Thunder.Storm
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2015
- Messages
- 584
- Reaction score
- 0
- Country
- Location
Can China's aircraft radar systems compete?
Recently a photograph of a Sukhoi Su-34 strike fighter carrying a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) pod has been circulating online, which gives the fighter-bomber greater long-range reconnaissance capabilities, according to Sina's military news web portal.
Many new generation battlefield and airspace surveillance aircraft are now being equipped with SAR pods, as they give them day and night all-weather air detection capabilities. Some of the more popular SAR pods include the Israeli EL/M-2060P and the French Rafale Side Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR). The US Air Force have previously tested the EL/M 2060P on the F-16 Fighting Falcon, as well as installing the SAR pod of the MQ-1 Predator drone on the F-16. The latest US SAR pod is the AN/ASQ-236 pod, which includes active electronically scanned array radar technology, which pushes its detection capabilities beyond that of traditional planar slot array antennas. The US Air Force has already equipped its McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle strike fighters and Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers with the AN/ASQ-236 SAR pod. Compared to the optical pod they were already equipped with, the ASQ-236 system allows for increased detection capabilities in all environments and in bad weather conditions, especially in terms of long-range detection capabilities. Its radar provides high-resolution wide-swath (HRSW) images, allowing the aircraft carrying it to detect and trace targets and can be used in conditions where the optical targeting pod cannot be used.
Many of the combat aircraft of the air forces of China's neighboring countries are also equipped with SAR pods. The Indian Air Force's Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter, for example, is equipped with the EL/M-2060P SAR pod, which it uses to engage in patrols along the China-India and India-Pakistan borders. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) has also been planning to equip its Mitsubishi F-15J fighters with SAR pods to engage in long-range all weather day and night reconnaisance missions.
Currently SAR pods are moving towards combining electronic signals intelligence (ELINT) and reconnaissance systems, allowing for avionics with expanded active and passive detection capabilities. The EL/M-2060, for example, has already been upgraded to the EL/I-2060E, which integrates the EL/M-2060's electronic support measures (ESM) and ELINT system. This enables the person operating the craft to gather more intelligence, like images combining ELINT targets with radar images, to increase accuracy in detecting and identifying ground targets.
China began to develop an SAR system in the 1970s, resulting in a series of systems for different combat environments, such as SAR satellite, SAR surveillance aircraft, SAR surveillance drones and helicopter-based SAR systems. This has helped China to improve its day and night all weather detection capabilities, to allow for greater effectiveness in long-range attacks.
When China ordered Sukhoi Su-30MK2 maritime strike aircraft from Russia, the developers had already equipped the aircraft with an M400 reconnaissance pod, which includes an SAR, a photoelectronic sensor and an electronic reconnaissance system, according to overseas media reports cited by the website. The SAR's detection range is 100 kilometers with a range resolution of 2 meters and its photoelectric sensor has a range of above 50 km, with a range resolution of under 0.5 m. After being equipped with this pod, the Su-30MK2 can detect surface land or sea targets day or night in all weather conditions.
In the 1990s, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force decided to replace the outdated Shenyang JZ-6 reconnaissance aircraft, with an aircraft more suited to future combat terrain and with greater reconnaissance capabilities, especially day and night all weather long-range detection capabilities. This led to the development of the Shenyang JZ-8FR reconnaissance aircraft.
The JZ-8FR is a variant of the JZ-8F tactical reconnaissance aircraft without the twin 23mm cannon and ammunition. The space is then used instead for reconnaissance systems, including a photoelectronic/infrared imaging detection system as well as the SAR pod. According to overseas media reports cited by the magazine, the JZ-8FR has an active electronically scanned array SAR with technological standards similar to the AN/ASQ-236 SAR pod, giving it heightened detection capabilities. This means that the JZ-8FR has combined photoelectronic and SAR capabilities, which raises the aircraft's long-range detection day and night in all weather conditions. Due to the added reconnaissance systems on the aircraft, the JZ-8FR is also equipped with a surveillance equipment mission management system, to manage the different systems and the images produced from them. The JZ-8FR is also equipped with a data link system, which transmits reconnaissance data directly to ground control and provides data for tactical command.
The JZ-8FR uses the GJB289A bus (MIL-STD-1553), as well as the domestically developed digital SAR pod, making it convenient for the aircraft to add SAR pods or other reconnaissance equipment. The JZ-8FR's strongpoint is that it functions well at high altitudes and high speeds, but it has quite a short range. The J-8B series have a ferry range of 2,200 kilometers, which is further reduced if the SAR pod is being carried. The range issue will likely be improved in future Chinese aircraft, such as the J-11 or the J-16.
Recently a photograph of a Sukhoi Su-34 strike fighter carrying a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) pod has been circulating online, which gives the fighter-bomber greater long-range reconnaissance capabilities, according to Sina's military news web portal.
Many new generation battlefield and airspace surveillance aircraft are now being equipped with SAR pods, as they give them day and night all-weather air detection capabilities. Some of the more popular SAR pods include the Israeli EL/M-2060P and the French Rafale Side Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR). The US Air Force have previously tested the EL/M 2060P on the F-16 Fighting Falcon, as well as installing the SAR pod of the MQ-1 Predator drone on the F-16. The latest US SAR pod is the AN/ASQ-236 pod, which includes active electronically scanned array radar technology, which pushes its detection capabilities beyond that of traditional planar slot array antennas. The US Air Force has already equipped its McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle strike fighters and Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers with the AN/ASQ-236 SAR pod. Compared to the optical pod they were already equipped with, the ASQ-236 system allows for increased detection capabilities in all environments and in bad weather conditions, especially in terms of long-range detection capabilities. Its radar provides high-resolution wide-swath (HRSW) images, allowing the aircraft carrying it to detect and trace targets and can be used in conditions where the optical targeting pod cannot be used.
Many of the combat aircraft of the air forces of China's neighboring countries are also equipped with SAR pods. The Indian Air Force's Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter, for example, is equipped with the EL/M-2060P SAR pod, which it uses to engage in patrols along the China-India and India-Pakistan borders. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) has also been planning to equip its Mitsubishi F-15J fighters with SAR pods to engage in long-range all weather day and night reconnaisance missions.
Currently SAR pods are moving towards combining electronic signals intelligence (ELINT) and reconnaissance systems, allowing for avionics with expanded active and passive detection capabilities. The EL/M-2060, for example, has already been upgraded to the EL/I-2060E, which integrates the EL/M-2060's electronic support measures (ESM) and ELINT system. This enables the person operating the craft to gather more intelligence, like images combining ELINT targets with radar images, to increase accuracy in detecting and identifying ground targets.
China began to develop an SAR system in the 1970s, resulting in a series of systems for different combat environments, such as SAR satellite, SAR surveillance aircraft, SAR surveillance drones and helicopter-based SAR systems. This has helped China to improve its day and night all weather detection capabilities, to allow for greater effectiveness in long-range attacks.
When China ordered Sukhoi Su-30MK2 maritime strike aircraft from Russia, the developers had already equipped the aircraft with an M400 reconnaissance pod, which includes an SAR, a photoelectronic sensor and an electronic reconnaissance system, according to overseas media reports cited by the website. The SAR's detection range is 100 kilometers with a range resolution of 2 meters and its photoelectric sensor has a range of above 50 km, with a range resolution of under 0.5 m. After being equipped with this pod, the Su-30MK2 can detect surface land or sea targets day or night in all weather conditions.
In the 1990s, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force decided to replace the outdated Shenyang JZ-6 reconnaissance aircraft, with an aircraft more suited to future combat terrain and with greater reconnaissance capabilities, especially day and night all weather long-range detection capabilities. This led to the development of the Shenyang JZ-8FR reconnaissance aircraft.
The JZ-8FR is a variant of the JZ-8F tactical reconnaissance aircraft without the twin 23mm cannon and ammunition. The space is then used instead for reconnaissance systems, including a photoelectronic/infrared imaging detection system as well as the SAR pod. According to overseas media reports cited by the magazine, the JZ-8FR has an active electronically scanned array SAR with technological standards similar to the AN/ASQ-236 SAR pod, giving it heightened detection capabilities. This means that the JZ-8FR has combined photoelectronic and SAR capabilities, which raises the aircraft's long-range detection day and night in all weather conditions. Due to the added reconnaissance systems on the aircraft, the JZ-8FR is also equipped with a surveillance equipment mission management system, to manage the different systems and the images produced from them. The JZ-8FR is also equipped with a data link system, which transmits reconnaissance data directly to ground control and provides data for tactical command.
The JZ-8FR uses the GJB289A bus (MIL-STD-1553), as well as the domestically developed digital SAR pod, making it convenient for the aircraft to add SAR pods or other reconnaissance equipment. The JZ-8FR's strongpoint is that it functions well at high altitudes and high speeds, but it has quite a short range. The J-8B series have a ferry range of 2,200 kilometers, which is further reduced if the SAR pod is being carried. The range issue will likely be improved in future Chinese aircraft, such as the J-11 or the J-16.
