An AESA radar like APG-77 of F-22
with LPI function has a high chance to elude enemy RWR’s
detection. By the way, if fighters only passively receive
guidance from AWACS and without their own Fire control radar on,
it’s possible for the fighters approaching the enemy without
alerting them. But end of the day, it still has to switch on its
own FCR to lock on the target.
AIM-120D has 2 way datalink, so
it’s possible for one fighter with its radar on can guide AIM-120D
fired from another friend fighter without radar on. provided all
platforms are in same co-ordinate system and have a "broadband"
datalink among them.
Actually, its just the F-22's capability. Its LPI's
detection range is significantly shorter in order to avoid
detection. I can't really specify how it does that ( I'm not
qualified to authoritatively say it ), but it allows the F-22 to
use its stealth capability to get in close to take a very high PK
shot before the target figures out its been targeted.
True, the AIM-120D can allow a 3rd party to provide mid course
update, but that would also mean that the 3rd party must be able to
track the target as well. So the pivotal point is the radar.
Somebody's radar must be able to figure out where the target
is in order to relay the information right? Hence that radar
must be fairly resilient to jamming and able to detect stealthy
fighter sized targets.
Can an
aircraft avoid detection by enemy's RWR by not switching on it's
radar but instead launch it'smissile using data provided by
external platform thru data-link then wait till last min then
switch on it's radar? cos missile like AMRAAM has mid-course
up-date
Why would the aircraft need to switch on its radar at the last
minute when the missile can rely on relayed data from the 3rd
platform for mid-course update? I think it just has to stay
connected to the datalink and designate that contact as the
platform to be tracked.
I think everything sort of relies on the new datalinks for
greater bandwidth to handle more data... hmmm...