired as a data stream into the radars and other sensors of other aircraft, missiles and air defense arrays at ranges of a 100 mi. or more, farther than air-to-air weapons.

Air Force officials hint that the capability also exists in the F-22.

"We're rapidly finding out the things the F-22 brings and how to use them," says Lt. Gen. Chip Utterback, commander of 13th Air Force. "We are soon to integrate the F-22 and the [Marine Corps AV-8] in ways I would never have imagined. I'm talking about a joint team for a Harrier and an F-22 using the low observability of the F-22 and the ability of the AV-8 to identify and work targets while close to the ground--and while under a high-threat surface-to-air environment. We can put an F-22 in that environment and work some magic . . . in the electronic attack arena where we couldn't before. With F-22, we can work our conventional forces much more aggressively in a high-threat area."

Another clue comes from a longtime Pentagon stealth and radar specialist.

"The combination of the F-22's stealth and electronic attack capabilities allows it to play both sides of the equation by being hard to detect and carrying the capability to generate false targets and jam enemy radars."


((This X-45C tailless flying wing represents the fourth generation of stealth that protects against detection by low-frequency radars as well as it does against traditional high-frequency air defense sensors.Credit: BOEING))

He contends that the balance between radar and stealth hasn't substantially shifted. "Radar--even large, ground-based AESAs--hasn't substantially changed the advantage offered by stealth," the specialist says. "If anyone says it has, they haven't been read into the latest technology and they're wrong. AESA radars do have high power output and lower [power] losses. But meanwhile, stealth has shrunk aircraft signatures by orders of magnitude. Even if the radar is at the right frequency [to detect a particular design], it doesn't change the stealth equation. You can detect bumblebees with the right radar tuned to the right frequencies. But you can't track the bumblebees or create a firing solution for your missiles. And even if you could, the missile's very small radar has to acquire the target and fuze the warhead to explode. They can't do it."

Now the Navy's new UCAS design--a tailless flying wing with extensive LO coatings on the leading edges--is emerging. It will be the service's first big step into operational stealth, which brings with it the possibility of solving the Navy's problems of penetrating advanced air defenses, long-dwell intelligence-gathering and the need for aerial refueling.

"This is a much bigger deal than people think," says Tom Erhard, a retired USAF colonel and UAV specialist who is now a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. "N-UCAS would have substantial strategic impact on deterring China, which wants to hold carriers 1,000 naut. mi. or more out of the fight. It can do so, given the expanding range of its anti-carrier forces and the short range of the planned [U.S. Navy] 2020 air wing. The future environment will demand long-endurance flights and low sortie rates, during which the carrier can hide."

[NRao]

AWST:

World News & Analysis

New Tactics, Equipment Emerge on Rafale's Radar
Aviation Week & Space Technology
06/18/2007, page 60

Robert Wall
Paris

Michael A. Taverna
Paris

New combat capabilities near for Rafale fighters

Printed headline: Picking Up Strength

French military officials are exploring new Rafale tactics and whether to tweak the fighter's upgrade plans after a year of operational experience with the multi-role version, including its first combat assignment.

At the end of the month, French air force Rafale F2s are expected to wrap up their first combat deployment, to Dushanbe, Tajikistan, where they have been supporting NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan since March (AW&ST Apr. 9, p. 28 ). The crews have completed 120 combat missions and 500 flight hours to date, dropping GBU-12 laser-guided bombs three times. The weapons were integrated in a quick-reaction program to provide a precision-strike capability.

Despite the austere conditions, the French air force managed a 90% mission-capable rate, says a military representative. Maintenance man-hour levels per flight hour have been comparable to those for the Mirage 2000D, which is a far more mature fighter (the F2 has been in air force inventory only a year). Missions, which last as long as 6.5 hr., usually involve carriage of two fuel tanks and four bombs. More could be carried, but the air force is matching Rafale's performance with the Mirage 2000's, which provides buddy lasing until the Rafales get their own targeting pod in early 2009.

The French military expects Rafale to return to Afghanistan late this year or early 2008. It could then deploy with the GPS-guided AASM air-to-surface bomb and Scalp Apache cruise missiles, although the latter may not be needed in an Afghan scenario. AASM is required for all-weather operations, but its high cost means targets would have to be high value.

Navy Rafales returned from Afghanistan in May after flying about 30 missions--with three weapons drops--from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle because the vessel is headed for major overhaul. The deployment included three F2s and nine air-to-air F1 fighters. The navy is talking with Brazil and the U.S. to find ways to keep at-sea experience up.

The next time the French navy Rafales deploy on the CDG in late 2008, they may be in F3 configuration, which offers a reconnaissance, antiship and nuclear strike capability. Jean-Marc Gasparini, deputy program director at Dassault Aviation, says that although some F3 weapon systems--notably the ASMP-A nuclear cruise missile--have been delayed, the new standard is expected to be qualified by mid-2008.

In the meantime, planners are taking advantage of the few weeks remaining before the CDG enters dry dock to squeeze in more F2 weapons testing. The navy recently completed initial carrier system trials with the AASM and the Exocet AM 39 antiship missile. It has also demonstrated an expanded flight configuration for F1s, catapulting the aircraft with a buddy-buddy refueling pod, two 1,250-liter drop tanks and a pair of 2,000-liter tanks.

Other tests are demonstrating off-board cueing capability in air-to-air combat. An air force Rafale recently performed the first operational rearward firing of a Mica medium-range missile, destroying a target flying behind the aircraft. The targeting information was provided by a second Rafale, which used a Link 16 to relay it to the shooter.

The services are also discussing more interim upgrades, including the laser/GPS-guided Enhanced Paveway, which would provide a cheaper all-weather capability than AASM. Another is thought to be the GBU-24, which is scheduled for qualification in 2009. Other configuration, sensor and aircraft improvements are under study, but Gasparini declined to detail them.

Meanwhile, work is advancing on a package of longer-term improvements, known as the post-F3 road map, set to be introduced in 2012. These include the RBE2 active electronically scanned array (AESA) and new-generation OSF forward infrared search-and-track systems under development at Thales, as well as a new radar warning receiver system being designed by MBDA.


Since March, French air force Rafales have been supporting NATO and U.S. operations in Afghanistan from their base in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Credit: SIRPA AIR

Thales program director Jean-Marc Goujon confirmed for the first time that the AESA demonstrator was flown on an F1 in 2002, apparently as part of an effort to sell Rafale to Singapore. Earlier this year, it began trials on the F2. So far, only air-to-air modes have been tried, with air-to-ground trials to come. The first production-standard prototype is scheduled to undergo ground integration trials this year and to fly on the F2 in 2008.

Gasparini says talks will begin soon to include the plug-and-play radar in the next batch of Rafales, which are slated to be acquired in 2008. OSF and MWR development is proceeding "on target," he says, with initial integration sets due to arrive in 2010.

[NRao]

AWST:

Paris Air Show 2007

Thales Develops LX16 Tactical Data Link for Non-NATO Countries
Aviation Week & Space Technology
06/18/2007, page 114

Joris Janssen Lok
Paris

Link 16-equivalent data link gives nations option for tactical network

Printed headline: Non-NATO Network

Thales is proposing a tactical data link that gives nations not currently allowed to use the NATO-standard Link 16 the option to acquire a similar capability, which Thales calls LX16.

At least one Asian country is in negotiations to equip all of its armed forces (air, land and maritime) with LX16, say company sources, while declining to identify the customer.

Thales is also receiving "strong interest" in LX16 from several other nations as well as from "aircraft manufacturers who are not in NATO countries and who sell outside NATO."

"Non-NATO air customers often love to get a Link 16 capability, but they can't--so we developed an equivalent tactical data link that uses the same message set, grammar and vocabulary," says Patrice Caine, vice president for communications, navigation and identification activities in Thales Land & Joint Systems.

Once installed, the equipment behind LX16 can be modified "virtually overnight" to support Link 16 proper, Caine suggests. Such an upgrade could be considered if an LX16 user becomes eligible to join the Link 16 user community--for example, when there's a need to participate in Link 16 networks during coalition operations.

The change from an LX16 to a Link 16 configuration can be achieved by adding a MIDS-LVT (Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminal) to each aircraft, ship or land asset that needs to participate in the Link 16 network.

Thales is also working to make LX16 interoperable with Link 16 without having to add MIDS-LVT terminals to all platforms. That would be a gateway system that allows the LX16 network to interface with Link 16.

According to Caine, "This gateway will basically be a MIDS-LVT and our new NextW@ve multifunction terminal placed together in a support aircraft such as a tanker or a transport aircraft. When airborne, the gateway-equipped aircraft would serve as the node in which the handshake between LX16 and Link 16 is made so that all participants in either network can exchange and share tactical information."

The gateway can also be installed on a naval vessel or in a land-based command center, as long as there is line-of-sight communication with the airborne network participants.

While Link 16 operates in the 960-1215-MHz. frequency range (L-band), Thales's LX16 operates at 300-600 MHz.

LX16 is based on Thales's new NextW@ve software-defined airborne radio technology. The NextW@ve multipurpose terminal, which weighs 6.5 kg. (14.3 lb.), was qualified at the end of 2006 and is now in series production, says Caine. It offers a 250-Kbps. secure mode (with growth potential to 500 Kbps.) and operates across the VHF/UHF frequency band between 30-600 MHz.

"The NextW@ve terminal does for LX16 what MIDS-LVT does for Link 16, except in a lower frequency range," he says.

The basic equipment is the same for both NATO and export programs, although the terminal's programmable security core would be different.

In the export configuration, the NextW@ve multi-purpose terminal (TRA 6036) would support both voice and data link communications. It would be integrated with a TSB 2525 combined interrogator/transponder (for identification friend or foe) and a national secure-mode crypto-computer. LX16 offers high electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) protection through a combination of frequency hopping and encryption, says Caine.

For NATO applications, the NextW@ve terminal (now called TRA 6034) would work with a MIDS-LVT unit (to support Link 16) in combination with a TSB 2521 interrogator/transponder and a Mode 4 crypto-computer.

As such, the NextW@ve terminal--sold, so far, to equip France's next batch of Rafale fighters, Morocco's upgraded Mirage F1s, and Boeing AH-64D Apaches in the United Arab Emirates--is at the heart of a new generation of Thales data links for air and joint operations.

According to Caine, these are designed to "generate and share the best common operational picture and to raise the operational tempo from sensor-to-shooter by speeding up the observe-orient-decide-act loop."

In a briefing at the company's Guyancourt plant outside Paris, Thales in addition to LX16 presented a new high-rate data link to downlink reconnaissance imagery to ground stations; and a close-air-support data link to improve communication and coordination between strike aircraft and joint terminal attack control (JTAC) teams on the ground.

The high-rate (more than 100 Mbps.) data link for airborne reconnaissance is a point-to-point, NATO-interoperable (Stanag 7085) downlink for imagery (synthetic aperture radar or electro-optical), video (infrared or TV) and/or plots (moving target indication or signals intelligence). It is usually combined with a two-way, omnidirectional, secure UHF-band service link to exchange control and management messages between the ground station and the sensor. The first application of this multi-payload data link technology is in the French air force and navy's Reco-NG airborne reconnaissance system (AW&ST May 7/14, p. 42). It has also been selected for the Neuron UCAV demonstrator program (led by Dassault Aviation) and for NATO's pending Alliance Ground Surveillance program.

For close air support (CAS), Caine hopes the French navy will order NextW@ve for integration into its Thales-supplied Damocles targeting pods. He says the CAS solution offered by Thales allows for the exchange of video and images (typically three compressed high-quality images per second at 100 Kbps.). It also supports the nine-line message format and voice coordination.

[krishnan]

At least one Asian country is in negotiations to equip all of its armed forces (air, land and maritime) with LX16, say company sources, while declining to identify the customer.

[SaiK]

ton of mig-35 info.

[SaiK]

[quote]The airplane may be attributed to the 4++ generation – it will undershoot ((NEDOTYAGIVAET)) everything in several parameters until the next generation

The new Russian MiG-35 fighter will be offered on the arms markets in 2009 – 2010, the president of the Unified Aviation Building Company (OAK), Aleksey Fedorov, has promised. “We are working on this airplane and the Nizhniy Novgorod Sokol Aircraft Building Plant is participating actively in it,â€

[JaiS]

Gripen Demo – Trail-blazing the future

Typhoon going like clockwork

As the UK Tranche 3 decision looms, Jon Lake reports that the fighter is right on track.

Some 118 Typhoons have now been delivered, including five IPAs, 41 for the Royal Air Force, 33 for Germany, 22 for Italy and 17 for Spain. All deliveries have met their planned schedule since 2004.

By the end of March RAF aircraft had amassed 8,118 flying hours, Luftwaffe 3,535 hours, AMI 3,480 hours and Ejercito del Aire aircraft 2,494 hours. To this 17,627 hour total could be added 5,013 hours flown by the test fleet.

In service, the Italian air force Typhoons have had a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) commitment since December 2005, and the RAF’s No.3 Squadron will assume ‘Southern QRA’ duties on Friday 29 June.

Enhancements

Many improvements and enhancements have been made long before their planned dates. The Italians started QRA without telling the manufacturer, the Germans have flown late standard radar software on early standard aircraft, and the RAF fired ASRAAM before industry had finished its own clearance work, and also incorporated the RAIDS pod. The Block 5 aircraft is now in service.

Industry has also forged ahead, flying the CAESAR active electronically scanned radar on a Typhoon development aircraft before any operator could issue a requirement for an AESA radar.

Tranche 1 production is now drawing to a close, and Tranche 2 deliveries will begin during 2008. The Tranche 2 aircraft add a major increase in computer processing power as result of the CRRIP risk-reduction programme.

The Future Capabilities Programme (Change Requirement 210) contract was signed on March 29, 2007, covering the full integration of new weapons, including Paveway IV and the EGBU-16 (Enhanced Paveway), and Litening 3 Laser Designator Pod (LDP), into the Tranche 2 aircraft of all four partner nations. The contract was valued at about £830 m (with a UK share of £325 million). A further, second phase of the Future Capabilities Programme remains to be signed, and this would add Storm Shadow/Taurus cruise missiles, the new Meteor air to air missile, and other weapons.

[NRao]

AWST :: June 17, 2007 :: Getting Ready (Gripen at Le Bourget)

[NRao]

Slightly off-beat, X-posting:

The Hindu :: June 18, 2007 :: Raytheon open to offering AESA radar for India's LCA

[JCage]

At least one Asian country is in negotiations to equip all of its armed forces (air, land and maritime) with LX16, say company sources, while declining to identify the customer.

The Celsius tech Gripen datalink is stated to be superior to the Link 16 as it shares data on fuel and weapons status amongst four aircraft, plus shows which target/s have been locked upon enabling some fancy tactics.
The Link 16 does not offer these abilities.

[kit]

In the source’s opinion, the active phased array radars being developed in different countries of the world have similar characteristics in may ways – the quantity of receive and transmit modules (PPM) is practically the same, the very same technology is being employed, the PPM power on practically all active phased array radars is 5 – 6 watts and the range is 130 – 160 kilometers. Finally, speaking simplistically, they are doing the same everywhere – they are pulling out one antenna and installing the active phased array, and they leave all the remaining units.


Source: 07.06.2007, AviaPort.RU, Correspondent: Dmitriy Kozlov
http://www.royfc.com/cgi-bin/today/acft_news.cgi

Its not that simple !! the software and hardware part is so complex that you need to see that to at least comprehend the technological aspect behind it.. and to put it simple you need the at least one teraflop of computing power on that plane along with this gizmo to make good use of it ... just the radar will do nothing .. software we might be able to handle what about the computing power , processors and chips to go along with it

[mandrake]

Its not that simple !! the software and hardware part is so complex that you need to see that to at least comprehend the technological aspect behind it.. and to put it simple you need the at least one teraflop of computing power on that plane along with this gizmo to make good use of it ... just the radar will do nothing .. software we might be able to handle what about the computing power , processors and chips to go along with it

Computing power is not a issue for us, the very reason we designed MC of MKI, LCA's computing power would be 10x more than MKI... or even more...

[JCage]

Dont bet on it. The MKIs Mission computer is being kept upto date as well.

[JaiS]

The double Meteor pylons on the proposed Gripen-Demo. Credits to aLx .

[karkera]

Its not that simple !! the software and hardware part is so complex that you need to see that to at least comprehend the technological aspect behind it.. and to put it simple you need the at least one teraflop of computing power on that plane along with this gizmo to make good use of it ... just the radar will do nothing .. software we might be able to handle what about the computing power , processors and chips to go along with it

Computing power is not a issue for us, the very reason we designed MC of MKI, LCA's computing power would be 10x more than MKI... or even more...

We do not seem to have the ability yet to miniaturize a terflop computing platform. To put in context the Param Padma has a peak of one teraflop. It is a large array of processors (imported) that requires complex cooling and huge power supplies. This is not as simple as it seems and is an issue.

[JCage]

karkera,

Why in anyones name, would any fighter need a teraflop or param padma in its mission computer? This is a total non sequitur.
kit was totally wrong in his assumption about a teraflop required to run an AESA. Then may I suggest he castigate the US, the Russians or even us...none of them have bothered with anything so extravagant and unecessary..

To get back to the topic:

[quote]Rafale comes battle hardened

By Chris Pocock

Paris Air Show >> June 19 2007
Aircraft

In the fighter aircraft business, there’s no substitute for combat experience, if you want to impress potential customers. The Dassault Rafale has now dropped bombs in anger as part of NATO’s stabilization effort in Afghanistan. Here at the show, the Rafale team (which also includes Snecma and Thales) and the French government are briefing several export delegations about this, as well as the aircraft’s steady progress toward full operational capability.

Rafales from the French air force and navy have flown 150 sorties and 640 hours over Afghanistan since March. Tasked with close air support (CAS), the air force has been flying two-ship sorties comprising one Rafale and one Mirage 2000D out of Dushanbe airbase in Tajikistan. The navy has similarly flown mixed sorties–Rafale plus Super Etendard–from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, located in the Arabian Sea. It has been a 500-mile transit from each location to the area of interest and each sortie has required three air-to-air refuelings.

GBU-12 bombs have been dropped on six occasions. Because the Rafales have not yet achieved a self-designation capability, their targets are being laser-illuminated by pods on the Mirages and Super Etendards. The Thales Damocles pod is not due to enter service on the Rafale until February 2009. The Sagem AASM GPS-guided bomb is now in final flight tests on the Rafale and will be available for operations later this year.

The Rafales that have flown over Afghanistan are F2 standard jets, with a more capable mission computer than on the first 13 aircraft that went into service with the navy back in 2004. The Rafale team is now working on the F3 upgrade, which adds the Reco-NG reconnaissance pod, the ASMP-A nuclear strike missile and the AM39 Exocet antiship missile.

Since last October, the Rafale team has also been working on an F3-Plus version, also known as the Roadmap contract. This will add a new-generation missile-warning system, a more complete laser-guided bomb capability to include GBU-24 and a new-generation Forward Sector Optronics (FSO) system (the EO/IR system that gives pilots visual identification of targets). But the most important part of F3+ is the addition of an active-array antenna to the aircraft’s Thales RBE2 radar. (For more detail on the RBE2 AA, see page 6 of tomorrow’s edition.)

To pay for this contract, the French government stretched delivery of some of the 120 Rafales that are already on order, of which nearly 50 have been delivered. Dassault said that the ultimate French objective is still to acquire 294 of these warplanes. All of them, except possibly those first 13 aircraft, will eventually be upgraded to F3 standard.

The first French air force Rafale squadron was declared operational exactly one year ago, at St. Dizier airbase. Before the deployment to Tajikistan, the squadron participated in a NATO Tiger Meet last October and a NATO Tactical Leadership Program (TLP) exercise early this year. The second Air Force squadron is due to start working-up this summer.

The Rafale has yet to attract an export order, though it came close in Korea and Singapore. Earlier this year, Dassault made a pitch to India for the sale of 40 Rafales to the F3+ standard. India is expected to issue a formal RFP for 120 new fighters.

Operational Impressions
Aviation International News spoke with two French military staff officers who have also been Rafale pilots, one from the air force, one from the navy, about the aircraft’s recent operational experience. Here’s what they said:

“We tested our swing role during the Tiger Meet, with good results. We could play in the air-to-ground role, while still monitoring air-to-air. We flew fighter sweep missions, then switched to strike and force protection. The strike missions included supersonic dash, and took place in a dense adversary environment.

“At the Tiger Meet, our two aircraft achieved 100-percent availability for the entire week. On the ramp, we demonstrated how the aircraft can be turned around by just one ground crew. The other teams were very impressed by that.

“The FSO also worked very well. It allowed us to identify our opponents at longer ranges than they could see us, while still complying with the RoE [rules of engagement]. So we won all our air-to-air battles, which were against
F-16 MLUs and Tornado F3s.

“We think that our Link 16 [NATO-standard secure data communications system] is the key to interoperability. Using it, we were able to keep very quiet in combat. Lots of air forces say they are compliant with it, but some of their aircraft don’t have the data keys.

“We were surprised by the efficiency of the Spectra electronic warfare system. It gave us a DEAD [destruction of enemy air defenses] capability that we had not envisaged. Spectra gave us a bearing on a [simulated] SAM site, despite our having been deliberately given the wrong location by intelligence. Then the FSO slewed to confirm the location.

“At Dushanbe, we’ve achieved 12 maintenance man-hours per flying hour with three Rafales. That’s the same rate as our Mirage 2000Ds–which is a mature weapons system.

“I have flown foreign evaluation pilots in our two-seaters, who have also flown the Eurofighter and the Gripen. They told me that our man-machine interface and data fusion is better than those aircraft.â€

[JCage]

Mind you, the current Rafale radar has a range of some 140 km (upper end) against a 5 Sq Mtr target. The EF has a range of 180+ km against the same. The Rafale AESA - unless they change the radome/ front structure- will be a 55 cm system, lesser than an EF's ~ 70 cm one (going by memory here) and the Sukhoi series collosal ~ 1 Mtr one. Sum total is that the AESA radar increase may not be as substantial as thought and a lot depends on how many Tx/Rx modules they can pack into the system. If they position the radar deeper (for more modules, larger antenna) then thats probably the reason why some reports state that the OSF on the Rafale F3 is losing its IRST in the short term, and will be TV alone.

[karkera]

karkera,

Why in anyones name, would any fighter need a teraflop or param padma in its mission computer? This is a total non sequitur.
kit was totally wrong in his assumption about a teraflop required to run an AESA. Then may I suggest he castigate the US, the Russians or even us...none of them have bothered with anything so extravagant and unecessary..

I was only responding to comments about teraflop. I am sure we do not need them for mission computers. We need high gigaflop processors though for signals and comms processing.

[karkera]

Gripen Presentation för NTVA

[JCage]

The point is that the initial post which sparked this exchange off- was utterly wrong, which was followed by a reply that was unecessary and so here we are..

Some other lurker will add 2+3=9 and decide "oh woe is us, we dont have teraflop computers in the LCA" and so on and so forth.

Coming to comms and signal processing, you are correct, the current "high end" systems worldwide all use multiple COTS SBC based units which clock in the gigaflops range, quite doable, and so have we.

[JCage]

Gripen to get AESA in mid-life upgrade

Keeping pace with the technology trend, Saab’s JAS39 Gripen is to be fitted with a multi-channel active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, likely to be introduced under a planned mid-life upgrade (MLU) that could come along as early as 2010.


Development of the AESA radar for Gripen started out under the Saab Ericsson NORA (Not Only a RAdar) programme, and has been underway for several years, including test flying aboard a specially-retained Saab JA-37 Viggen testbed. One of the main benefits of the NORA concept was the provision of improved long-range tracking as a result of the combination of longer detection range and electronically-steered beam control. The AESA radar programme is directly linked to MIDAS (Multifunction Integrated Defensive Avionics System), which will also add electronic attack and advanced datalinking capabilities.


Radar upgrades for in-service Gripens are already underway and the AESA project is planned to follow the current Mk.IV upgrade for the type’s Saab Ericsson PS-05/A pulse-doppler radar, which adds precision strike modes and improved synthetic aperture radar (SAR) capability.


The AESA developments are being lined up for what is now being dubbed the ‘Next Generation Gripen’ programme, notably including the proposed variants to meet F-16AM/BM replacement requirements for Norway and Denmark, known as Gripen N and Gripen DK respectively. An AESA version of its current PS-05/A radar, which, can reportedly track airborne targets at distances of up to 120km would provide enhanced multi-mode capabilities for Gripen-NG, as well as extended range for beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles.

Looking further ahead, Saab Microwave Systems, Selex Sistemi Integrati and Elettronica are involved in the development of the next generation of microwave multi-function, multi-role systems under the multi-role active electronically scanned antenna (M-AESA) programme. The introduction of M-AESA technology will greatly increase the potential of microwave system performance, boosting the ability to detect, track and identify small targets even in the most confused battlespace.

Raytheon showcases AESA Radar's 'super-communications' capabilities

At Le Bourget, Raytheon is demonstrating the ability of its AESA radars to pass large files, such as synthetic aperture radar maps, to other aircraft, command and control platforms or ground stations at unprecedented speed, and while continuing to use the radar to undertake all of its ‘traditional’ functions.


Claiming to be the “world leader in active electronically scanned array (AESA) radarsâ€

[mandrake]

We do not seem to have the ability yet to miniaturize a terflop computing platform. To put in context the Param Padma has a peak of one teraflop. It is a large array of processors (imported) that requires complex cooling and huge power supplies. This is not as simple as it seems and is an issue.

Why the hell would you need teraflop computing power in a fighter? Its absurd and serves no purpose, I dont think even to process 4000 GaN TR modules you would need a teraflop computing power, seems like you need to study a bit on how avionics grade federated architecture works.

I'm willing to bet not even Raptor's CIP (common interface processor) has teraflop power, teraflop power = more heat = more cooling needed = absolutely imaginary.

Jcage can we put such double pylon in our LCA? The Gripen looks gorgeous, hoping our LCA cockpit will improve with new HUD

[JCage]

Joey, NRaos request- no discussions in the thread as much as possible. Cut and paste your reply in the Indian mil. aviation thread..so that replies can go there as well..

Cheers

[kit]

hmm maybe i was wrong .. check this out !!

The F-22's avionics have the computing power of two Cray supercomputers, and they produce a large amount of heat.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ ... 2-manu.htm

[JCage]

You are wrong, but I understand where you are coming from. The point is that the Cray reference does not mean that its automatically TFlops. And take the discussion to the other thread/s.

[Cain Marko]

I'd like to see a comparison of the FLIR/IRST systems and the ground targeting systems on the MRCA candidates:
Typhoon (Pirate/liteningIII) Vs Rafale (OSF/damocles) Vs MiG35 (OLS-uem/OLS K) Vs Shornet (ATFLIR) Vs F16 (SNIPER XR).

while the teens have external pods and the mig has a completely integrated package, the euros use a combination of external pod (litening/damocles) and integrated FlIR/IRST (Pirate/OSF).

While the OLS detects non afterburning targets @ 45km (tail on), Rafale's OSF detects 'em @ ~ 80km under "optimal" (afterburning?) targets, the ATFLIR otoh supposedly acquires targets in excess of 40 nautical miles, any idea on the PIRATE?

Again, while the OLS-K detects a tank sized ground target @ 20km, the Litening II acquires targets @ 40000km and the ATFLIR does so @ > 50000 feet.

its all a bit confusing, can any guru clarify?

Regards,
CM.

[Cain Marko]

here's an excellent piece by Piotr Butowski as posted by "Googeler" on AFM, gives you a good idea of the MiG 35 IRST package as well as its self protection suite, he did another superb job on the airframe of the 35 for Flug Revue (april2006?):

SPECIAL REPORT
Date Posted: 13-Mar-2007
INTERNATIONAL DEFENCE REVIEW - APRIL 01, 2007
________________________________________
MiG showcases Indian MRCA offering

Russian aircraft manufacturer MiG unveiled the MiG-35 fighter, in the form to be offered to India for its multirole combat aircraft (MRCA) requirement, at the Aero India exhibition in February 2007.
The company also released extensive details of the radar, electro-optical sensor and other systems for the fighter at the show in Bangalore. The airframe is the well-known MiG-29M2 (no. 154), but the-MiG-35 electronics suite was put on display for the first time.

The aircraft's avionics system has been integrated into the fire-control and navigation system by Ramenskoye Design Bureau (RPKB). All of the devices are interconnected by a data bus compatible with MIL-STD-1553B and controlled by a computational system made by RPKB. The MiG-35's main fire-control sensor is the Zhuk-AE radar with active electronically scanned antenna (AESA) made by Phazotron- Nauchno-Issledovatelsky Institut Radiostroeniya (NIIR) Corporation in Moscow. A mock-up of the preliminary variant of this radar was showcased at the 7th International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS exhibition at Zhukovsky in August 2005. The radar had a 700 mm diameter antenna made of 1,088 transmit-receive (TR) modules (272 packs with four modules each), but at 450 kg was considered too heavy. In the next design, the weight of individual components was reduced, cut-outs in the radar body were made and a light magnesium alloy used.

To further reduce the weight to 220 kg the antenna diameter was decreased to 575 mm and the number of TR modules reduced to 680 (170 packs with four modules each). An experimental Zhuk-AE radar (the previous planned designation Zhuk-MAE was abandoned) was made with this design at the end of 2006 and then installed on the MiG-35 shown at Aero India. Zhuk-AE was due to start flight tests in March as the first Russian radar with active electronic scanning and another prototype radar enter testing at the same time.
An initial batch of 12 Zhuk-AE radars is due to be manufactured in 2008. The first stage Zhuk-AE radar (also designated FGA29) shown at Aero India is a modernised version of the mechanically scanned Zhuk-ME radar fitted with new AESA antenna. It uses the Zhuk-ME radar computing system including data processor, signal processor and software as well as the clock generator. The Zhuk-AE/FGA29 radar can be built by converting Zhuk-ME radars. Phazotron-NIIR will probably offer this manufacturing option for users of Zhuk-ME such as Algeria, Eritrea, India and Yemen.

Threat tracking
The Zhuk-AE/FGA29 is a multifunction X-band radar (3 cm wavelength), which can track and engage air, ground and sea targets. The radar in its present form has a search range of 130 km against fighter aircraft with a radar cross-section of 5 m2.-Phazotron claims that thanks to selecting proper range between radiating elements, a ± deflection of the antenna beam was achieved without parasite side lobes. The radar can track up to 30 air targets and engage six of them simultaneously. The second stage radar, designated Zhuk-AE/FGA35, will be fitted to production MiG-35 fighter aircraft. They will receive a new computing system and new multifunction wideband generator. According to Phazotron, these changes mean AESA technology can be better exploited and new radar operation modes introduced. Additionally, due to a reduction in the size and weight of the radar modules, the antenna mirror can be moved further away from the nose of the aircraft and its diameter increased. The FGA35 will operate with a 700 mm diameter antenna with between 1,000 and 1,100 TR modules. The present design suggests there will be 1,064 modules, but slight changes are possible. The range of Zhuk-AE/FGA35 will be 200 km (for a 5 m2 target). The radar will be capable of tracking up to 60 air targets and engaging six of them. All radar components were designed and manufactured by Phazotron-NIIR except for the TR module. Almaz-Phazotron in Saratov unsuccessfully tried to produce its own TR module in 2002.

Phazotron-NIIR engaged two companies from Tomsk Mikran and Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Institut Poluprovodnikovykh-Priborov (NIIPP [Scientific-Research Institute of Semiconductor Instruments]) to manufacture the TR modules. Mikran designs Russian MMIC circuits and TR modules, while NIIPP undertakes their production on an industrial scale. One Indian MRCA tender requirement is the transfer of fighter production to India. Phazotron-NIIR believes it can offer substantial opportunities for work on the production of the Zhuk-AE radar. Of equal importance for the MiG-35 are its two electro-optical built-in sensor unit the air-to-air OLS-UEM (Optiko-Lokatsionnaya Stantsiya [optical locator station]) system and the air-to-ground OLS-K (Optiko-Lokatsionnaya Konteynernaya [optical locator podded]) system.
Both of the units were developed by NII PP (Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Institut Pretsizionnogo Priborostroyeniya [Scientific Research Institute of Precision Instruments Engineering]), which previously
specialised in optical and laser equipment used to measure the trajectory of missiles and space stations.

Target alert
The OLS-UEM imaging InfraRed Search-and-Track (IRST) unit automatically detects and tracks air and surface targets, as well as showing the pilot an image of the target for recognition purposes.
The unit includes a 320 x 256 pixel thermal imaging camera and a 640 x 480 pixel TV camera. The optical path, with scanning mirror, is common to both cameras and protected by a semi-spherical transparent dome made of leucosapphire. The mirror scans airspace within the range of ± in azimuth and within -15/+60˚ in elevation (with respect to the aircraft axis). Air targets can be detected at ranges out to 45 km in tail-on position or 15 km in hea d-on position. The built-in laser rangefinder operates in two wavelengths 1.57 µm (eye-safe) for training and 1.06 µm for combat use. It covers distances from 200 m out to 20 km.
The whole OLS-UEM unit weighs 78 kg and its size is similar to that of the former OLS-29 EO unit of earlier MiG-29 aircraft, developed by UOMZ Company in Yekaterinburg. The prototype of the OLS-UEM locator was installed in the experimental MiG-29M2, which was modified to become the-MiG-35 prototype in 2006. The similar but simpler OLS-UE version is installed in Indian-MiG-29K shipborne fighters.
The OLS-K system is used to detect and track surface targets. According to NII PP, the OLS-K can detect a tank-sized target from a distance of 20 km or a motor boat from 40 km; the laser rangefinder measures distances out to 20 km. The optical channel, which is common to the IR sensor and TV camera, is installed under a hemispherical, transparent dome similar to that of the OLS-UEM unit. The device includes a laser rangefinder/target designator and a laser spot tracker. The OLS-K is installed inside a conformal pod that is 1.98 m long and weighs 110 kg, and is suspended under the starboard engine air trunk.
The MiG-35 self-defence suite controls the warning devices (radar, optical and laser) and the electronic jammer, as well as the chaff/flare launchers.
This fully automatic system launches defensive measures and recommends evasive manoeuvres. The most urgent warning information is repeated by voice signal. The devices included in the self-defence suite have not yet been finally specified. The most probable candidate among radar warning receivers (RWRs) is the Indian Tarang Mk2 unit, which is the Indian Air Force standard. The Russian option is the L150 Pastel unit. The RWR has three antennas. Two of them installed on the wing tips cover the front hemisphere, whereas the third, installed on the tailfin, covers a 90Ëš azimuth of the rear hemisphere. The infrared missile-approach warning device SOAR (Stantsiya Obnaruzheniya Atakuyushchikh Raket) has been developed by NII PP, as have the optical locators. The device has two sensors; the one under the portside engine air trunk watches the lower hemisphere, whereas the other, situated behind the pilot cockpit, watches the upper hemisphere.
The SOAR can detect the launch of a portable anti-aircraft missile from a distance of 10 km, air-to-air missile from 30 km and large anti-aircraft missile from-50 km. The device detects the launch of the missile and indicates the direction from which it is approaching.

The SOLO (Stantsiya Obnaruzheniya Lazernogo Oblucheniya) laser warning device, also designed by NII PP, has two sensors located on the wing tips covering 360˚ in azimuth. The SOLO device can detect a laser rangefinder tracking the aircraft up to a distance of-30 km and finds its angular position with an accuracy of 0.5˚. The operational range is within 1.06 µm through 1.57 µm and the device weighs 800 g.
MiG and Italy's Elettronica announced in Bangalore that they had co-operated on the integration of the self-protection jammer ELT/568(v)2 into the MiG-35 self-protection system.

Defence deployment
The ELT/568 unit covers bands H-J (on board section) and E-G (podded section). Two active-phased array antennas located in the wings' leading edges cover the front hemisphere, whereas the third, located in the root of the starboard tailfin, covers the rear hemisphere. The pod, installed under the portside outer wing pylon, has two antennas front and rear. Russian options for jamming units have not been declared, but one may be the SAP-518, made by Kaluga's Research Institute of Radio Engineering (KNIRTI), which also includes a high-band built-in section and a medium-band podded section. The MiG-35 will receive two 16-round 50 mm flare dispensers installed inside the tail beams close to the engines. MiG also announced that French systems have been considered for the MiG-35 self-defence suite, but did not provide details.

Piotr Butowski

CM

[Cain Marko]

Information on
ATFLIR:
http://www.raytheon.com/products/stelle ... lir_ds.pdf
LITENING:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ ... tening.htm

CM.

[Vick]

Sweden to approve Saab's Gripen upgrade

Due to be considered by the Swedish parliament last week, the project will lead to test flights between next year and 2010 of an improved two-seat JAS39B equipped with a new engine, redesigned undercarriage, 40% increase in internal fuel capacity and a 2t growth in maximum take-off weight to 16t.

[JaiS]

Thales Norway to Co-operate in Gripen Development

Thales Norway A/S and Saab of Sweden have signed a contract concerning the development of communications systems for the Gripen fighter. This order for the Norwegian company is the first to be awarded under the provisions of the Letter of Agreement signed by the Norwegian Department of Defence and Gripen International on 26 April this year.

"The communications systems that will be developed by Thales are a central and vital part of Gripen’s systems. This deal means that Saab will get access to the latest Norwegian state-of-the-art technology and in return, Norway and Norwegian companies will be able to obtain first-hand knowledge about the Gripen new generation fighter and its systems. This is good for Norway, Gripen and Sweden" says Hans Rosén, Marketing Director, Norway at Gripen International.

Under the terms of the contract Thales Norway will for the next two years develop Gripen systems capability in the areas of satellite communications and broadband technology. These are functions which are used for transferring data between airborne aircraft and ground-based command and control systems.

[shaileshkg]

The interesting tidbits that are coming out about tender makes me wonder that some of the contenders are already out.

For example only 20 nos direct import and rest manufacture in India.

This does not serve American agenda very well of keeping their lines open with Indian order!

This also weakens the prospect of Gripen

I think leaves Mig-35 and Rafale on the table.