Your AWAC could be easily detected and killed. What would you do then?
J-20 5th Gen Fighter Thread VIII
- Thread starter Blitzo
- Start date
Your AWAC could be easily detected and killed. What would you do then?
Then I would turn on radar. But until then, what is the benefit?
Weren’t you arguing that we don’t even need fire control radar on fighter jets a while back?
Also keep in mind that you may easily find yourself in situations where you don’t have support from ISR assets. The J-20 for instance is designed to venture out and attack targets in the Second Island chain potentially unassisted. That’s why range and redundancy figured so importantly into its design.
No. You must be confusing me with somebody else.
That's correct but it doesn't relate to what I wrote. I mentioned defensive roles explicitly, under the cover of longer range AWACS units (and even longer range ground radars). Is the J-20's radar able to do something that AWACS and ground radars cannot? If not, I don't see the purpose in turning it on unless the J-20 has gone beyond the envelope of the range of other radars.
Getting better fix of target position and to prosecute engagement.
AEW vectoring may not necessarily be precise enough for engagement especially that it works in lower band (e.g S-band) and the AEW may not necessarily have the proper datalink or capacity to handle mid course update for missile. The X-band radar in J-20 or any other fighter there will provide better "fix"
The radar however will be turned on at very last moment to prevent or reduce chance of the enemy in "hearing" the radar. The AEW vector will ensure that the J-20's will only have to search small area and with high probability of detection, which facilitate rapid lock on and weapon release at advantageous position.
What about the ground-based X-band units like the LPAR in Xinjiang and Shandong?
Fighter's X-band fire control radars are more accurate than L or UHF band AWACS radars, especially in elevation (in azimuth the AWACS radar's much larger aperture can also achieve very high accuracy).
and those things are limited by horizon. Also LPAR are kinda for very specific purpose of space surveillance and ballistic missile defense. Which might not be suitable for A2A combat.
From what I've read, the LPAR have a range of 4000km for 10m^2 and capable of track while scan. OTH radars are for overcoming the horizon limits of conventional radars.
and Earth is Round. your LPAR will only have that range for Satellite.
While OTH Radar have rather poor accuracy, can't really guide missile, at least not without some aircraft there getting its X-Band radar there. Also OTH or Beyond The Horizon radar operates in HF or VHF band. as it can reflect off Ionosphere and this also highly dependent on Ionosphere "weather". Your X-band LPAR does not reflect off Ionosphere so you cant rely on them.