I dough Z-9 can be used because its data link system wont be compatible with FFG's AN/SQQ-89 ASW Combat System.
- If so, how is it that the French Dauphins/Panthers are compatible with Chinese ships?
- "ASW equipments onboard the Z-9C include a Type 605 (Chinese copy of the U.S. AN/AQS-13) dipping sonar , a box of 12 passive sonobuoys, four active sonobuoys, a temperature buoy and a maritime environment buoy. The helicopter is equipped with a radio receiver, allowing it to receive the signal of sonobuoys at 10km range when flying at 120km/h speed."
Zhi-9C/D Naval Helicopter - SinoDefence.com
That means it can (and does) conduct ASW independently of the FFG.
- "The Z-9C was designed for both ASW role, equipped with dipping sonar, sonar buoys, magnetic anomaly detector (MAD), and two external weapon pylons to carry 1~2 ET52 (A244/S copy) anti-submarine torpedoes. A second mission for the Z-9C is target detection and data relay. The helicopter could use its KLC-1
surface search radar to locate enemy surface vessels at ‘over-the-horizon’ distance, and transmit the target information to the YJ-83 anti-ship missile during its midcourse flight using the datalink antenna installed on the helicopter’s cockpit roof."
Zhi-9C/D Naval Helicopter - SinoDefence.com
That means the datalink on the Z-9 is intended for ASuW, not for ASW purposes. ASW is conducted without datalink i.e. not integrated into the frigate's system - but this does not in anyt way preclude the use of the Z-9C!
- "The AN/SQQ-89 is a Naval anti-submarine warfare system for surface warships. It provides detection, classification, and targeting capability to the following platforms:
- Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate (FFG-7)
- Spruance class destroyer (DD-963)
- Ticonderoga class cruiser (CG-47)
- Arleigh Burke Class destroyer (DDG-51)
The ASW system combines inputs from active and passive
hull mounted sonars , tactical
towed arrays, and
sonobuoys."
AN/SQQ-89 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"The ANISQQ-89 combat system suite provides ... warships with an integrated undersea warfare detection, classification, display, and targeting capability. The system combines and processes all active sonar information, and processes and displays all SH-60B Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) Mk III sensor data.
Legacy AN/SQQ-89 Combat System suites consist of the AN/SQS-53 hull sonar, AN/SQR-19 Towed-Array Sonar, AN/SQQ-28 LAMPS[/I], AN/SQS-25 SIMAS, and ASW Control System (ASWCS) MK 116 systems. These legacy systems are linked via NTDS interfaces to form an integrated combat system.
The SQQ-89 tactical sonar suite is composed of a hull-mounted sonar (SQS-53B) and Tactical Towed Array Sonar (TACTAS), and is fully integrated with the ship's
Light Airborne Multi-Purpose Systems (LAMPS MK III) helicopter. The AN/SQQ-89 Integrated ASW Combat System suite is the most advanced ASW system in the world today"
AN/SQQ-89 ASW Combat System [ASWCS]
Note the datalink isn't even mentioned, it is part of LAMPS III'
"The SH-60 LAMPS III is equiped with a C-band duplex digital datalink called ARQ-44 datalink, the US ships use an SRQ-4 datalink for sonobuoy, radar and ESM data. "
Naval Institute Guide to world naval weapon system
"Announced September 10, 2008, Harris Corporation has been awarded a $53 million contract modification by the U.S. Navy to produce the Ku-band Common Data Link (CDL) Hawklink system for the MH-60R Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) helicopter. Hawklink is a high-speed digital data link that transmits tactical video, radar, acoustic and other sensor data from MH-60R helicopters to their host surface ships.
The AN/ARQ-58 CDL Hawklink will replace existing C-band AN/ARQ-44 data links on LAMPS helicopters and upgrade existing C-band AN/SRQ-4 links on surface ships with a AN/SRQ-4 (Ku) conversion kit."
Helicopter data link
"1 may 2009: Harris Corp. has completed flight and ground testing of its Ku-band Common Data Link (CDL) Hawklink system for the U.S. Navy's MH-60R Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System helicopter. CDL Hawklink is a high-speed, digital data link that transmits tactical video, radar, acoustic, and other sensor data from the MH-60R helicopters to their host surface ships.
Harris is the prime contractor for the CDL Hawklink program, and BAE Systems is a subcontractor.
Both the ground test and a series of flight tests validated the performance and all attributes of the CDL Hawklink system, says a company official. The tests, completed at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., demonstrated the system's compatibility with the full set of MH-60R helicopter and host ship interfaces, as well as the system's ability to support multiple, simultaneous helicopter missions.
The tests also proved the CDL Hawklink system's ability to support additional sensor interfaces, ensuring availability of a wide range of information from different sources, and to incorporate a Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL)-compliant terminal on the helicopter.
"This key milestone in the multi-year CDL Hawklink effort validates the link's advanced functionality as well as its ability to work with legacy sensor interfaces," says Wes Covell, president, Harris Defense Programs. "The successful testing also exemplifies the outstanding cooperation among the Navy, Harris, and BAE Systems."
Developed as part of the CDL Hawklink program, the AN/ARQ-58 terminal will replace existing C-band AN/ARQ-44 data links on the MH-60R helicopters, and the AN/SRQ-4 (Ku) terminal conversion kit will upgrade existing C-band AN/SRQ-4 links on surface ships. Current MH-60R-equipped support ship classes include DDG 51, FFG 7, and CG 47.
With the ability to transmit over distances greater than 100 nautical miles at data rates exceeding 21 megabits per second, the CDL Hawklink system is designed to eliminate interference between the current C-Band Data Link and the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC). It also will improve the fleet's
interoperable communications, improve bandwidth capability of the MH-60R system, and facilitate transition to a network-centric architecture which will provide the baseline for fleet CDL interoperability."
Harris Corp. tests U.S. Navy MH-60R helicopter Hawklink data link - Military & Aerospace Electronics
Rockwell Collins has supplied datalinks for the HH_65 Dolphin operated by the US Coast Guard, essentiall a AS656 Dauphin. The french navy considered a Mk2 version with a datalink. Indeed, Panther is fitted with an ORB-32 surface search radar and with the TITUS helo-ship datalink for MM40 Exocet designation. It doesn't sound too difficult to make the Z-9C fully compatible with the US ship if PN wants to. If they aren't already compatible...
"TADIL-A/Link 11 is a secure half-duplex TADIL radio link used by NATO that receives or transmits--but not both simultaneously--a sequential data exchange digital link. It exchanges digital information among airborne, land-based, and ship-board tactical data systems. It is the primary means to exchange data such as radar tracking information beyond line of sight. TADIL-A can be used on either high frequency (HF) or ultrahigh frequency (UHF). However, the U.S. Army uses only HF. Link 11 will be replaced by Link 22."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TADIL-A
"Link 22 is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) secure radio system that provides Beyond Line-Of-Sight (BLOS) communications. It interconnects air, surface, subsurface, and ground-based tactical data systems, and it is used for the exchange of tactical data among the military units of the participating nations. Link 22 will be deployed in peacetime, crisis, and war to support NATO and Allied warfare taskings.
The Link 22 Program was initially conducted collaboratively by seven nations under the aegis of a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU). The original seven nations were Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US), with the US acting as the host nation. Spain has replaced the Netherlands as a NILE (NATO Improved Link Eleven) Nation.
Link 22 was developed to replace and overcome the known deficiencies of Link 11. Link 22 was also designed to complement and interoperate easily with Link 16. It was designed with automated and simple management to ensure that it is easier to manage than both Link 11 and Link 16. This program is called “NATO Improved Link Eleven”, which is abbreviated to “NILE”. The tactical data link provided by the NILE system has been officially designated Link 22."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_22