Selex announces Skyward-G and BriteCloud milestones for Gripen E

[Agent_47]

Again, they don't combine with an IRST but they have "IRST modes". EOTS is a targeting pod which includes A2A "modes" to use it as a limited IRST. That's possible today with other targeting pods like the Damocles, but doesn't provide the performance of a proper IRST. Dassault today even tries to sell Rafale without IRST and claims they can compromise by using the Damocles pod and with MICA missiles providing "some IRST capability", which again is similar but with far less capability (afaik MICA IR seekers have a range of around 30Km, FSO-IRST more than 100Km).
Same goes for the MAWS of the DAS EW system, which is primarily a missile warner:



Which also is nothing special for modern EW systems anymore, Rafale has the DDM NG IR MAWS integrated into SPECTRA, which provides with spherical field of view and IR imgages, the EF might get a similar system with the next upgrade and even the latest Su 35 and Mig 35 are developed with all around IR sensors for missile detection and images, but they all can't replace a proper IRST in performance and capability.

On EW system, how do you compare between Rafale and F35?

 

[sancho]

Wait for the TaDIRCM slaved to the DAS, with high-speed hand-off between the DIRCM apertures housed in the airframe life will become VERY difficult for anyone engaging the 35 in WVR combat even with off-boresight missiles and helmet mounted cueing systems.

If anybody comes WVR with the F35, why waste a missile, when you simple can take the gun and your superior maneuverability to shoot it down? Besides, DIRCM, just as the active EM decoys will soon be added to all state of the art EW systems.

On EW system, how do you compare between Rafale and F35?

As said, modern EW systems are similar in content of sensors or use of them, it's just the performance that might differ. For both, the EW won't be just a defensiv aid anymore, but increases the situational awareness far more than in older fighters, that were dependent on the radar only. The stealth advantage of the F35 might make it even more useful, because it can stay undetected for longer, even if both fighters are just using passive sensors.

 

[Donatello]

If anybody comes WVR with the F35, why waste a missile, when you simple can take the gun and your superior maneuverability to shoot it down? Besides, DIRCM, just as the active EM decoys will soon be added to all state of the art EW systems.



As said, modern EW systems are similar in content of sensors or use of them, it's just the performance that might differ. For both, the EW won't be just a defensiv aid anymore, but increases the situational awareness far more than in older fighters, that were dependent on the radar only. The stealth advantage of the F35 might make it even more useful, because it can stay undetected for longer, even if both fighters are just using passive sensors.

The 35 and 22s will always go in the battle with Air Battle groups. They don't need to turn on the radar, the Awacs will paint the targets for them from 300km out. So this whole idea that somehow using the Opto-elecs on a fighter to passively gain on a Raptor or Lightening, is just a farce.

Besides, good luck getting a general direction in which to look with your IR/UV sensors. If you don't know where the Raptor or JSF is, how the hell do you know where to point your OE sensors?

It's like me handing you the space telescope on earth and asking for an image of the Alpha Centauri....you know it exists somewhere out there but you don't know where it is at what time. FSO or DIRCM, you need to know where to look and that is the hard part.

In all of these images and mock drills of WVR engagement with F-22 Raptor was easy, you already knew where he is. Not the same when they'll be coming from different angles at you.