AWACS for future chinese carrier

There are a couple of other considerations. The carrier strike group can go EMCON,or emissions control and simply disappear. The carrier does not need to radiate to maintain situational awareness or to communicate. Data links are very discrete. They are narrow pencil beams and line of sight. They do not radiate in a way that could ever be DF'ed, nor can they be read unless the sensor manages to get into the beam of the data link. With Link 16 battle group assets can share battle space data among each other including ship to aircraft, ship to ship, aircraft to aircraft and ship to satellite, all while maintaining radio silence. Carrier flight ops are routinely conducted under radio silence as well. For situational awareness the surface ships keep their radars on in a passive listening mode and rely on something like an AWACS for situational awareness, communicating with the AWACS directly via Link 16 or indirectly via satellite. An AWACS or two in the region does not give away the presence of a carrier strike group. An enemy has no idea there is a carrier around just because the AWACS is up and flying. The carrier can ( and usually does ) hide in weather to defeat satellites. A diversion can be made by using a cargo ship equipped with a special 20 foot van that transmits signals that mimick the emissions of the radars, navigation aids and recordings of typical battle group communications to fool any listening or direction finding gear into thinking this cargo ship is the carrier strike group. Meanwhile the actual carrier strike group is hiding unseen and undetected under a weather front on radio silence on it's way to do it's business.

balance said:

Friends,

AWACS is very important in detecting any incoming fighter or bomber. I have several questions:
1. What is the maximum altitude of AWACS operation? And what is the maximum altitude of the modern fighter such F-22, F-16?
2. What is the maximum altitude of such fighters' missiles?
3. What is the self-defense equipment of the AWACS?

The ultimate question is: Is AWACS vulnerable to fighters/bombers? And what does the PLAAF do to cover this weak point?

These are a lot of questions, and I would like to thank you for taking the time educate me about the basics of AWACS and its relationship with fighters/bombers.

Click to expand...

Most AWACS aircraft have service ceilings of ~40,000 ft, but that's not its optimum operating altitude.

Modern jet fighters have service ceilings of >50,000 ft, some, such as the MiG-25/31, goes up to 68,000 ft.

Most short & medium ranged AAM specs don't list max altitude data, because interceptions are not likely to occur at very high altitudes. Long-range missiles designed specifically for interceptors, such as the AIM-54 Phoenix & R-33/AA-9, have flight ceilings of 80,000-100,000 ft (24km-30km).

Modern AWACS only carry "soft-kill" defenses (ECM, decoys).

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As an interesting side note, I think the largest aircraft to carry the AIM-9 is the RAF Nimrod.

Friends,

AWACS is very important in detecting any incoming fighter or bomber. I have several questions:
1. What is the maximum altitude of AWACS operation? And what is the maximum altitude of the modern fighter such F-22, F-16?
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answer to ??
Awacs are very comfortable at 10,000 + feet they need a foot print of at least 400 miles for full coverage of a carrier battle fleet.
as they control a four fighter high cap as well as certain types of ship missile defense systems as well.

f-22 can run in the 60,000 foot level very comforatably -- F-16 top at 30,000 feet.
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2. What is the maximum altitude of such fighters' missiles?
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answer to ??

depends on what missile they are carrying but normaly the altitude that the aircraft is flying at the moment they turn them loose.
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3. What is the self-defense equipment of the AWACS?
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answer to ??
flares and electronic jamming equipment
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The ultimate question is: Is AWACS vulnerable to fighters/bombers? And what does the PLAAF do to cover this weak point?
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AWACS are vunerable to BVR missiles and to the non emmittting type of missle which ride the radar beam of the sending aircraft.

to cover this weak spot as with any navy using them -- it is see them first before they see you and act accordingly
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These are a lot of questions, and I would like to thank you for taking the time educate me about the basics of AWACS and its relationship with fighters/bombers.

hi all

Just my 0.02c worth here. I would assert that an AEW for a carrier would work well as an unmanned aircraft. The reasoning being that having an unmanned plane reduces weight and reduces maintenance. For example no cockpit, ejection seat etc is required. Having a composite unmanned aircraft results in greater simplicity for little things like inspection panels. As an unlikely structural failure will not lead to loss of life, things like spar inspection hatches can be eliminated.

The thinking behind the sketch is simplicity, getting the design back to its minimum in order to decrease structure weight, decrease overall weight and to lengthen endurance. The unusual configuration should allow for greater maneuverability in landing, lower landing speeds and shorter take off roll. Landings at high angle of attack might be possible. Have put my humble ideas here for comment.



regards,