Desiman / others, I must admit, I know little about Bison. I have a couple of questions.
With the new Phalcons and the hype about network centric warfare, what is the role the Bisons can play ? The upgrade was much needed but it will be interesting to know the usefulness of Migs in a battle field with F16s old and new. It is great to know that the radar signature has diminished by a factor of 10/15. Have we made any changes to the radar system inside Migs. What is the bison radar capability?
a link will be useful...
Hey Ramu, as posted earlier, the radar on the Bison is the following -
Mig-21 bison's radar-The Koyopo-M
Kopyo was the first private venture radar by Phazotron. Drawing on technology developed for the Zhuk radar, Phazotron produced Kopyo as a lighter, smaller radar suitable for equipping trainers and light attack aircraft as well as for upgrading older aircraft like the MiG-21. It uses both high PRF and medium PRF modes for optimum detection and tracking at all aspects. Kopyo weighs 120kg, occupies 250dm3, with a 500mm antenna that achieves 29dB gain. Tracking limits of the radar are ±40°. Kopyo has 2 recievers, and transmits with a peak power of 5kw, 1kw average. It uses an MPS data processor, and a TS175 digital computer. Its MTBF is 120 hours. Kopyo has an air-to-air track-while-scan ("SNP") mode, it tracks 10 targets, and engages 2 simultaneously. The simultaneous engagement capability has been demonstrated. It retains a single target track mode. Search range is 57km headon and 25 - 30 km pursuit, with a tracking range of 45km, against a 3 sq m RCS target. It has vertical scan, automatic HUD scan (+- 14°), optical (pilot selected target on HUD) and helmet close combat modes. Air-to-surface operating modes are comprehensive, something Phazotron only introduced in the current crop of radar designs. There are three mapping modes; low resolution (real beam); medium resolution (Doppler beam sharpening, 10:1); high resolution (synthetic aperture, 100:1). Allows detection of moving ground targets, sea surface search, map freezing and interfaces with the Kh-31A antiship missile for target handoff.
Air-to-air operating mode
1. Detection range (Ddet), km:
- against free airspace:
head-on >50
in pursuit >30
- against surface background:
head-on >50
in pursuit >25
2. Single target detection and tracking range 0.75 Ddet
3. Track-while-scan with simultaneous engagement of two targets
4. Air-to-air missile targeting and launch zone generation
5. Close air combat in the following modes of radar operation
- vertical
- collimating
- visual, with the helmet-mounted target designator used
- interfacing with the helmet-mounted target designator
- interfacing with the R-27, RVV-AE and R-73E missiles
- radar built-in test
Air-to-surface operating mode:
- mapping:
low resolution (real beam)
medium resolution (Doppler sharpening beam)
high resolution (synthetic aperture)
- interfacing with the Kh-31A antiship missile
- detection of moving ground targets
The Bison plays the main role of an interceptor. It is normally sent out in formation of atleast 3-6 for a numerical advantage. The MKI's and the Mirage can hold their own fort very well. They play the role of the strike aircraft for the IAF, alongside the Mig 29's. The Jags and the Mig-27's play a more support and ground attack role. The migs can formidable as an interceptor mainly because of their turning capability and a low RCS. Because they are only intercepting and play as the second line, their radar does not need to be that advanced. The Bison has limited room in its nose and that is the main reason that a lower radar was chosen. Power consumption as well as cost of radar/jet ratio has be to be taken into account. The bison is a formidable enemy with its BVR capability and the support it has around it.
