Radar AESA APG79 of F/A-18 Super Hornet and to be upgraded
for Advanced Super Hornet
When I tested in flight the F/A-18F Super Hornet Block II in 2012, my biggest criticism was as much the cockpit - Man-Machine-Interface (MMI), the displays, the data fusion (fundamental to gaining the upper hand in net centric warfare) - as the absence of an integrated IRST, infrared search and tracking sensor. Exactly these items are the focus of the coming additions and improvements in the program. At this present, they already fly. A large area display (LALCD) is installed at the backseat of an F-15E for testing. It promise to provide a 3D situational awareness. Again, from the point of view of a pilot, the immediate perception of an enemy aircraft inside a comprehensive battle area could lead to the best decision and maneuver to overcome the threat.
Large Area Display
While waiting its maturity level, the future integrated IRST flies on the nose of a “test bench” King Air, under Navy funding for optronics development that awarded Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Missile / Laser Warning complete the situational awareness planned improvements. An enhanced engine is expected to offer some 20 percent greater thrust than the current powerplant with a greater fuel efficiency.
Boeing has begun testing upgrades of relatively lesser complexity and financial impact. All the “Advanced” enhancements can be affordably retrofitted on an existing Block II Super Hornet aircraft or included on a new jet, according to the manufacturer. Praise and criticism in the weighing scale, the measuring points a step forward.
The Super Hornet once again get reinvented at a time when UCAVs, OPVs, 5th Gen fighters and even prototypes of 6th Gen make military aviation industry’s wagers more and more risky. It is a moment for caution, and Boeing has intelligently adapted its fighter to fly above the turbulence of uncertainty and doubt.
“Boeing and our industry partners are investing in next-generation capabilities so warfighters have what they need when they need it, and so the customer can acquire it in a cost-effective manner,” said Debbie Rub, Boeing Global Strike vice president and general manager. These investments count on a reasonable assurance of stability of a company of US$ 81.7 billion, and with 170,000 employees around the world.
More for Less
For a generation to be established, besides the technical advantages it brings together, it must be accessible in a financial sense: whether around acquisition cost as well over the operating cost. To be successful in the marketplace, a project ought to be perfectly adjusted in an equation that involves numerous sensitive factors.
Taking into consideration that a fighter is the longest-serving weapon system, from 30 to 40-years’ duration, the choice of a first-line combat aircraft may concern its upgradability. It must be able to face new weapons and threats as new technologies emerge.
Like in the Old West, the fastest gun will always be challenged. At the moment, between the new 5th generation fighters for sale, the “gun to beat,” is the F-35. Much less because of what the F-35 is able to “show,” not even having entered service yet, but by the
status quo of the market. Besides the orders of the United States Air Force, Marines and Navy, already assuring the F-35’s place as the representative of a new era, many new international contracts for the Lockheed Martin fighter force us to accept it as the only 5th gen fighter in operation on four continents by 2020. Probably, it will also be the largest number in service by 2035. These orders are being reviewed and even decreased but still sound huge. In the case of part of them became true they will contribute to the accelerated obsolescence of current first line fighters.
JSF F-35 Planned Quantities Table
Country Type Quantity
United States USAF A 1763
USN C 260
USMC B 340
USMC C 80
United Kingdom B 138
Turkey A 100
Australia A 100
Italy A 60
B 30
Netherlands A 85
Canada A 65
Norway A 52
Japan A 42
Denmark A 39
Israel A 19
And if we are talking about 2020, just seven years ahead, then why even bother about a fourth generation?
Several Fifth Generation models in production / design or study.
Well, the chief limiting factor for a country to acquire a new-gen jet is cost, plain and simple. The acquisition and operating costs of 5th generation fighters restrict these aircrafts to a small group of nations, apart from any political questions. The F-35A has a flyaway cost of US$153.1 million, while the STOVL F-35B version, short takeoff and vertical landing, will not leave the factory for less than US$196.5 million. Finally, the aircraft carrier designed F-35C is expected to cost US$ 199.4 million. It is possible that these prices could come down a bit, but never to the level of US$ 57 million for a Super Hornet, for example.
Similar to Boeing’s upgrade program, other manufacturers also develop their own, seeking to incorporate new technology in a more affordable cost. However, to remain attractive in the market for new aircraft, and by consequence stimulate second hand aircraft sales for countries with lesser acquisitive power or less geopolitical expression, it depends on not only the ability to upgrade and incorporate new technologies, as the speed you do it.
Besides the major players, the United States and Russia, only the French Rafale has operational AESA radar albeit without interleaved mode. This lack should be remedied with the injection of resources resulting from the nearly completed contract with India. Dassault’s fighter also has its plan to improve stealth and combat range with conformal fuel tanks and enclosed weapons pod.
Conceptual drawing of Dassault Rafale with CFT and Weapons Pod
including in the wings tip.
The
Eurofighter Typhoon, that has shown its CFT mock-up at majors international aviation salons, is the key challenge of EADS, European giant recently renamed Airbus. Its AESA radar is only expected to be fully operational in 2021. This is if the partners of the consortium can reach consensus as to the investments for such development. Integration of the long-range air-to-air missile Meteor and the cruise missile Storm Shadow are expected in 2017/2018. The ground attack missile Brimstone is due in 2020. All of these, MBDA developments. Schedules set; Royal Air Force Typhoons should begin their out-of-service process in 2030.
Eurofighter Typhoon with Conformal Tanks as shown on recent Air Shows.
Rafale and Typhoon have, besides looking for these technologies, sought to develop very own solutions to gain some exclusive competitive advantage. A more accurate passive detection allowing attack on enemy fighters at a considerably greater distance, without the use of radar, but with great precision is among these indie technologies.
TRAGEDAC (Rafale) and
PIRATE (Typhoon) are between the main bets of these European competitors. By the way, I have personally experienced the advances of the Rafale in this area, and the results are really interesting.
Running on the outside track comes the Saab Gripen NG, which claims to offer the most affordable operating costs among the fighters that have frequently contested on F-X competitions around the world, in the last decade (currently, US$ 13,245 per flight hour in C/D models, according to a South African Air Force general). However, the Gripen brings the benefit of a development still on the go, and the risk of being an unfinished aircraft, both sides of same coin. Saab decided to develop the NG from its model C/D, and presentations declare that the new model E will use only 10% of its predecessor. In terms of design, there has been no declaration of intent to incorporate stealth geometry, once manufacturer’s philosophy is to pursue a multispectral approach, on its own definition to deal with low observability issues.
The Swedish company is currently testing an AESA radar and an integrated IRST system, in parallel. When I flew the Gripen D, I could only access the oldest suite of radar, link and sensors, however, with a creative HMI. Hope to evaluate how they improved on the Gripen NG.
Aside the merits of political efforts, the most recent conquest of the “Advanced” lies on virtually certain Boeing’s victory, with its F-15 Silent Eagle defeating the F-35 JSF in the South Korean F-X competition. The upgraded veteran F-15 ought to bring US$7.43 billion into the coffers of the American manufacturer. If new-gen technologies became the “heart” of the matter, affordability shows that there is still a place for 4th gen fighters “beat” out the 5th generation ones…
F-15SE - Silent Eagle, winner of South Korean K-FX .
Look weapons bay.
Never a Final Word - An USAF F-22 Raptor engaged by Dassault Rafale.
Photos of recent manouvres between Armée de l ´Air and USAF.
DefesaNet - HO - Fighters: The Heart of the Matter… or, of the Generation