SOME USEFUL INFO ABOUT THE TYPHOON'S AVIONICS:-
EMCON:
The DASS features an emission controll function to reduce active RF emissions. The system has the full authority to control all RF emissions. Signature profiles can be saved in the missions computer.
Typhoon's avionics are built to the federated concept, with each system using its own computers to perform various processes. More than 80 computers in 5 families flying aboard the aircraft, many of them are there for redundancy reasons. All the avionics are divided into 7 sub-systems which are linked to each other by 5 MIL STD 1553B and 2 STANAG-3910 databusses.
Subsystems include:
- cockpit instrumentation & control elements
- attack, identification and navigation
- DASS
- Communication
- IFF
- Utility Control System
- Armament controls system
Additional subsystem bus systems include a MIL STD 1760 weapon interface bus and the flight control system bus.
Specific Systems:
UCS:
Utility Control System to control the different utilities. The UCS consists of 6 computers which are linked via a MIL STD 1553B databus to the other avionics. The six computers include:
- 2x fuel computers
- 2x SPS computers
- landing gear computer
- front computer+maintainance display panel (on the left airliftintake)
IMRS:
The integrated monitoring and recording system features audio- and video recorders as well as the digital flight data recorder. It includes a fully integrated and automated seft-diagnostic system ensuring automatic fault detection and indication in the case of a critical systems failure.
HMS:
The health monitoring system uses 20 sensors to monitor the airframe and engine status. Data are collected ever 1/16 second. The HMS enables on condition maintainance and increases flight safety.
Communication:
Typhoon's communication systems are integrated into the CAMU (cockpit audio management unit) which comprises warning sound genration, direct voice input and direct voice output. There are 2 sets of XT622P1 VHF/UHF radios developed by Rohde & Schwarz, BAE Systems, ELMER and ENOSA. The UHF radios are built to the SATURN standard (Second generation ANTI-jam Tactical UHF RADIO for NATO) ensuring a secured and jamming resistant over crypted channels.
Navigation:
The comprehensive navigation suite enables autonomous, day/night and allweather operations. Single systems include:
- Litton LN-93EF laser inertial navigation system
- GPS receiver
- Smith Industries radar altimeter
- Instrument-/Microwave landing systems (ILS/MLS)
- TACAN and DME-P
- digital map generator (DMG)
- BAE Systems TERPROM II (Terrain Profile Matching)
Autopilot:
The autopilot offers a number of modes and is able to catch and hold speed, altitude and heading. In some modes the autopilot offers automatic terrain following. Specific modes include:
- Tracking
- Heading
- Auto Throttle
- Climb
- Altitude stabilization
- Attack
- Approach
The system can also fly CAPs and offers flight director modes for airborne interceptions.
DASS:
The Defensive Aids Sub System consists of abput 20 LRUs and is fully integrated within the airframe. It ensures threat detection, identification and priorization at long ranges and automatically activates the best suited counter measures. Single components include:
DAC: Defensive Aids Computer consisting of 5 Radstone Technologies PowerPC processors to control the entire DASS
ESM: Using superheterodyne digital receiver antennas in the wingtip pods. Electronics support messures ensure:
- 360° RF emitter detection up to 100 km+
- Frequency coverage 100 MHz to 10 GHz+
- direction finding with an accuracy better than 1°
- ranging via sequential triangulation and amplitute measurement
- Emitter type identification and differentiation between operating modes like search, acquisition or missile guidance
- IFF
- threat priorization
- Lethal zone indication taking into account terrain profiles
LWR: 6 Selex Sensors & Airborne Systems laser warning sensor for detection and direction finding of laser range-finding and targeting systems, with full spherical azimuth coverage. 3 pairs of sensors in the forward and rear fuselage. (RAF only, EdA maybe)
MAW: 3 active missile approach warners based on pulse doppler mm wave radars. 2 in the wing roots and 1 at the base of the fin. Ensure missile detection and tracking up to 100 km with full azimuth coverage. Threat priorization and linked to the flare dispensers. The DASS suggests evasive manoeuvres using HuD symbols.
ECM: Fully integrated and automated electronic counter measures system with same spherical and frequency coverage as ESM. Using DRFM, a technics generator and PESA. The system can jam multiple threats simultanously.
X-Eye: Jamming technic requiring a second rearward looking antenna. Offered as option and might be used by italian aircraft
TRD: Up to 2 BAE Systems Ariel towed radar decoys on a 100 m cevlar cable. Effective against monopulse, TWS and command-line-of-sight radars. Twice as effective as the internal ECM
Decoys: 2xSpA Elettronica flare dispensers with 16 rounds each in the inner trailing edge flaperon actuators and 2xSaab BOL 510 chaff dispensers with 160 packages each in the outboard missile launch rails. Automatically deployed by the DAC, AIS or MAW.
CAESAR AESA RADAR:
The AMSAR /Airborne Multi-Mode Solid-State Active-Array Radar) programme was started back in 1993 by the government founded GTDAR consortium with the aim to research and develope the AESA fighter radar technology. In 2003 german and british industry started the CECAR as a strand of AMSAR to develope a Captor specific AESA. The industry founded CAESAR (Captor AESA Radar) demonstrator developed by the EuroRadar consortium was fully integrated and tested on the ground before it made its first flight aboard a BAC-1-11 on 24th February 2006. The current modell is close to a production modell and will be available ~2010 as a retrofit to the Captor-D or as a new radar for Tranche 3 aircraft. The AESA antenna consists of 1500 T/R-modules with an output of 10 W each.
BVR AA-modes:
- RWS (Range While Scan)
- TWS (Track While Scan)
- VS (Velocity Search)
CAC AA-modes:
- Boresight Acquisition
- Vertical Acquisition
- Slaved Acquisition
- HUD Acquisition.
AA-submodes:
- STT (Single Target Track)
AG-modes:
- Sea
- DBS/SAR (Doppler Beam Sharpening/Synthetic Aperature Radar)
- GMTI/T (Ground Moving Target Indication/Track)
- AG-Ranging
- PVU (Precision Velocity Update)
- TA (Terrain Avoidance).
- FTT (Fixed Target Track)
The radar also provides look up/down and shoot up/down capabilities, raid assessment and a non cooporative target recognition (NCTR) function.
It is also able to create a 3-D picture from the airspace which provides the pilot a better overview about the situation into the airspace. It features an automatic IFF system, an integrated fighter-missile datalink and automatically prioritizes all threats in TWS mode.
PIRATE:
The PIRATE (Passive Infrared Airborne Tracking Equipement) is a 3rd generation dual-band infrared sensor with image processing capabilities.
Design:
- Image processing speed is 24 mln pixel/second
- azimuth coverage up to +/-75°
- wavelength 3-5 and 8-11 micron
Roles:
The PIRATE acts as IRST and FLIR. Modes include:
- Multiple Target Track
- Single Target Track
- Single Target Track Identification
- Sector Acquisition
- Slaved Acquision
- kinematically raning
- Thermal cueing for ground targets
- FLIR image generation with output on HuD, HMD and/or MHDD
MIDS:
The MIDS datalink (Multifunction Information Distribution System) is LINK-16 compatible and offers secured bi-directional communication and dataexchange. Functions include:
- Transmission of sensor pictures and target data
- position data exchange
- secured voice communication
- text messaging
AIS:
The Attack & Identification System consists of two identical computers, designated AC and NC. The system fuses navigation and sensor data, increasing data reliability and overall sensor capabilities, while enhancing the pilots situational awerness and reducing workload.
EMCON:
The DASS features an emission controll function to reduce active RF emissions. The system has the full authority to control all RF emissions. Signature profiles can be saved in the missions computer.