The first samples of the new generation radars with active phased array (AESA) produced at the Ryazan instrument factory. The presence of this element in fighter design is one of the main signs of belonging to the fifth generation aircraft.
Today made 11 sets of AFAR. Three of them are being tested as part of the on-board equipment fighter T-50, write "News".
"Traditional locator - an antenna, a receiver, a transmitter, - said chief designer of the publication of the Research Institute of Instrument name VV Tikhomirov (NIIPT) where radars, Anatoly Sinani. - In AFAR receiver, transmitter and antenna - a single entity united in micromodules. That is, each cell is small, and there are thousands, contains a transmitter and receiver. The antenna "merge" all the high-frequency portion of the locator. And if earlier, for example, faulty transmitter, the aircraft became blind. And AFAR may be affected by one or two cells, a dozen, a hundred, others continue to work. Antenna Field T-50 - about two thousand of these cells. "
Fighter has a front side and two antennas operating at X-band and two additional antennas based on L-APAA a range in the front edges of the wing. As a result, sector radar PAK FA review of more than 200 degrees. The new radar can scan the space in fractions of a second moving beam were selected target, aim the weapon at them, work as a means of electronic countermeasures.
One of the most difficult issues when creating AFAR, until recently, was the transition to a new technological level of production, in the monolithic microwave modules based on gallium arsenide. Development of structure for them is made under the guidance of Academician Zhores Alferov.
"The start of production of radar-based active phased antenna arrays - a transition to a new dimension, or, if you will, the world - said the chief designer NIIPT. - This decision is the most complicated problem of transition from silicon electronics to heterostructures and monolithic microwave chips based on gallium arsenide, allowing combines several previously separate devices. The emergence of AFAR allows to realize the idea of network-centric warfare, when a fighter becomes a command center for the ground forces, air defense systems and fighter groups. "
The modernization of Ryazan instrument factory for the production of APAA 6 billion rubles were invested. There was also modernized production at Fryazino enterprise "Istok".
"Today," Source "has produced 25 thousand transceiver modules with predetermined characteristics, -. Said Anatoly Sinani. - We have a new industrial technology, which will be in demand not only in aviation, but the Navy and the development of new air defense systems. Specific examples of locators in the interests of these areas are already being tested. "
According to him, compared with US domestic AFAR, standing on the F-22 fighters and F-35, it is difficult, because the real, not the advertising information is very small and can only be judged by some circumstantial evidence. Nevertheless, prior to the introduction of sanctions against Russia NIIPT had the opportunity of scientific communication in the field of AFAR, allowing Russian designers judged that laid down and realized characteristics of domestic antenna at least not inferior and superior counterparts in many ways, including those that are installed on the F-22 and F-35 aircraft.
"Talking about what the domestic radar AFAR on the way and will soon be put on planes, are still in the early 90-ies of the last century - said military analyst Alex Ramm. - It is clear that AFAR have to be on the aircraft of the fifth generation, but the machines capabilities of previous generations, it also expands. For example, the Turkish Air Force radar AFAR equipped with multi-purpose F-16 fighters. Due to this, Turkish F-16s can gain an advantage in the air confrontation with the Russian Su-30M2, which the radar is less functional. "
Scientific Research Institute of Instrument name VV Tikhomirov (NIIPT) established March 1, 1955 as a branch of the Moscow NII-17 Ministry of Aviation Industry. The main focus of its activities is the development of the aviation radar equipment. Shareholders are NIIPT concern EKR "Almaz-Antey" (56%) and KRET (44%) belongs to the State Corporation Rostec.
