Stealth is just an adjunct to electronic warfare? - Europe's

datafuser SG

Stealth is just an adjunct to electronic warfare? - Europe's view

Bill Sweetman wrote in the latest issue of Jane's that Europe and Russia regard stealth as "an adjunct to electronic warfare, rather than a stand-alone technology." For instance EADS of Germany is one advocate of this, claiming that "the combination of reduced RCS with stand-off jamming can provide excellent protection."

In fact European countries are not investing much into studying manned very low observable (VLO) combat aircraft. Neither a manned VLO technology demonstrator nor a full-size RCS test mock-up exists, which even the Japanese have (see http://www.jda-trdi.go.jp/topics.html). It is either because they think it's not worth the effort or simply because they have no money. Or both, perhaps.

By the way an old concept put into practice by the USN more than 40 years ago is still being pursued by the French. The French Rafale is the only 'new' combat aircraft still designed for automatic terrain masking by low-level flight at night in mind. EADS claims this feature costs 60 times as much as RCS reduction measures. Interestingly the French air force did not employ its Mirage 2000D bombers as designed - fully automatic terrain-following flight at low level - in Kosovo in 1999. They always ingressed at high altitudes.

The question is whether RCS reduction coupled with stand-off jamming, plus terrain masking by low-level flight at night in the French case, will really work against a modern IADS. Any comment or insight is welcome.

Cheers,
Sunho

http://datafuser.blogspot.com/

Gedanken SG

Well, that’s just silly. First you try and make the plane invisible so nobody knows it’s there, then you turn on your jammers to announce your presence.

Herzog_Zwei SG

The only time you want the jammer on is when a radar-tracking missile is hot on your stealth fighter.

datafuser SG

RCS reduction is supposed to delay detection by enemy air search radar and from the point you are detected, jamming comes into play. This is the theory behind EADS thinking.

Cheers,
Sunho

Gedanken SG

That being the case, it sounds like they simply don't get the Stealth concept. They're thinking more along the lines of low-observability (e.g. B-1B) rather than true Stealth (B-2A). Basically, it's the lower-budget option.

datafuser SG

We'll see whether or not the RAF, Luftwaffe and Armée de l'Air regard RCS reduction with jamming is good enough against double-digit SAMs when they send their shiny new Typhoons and Rafales to an actual war or a Red Flag at least.

When did the French send their Mirage 2000Ds against what target in the Kosovo War of 1999?

Cheers,
Sunho