Understanding the sensors and sensor fusion system of F-35 JSF - For the dummies

[LeGenD]

DISCLAIMER: During a discussion, I noticed that some people are misinformed about on-board technologies and capabilities of the F-35 series aircraft. So I will explain in this thread what F-35 is all about.

ON-BOARD SENSORS

AESA radar system (active)

Model: AN/APG-81

Developer: Northrop Grumman

Highlight: Engaging surface and airborne targets at long range.

The Distributed Aperture System (active)

Code: AN/AAQ-37

Developer: Northrop Grumman

Highlight: 360 degree spherical situational awareness (the first of its kind in aviation history)

The Electro-Optical Targeting System (passive via manual control; active via fusion)

Alternatively: TFLIR (targeting forward-looking infrared) with infrared search and track functionality

Code: AN/AAQ-40

Developer: Lockheed Martin

Highlight: Precision strikes

Stealthy attribute: Mounted inside the air-frame (reduction in radar cross-section and aerodynamic drag)

The Communications, Navigation, and Identification (CNI) Suite (passive via manual control; active via fusion)

Type: Software defined radios (IFF, VHF and UHF receive and transmit voice data)

Code: AN/ASQ-242

Developer: Northrop Gumman

Highlight: Network-centric communications (Link 16, MADL and more)

NOTE: F-35 aircraft is equipped with a physical radio (as a backup)

The Electronic Warfare Suite (active)

Code: AN/ASQ-239

Developer: BAE Systems

Highlight: Detection of surface and airborne threats and relevant countermeasures

SENSOR FUSION SYSTEM

This system represents the most innovative aspect of F-35 aircraft and is central to its design philosophy. The on-board sensors of the F-35 aircraft are electronically fused in order to work as a collective whole (i.e. Sensor Fusion Engine) and provide valuable feedback to the pilot in real-time (via) Tactical Situation Display (TSD) component of the on-board cockpit (C-5 ISR/D) and Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS), during a military operation. The end-result is unparalleled 360 degree situational awareness and reduced workload for the pilot.

TRON warfare doctrine

If several F-35 aircraft are involved in the same military operation (a squadron), they can establish a knowledge-sharing network in which each F-35 aircraft is a sensor fusion node (C-5 ISR/D) for the other. In this setting, each F-35 aircraft complements the situational awareness of the other and makes it almost impractical for the enemy to compromise situation awareness of the entire squadron. This network-centric warfare strategy is dubbed as TRON warfare strategy.

• INFORMATION SHARING RANGE: Concurrent with the pilot's own judgement which is limited by physical realities, the pilot will be able to “see” using cockpit electronic displays and signals to their helmet allowing them not to just fight with their individual aircraft but be able to network and direct engagements at 800+ miles in 360 Degrees of 3 dimensional space out to all connected platforms.
• EFFECTIVENESS IN NUMBERS: Suppose that an enemy is able to neutralize one of the on-board sensors of a single F-35 aircraft in a formation of several. The likelihood that the enemy will be able to do the same to another F-35 in the same formation is slim to none. Therefore, it is almost impractical for the enemy to defeat multiple sensors on multiple F-35 aircraft simultaneously.
• NETWORK-CENTRIC SENSOR FUSION CAPABILITY: Because the sensors between (and within) the F-35 aircraft are fused, the pilot in the affected aircraft can simply tap in to another aircraft’s sensor suite to get the desired information.

SUMMARY

F-35 is not just about stealth. Sensor Fusion System is central to its design philosophy and is a departure from traditional mechanics and information-sharing concepts in the older aircraft (5th generation in true sense of the word). With no second crew member, and the traditional head-up display replaced by a sophisticated helmet-mounted display as a component of Sensor Fusion System, F-35 is a class of its own.

REFERENCES

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/brand-connect/the-f-35-how-it-works/
http://www.sldinfo.com/whitepapers/the-f-35-and-advanced-sensor-fusion/
http://www.sldinfo.com/the-f-35-as-a-“flying-sensor-fusion-engine”-positioning-the-fleet-for-“tron”-warfare/
http://www.sldinfo.com/cni-and-madl-data-link-also-iocd-along-with-f-35b/
http://www.slideshare.net/robbinlaird/combat-systems-fusion-engine-for-the-f35
http://www.sldinfo.com/the-impact-o...5th-generation-fighters-on-combat-capability/
http://www.monch.com/mpg/news/12-c5i/499-c5isr-d-explained.html

 

[DavidSling]

DISCLAIMER: During a discussion, I noticed that some people are misinformed about on-board technologies and capabilities of the F-35 series aircraft. So I will explain in this thread what F-35 is all about.

ON-BOARD SENSORS

AESA radar system (active)

Model: AN/APG-81

Developer: Northrop Grumman

Highlight: Engaging surface and airborne targets at long range.

The Distributed Aperture System (active)

Code: AN/AAQ-37

Developer: Northrop Grumman

Highlight: 360 degree spherical situational awareness (the first of its kind in aviation history)

The Electro-Optical Targeting System (passive via manual control; active via fusion)

Alternatively: TFLIR (targeting forward-looking infrared) with infrared search and track functionality

Code: AN/AAQ-40

Developer: Lockheed Martin

Highlight: Precision strikes

Stealthy attribute: Mounted inside the air-frame (reduction in radar cross-section and aerodynamic drag)

The Communications, Navigation, and Identification (CNI) Suite (passive via manual control; active via fusion)

Type: Software defined radios (IFF, VHF and UHF receive and transmit voice data)

Code: AN/ASQ-242

Developer: Northrop Gumman

Highlight: Network-centric communications (Link 16, MADL and more)

NOTE: F-35 aircraft is equipped with a physical radio (as a backup)

The Electronic Warfare Suite (active)

Code: AN/ASQ-239

Developer: BAE Systems

Highlight: Detection of surface and airborne threats and relevant countermeasures

SENSOR FUSION SYSTEM

This system represents the most innovative aspect of F-35 aircraft and is central to its design philosophy. The on-board sensors of the F-35 aircraft are electronically fused in order to work as a collective whole (i.e. Sensor Fusion Engine) and provide valuable feedback to the pilot in real-time (via) Tactical Situation Display (TSD) component of the on-board cockpit (C-5 ISR/D) and Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS), during a military operation. The end-result is unparalleled 360 degree situational awareness and reduced workload for the pilot.

TRON warfare doctrine

If several F-35 aircraft are involved in the same military operation (a squadron), they can establish a knowledge-sharing network in which each F-35 aircraft is a sensor fusion node (C-5 ISR/D) for the other. In this setting, each F-35 aircraft complements the situational awareness of the other and makes it almost impractical for the enemy to compromise situation awareness of the entire squadron. This network-centric warfare strategy is dubbed as TRON warfare strategy.

• INFORMATION SHARING RANGE: Concurrent with the pilot's own judgement which is limited by physical realities, the pilot will be able to “see” using cockpit electronic displays and signals to their helmet allowing them not to just fight with their individual aircraft but be able to network and direct engagements at 800+ miles in 360 Degrees of 3 dimensional space out to all connected platforms.
• EFFECTIVENESS IN NUMBERS: Suppose that an enemy is able to neutralize one of the on-board sensors of a single F-35 aircraft in a formation of several. The likelihood that the enemy will be able to do the same to another F-35 in the same formation is slim to none. Therefore, it is almost impractical for the enemy to defeat multiple sensors on multiple F-35 aircraft simultaneously.
• NETWORK-CENTRIC SENSOR FUSION CAPABILITY: Because the sensors between (and within) the F-35 aircraft are fused, the pilot in the affected aircraft can simply tap in to another aircraft’s sensor suite to get the desired information.

SUMMARY

F-35 is not just about stealth. Sensor Fusion System is central to its design philosophy and is a departure from traditional mechanics and information-sharing concepts in the older aircraft (5th generation in true sense of the word). With no second crew member, and the traditional head-up display replaced by a sophisticated helmet-mounted display as a component of Sensor Fusion System, F-35 is a class of its own.

REFERENCES

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/brand-connect/the-f-35-how-it-works/
http://www.sldinfo.com/whitepapers/the-f-35-and-advanced-sensor-fusion/
http://www.sldinfo.com/the-f-35-as-a-“flying-sensor-fusion-engine”-positioning-the-fleet-for-“tron”-warfare/
http://www.sldinfo.com/cni-and-madl-data-link-also-iocd-along-with-f-35b/
http://www.slideshare.net/robbinlaird/combat-systems-fusion-engine-for-the-f35
http://www.sldinfo.com/the-impact-o...5th-generation-fighters-on-combat-capability/
http://www.monch.com/mpg/news/12-c5i/499-c5isr-d-explained.html

Thanks for the explanation, I'll post it on my dedicated thread on F35I with your permission.

 

[LeGenD]

F-35 Gen III Helmet Mounted Display System

Type: Mounted

Developer: Rockwell Collins

Highlight: Revolutionary situational awareness

Key features — Biocular, 30-by-40-degree wide-field-of-view with 100 percent overlap — Virtual head-up display — Look-through-aircraft capability via DAS imagery — High accuracy tracking with auto-boresighting — Active noise reduction (ANR) — Digital night vision sensor — Ejection capability to 550 KEAS — Lightweight and well balanced helmet — Custom helmet liner for precise fit and comfort — Multiple interpupillary distance (IPD) settings — Video recording — Picture in picture — Compatible with eyeglasses and laser eye protection (LEP) devices.

 

[DavidSling]

F-35 Gen III Helmet Mounted Display System

Type: Mounted

Developer: Rockwell Collins

Highlight: Revolutionary situational awareness

Key features — Biocular, 30-by-40-degree wide-field-of-view with 100 percent overlap — Virtual head-up display — Look-through-aircraft capability via DAS imagery — High accuracy tracking with auto-boresighting — Active noise reduction (ANR) — Digital night vision sensor — Ejection capability to 550 KEAS — Lightweight and well balanced helmet — Custom helmet liner for precise fit and comfort — Multiple interpupillary distance (IPD) settings — Video recording — Picture in picture — Compatible with eyeglasses and laser eye protection (LEP) devices.

Developer : U.S' Elbit systems, Rockwell Collins

 

[LeGenD]

To highlight EOTS (AN/AAQ-40) in isolation, is to ignore the bigger picture.

The Distributed Aperture System (DAS) of F-35 Lightning II is EO/IR on the whole, and arguably have no peer among IRST-type solutions for combat aircraft so far - this IRST-type solution offer 360 degree spherical coverage of relevant threats because it is not a separately mounted pod but an in-built set of components (EOTS x 1; EO x 6) which are electronically fused*.

DAS have superior threat recognition capabilities in comparison to dedicated IRST pods. All DAS functions are performed simultaneously, in every direction, at all times.

*Overview:-

"DAS creates an all-seeing sphere and classifies and relays data and video to the pilot's helmet and to the jet's mission computers. This game-changing system has now been adapted for the high seas, and it won't stop there." - Tyler Rogoway

"DAS accomplishes its unique task via a constellation of electro-optical cameras installed around the F-35, each staring in a separate direction. Then, a powerful computer processor "stitches" these video images together to create a continuous viewable video "sphere." When the DAS imagery is paired with an advanced helmet mounted display that is slaved to a spatial tracking system, the person wearing that helmet can look around and virtually "see" the environment around them relayed from the camera network, even in total darkness and, in some cases in otherwise blinding environmental conditions." - Tyler Rogoway

Embedded EOTS on the front (low-observable characteristic):-

Six additional passive infrared sensors are distributed over the aircraft:-

References:-

https://jalopnik.com/5264575/f-35-j...optical-distributed-aperture-system-explained

https://theaviationist.com/2013/02/20/f-35-das/

https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-f-35-s-x-ray-vision-is-the-future-of-naval-and-all-1636711504

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/t...orea-f-35s-can-track-ballistic-missiles-23561

Carried from here: https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/irst-compasrion.573290/#post-10860229

 

[LeGenD]

NOTE: Detection ranges not to scale with the silhouette of the jet in this image.