Read the forum code of contact
By: - 13th October 2004 at 21:51 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Some numbers for the APG-63(V)2
> google
> Can detect cruise-missile sized target at 50 nautical miles
At what altitude is that from? The F-14A's AWG-9 could do this from 20,000 feet. It could not lock-on at this altitude, it would have to get closer or lower its altitude. That way the reflection from the target and the reflection from the background is a greater percentage of the travel time.
> 714 hours MTBF
That is a very good figure.
> Extremely heavy; the radar weighs about 400 lbs
Are you sure that is pounds and not kilograms? The radar for the F-16A weighed only 260 pounds! The AWG-9 for the F-14A weighed almost 1,200 pounds!
I would suspect it is kilograms because the USAF/NORAD seriously studied the possible usage of a AWG-9 to give the F-15 interceptors a greater capability.
The studied showed the F-14 would be the best interceptor in the late 1970's and early 1980's. The study done by the North Dakota Air National Guard indicated that the best interceptor to replace the F-106 are listed in the following order;
1) F-14A Tomcat
2) F-15A Eagle
3) F-4 Phantom 2 (SEE NOTE)
4) F-16A Fighting Falcon
NOTE:
Actually, the F-4 was the new version with active LEX, the radar for the F/A-18A and, other modifications.
Notice the F/A-18A was not included in this list!
The study concluded that a F-15 modified to carry two AIM-54A Phoenix Missiles would have less range and or loiter time than a F-14A with six Phoenix Missiles.
Adrian
By: - 13th October 2004 at 23:50 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
3,600 T/R Elements, in 'brick' modules, with each element less < 1 square inch.
T/R Elements = T/R Modules..??? Is it so?
By: - 14th October 2004 at 14:53 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Google, are you sure about the figure for T/R modules? That's way more than the (2000 element) APG-77 or the 1100 (element) AN/APG-79. I thought that it was really 1500 elements.
By: - 14th October 2004 at 14:56 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Google, are you sure about the figure for T/R modules? That's way more than the (2000 element) APG-77 or the 1100 (element) AN/APG-79. I thought that it was really 1500 elements.
Pretty sure, I skimmed the info from an article, let me go back and recheck it.
By: - 14th October 2004 at 17:50 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
wait a minute! The shipborne APAR has only 3500 modules.....and the AN/APG-63(V)2 has 3600??? :confused: :confused: :eek: :eek:
By: - 14th October 2004 at 19:53 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Not the serials, but...
The only operational unit to fly with the F-15C/APG-63(V2), is the 12FS with 27 machines allocated (the odd number being of course for it's pretty unique machines) from the 3rd Wing. How to tell them apart from their non-AESA brethren from the 19FS (also 3Wg)? The fintip - 12FS has yellow, 19FS has got black fintips.
Here is a 12FS machine, courtesy of Maurice Hendriks.
The Cope India pics i have seen all show black fintips - so no AESA.
By: - 15th October 2004 at 00:35 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
The Cope India pics i have seen all show black fintips - so no AESA.
I read that only now is the APG-63(V)2 receiving software to include the usual air-to-air modes, and that until now it was only capable of the anti-cruise missile mission against non-maneuvering targets. Wouldn't expect to see them at Cope India for this reason at least.
-SK
By: - 15th October 2004 at 01:44 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
according to the aviation week article, there's only 18 aircraft with AESA, not 27. And they are divided into 9 AESA aircraft per squadron ie, the 19th and 12th squadron each has 9 AESA and another 9 V1 equipped aircraft.
By: - 15th October 2004 at 09:13 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
YF,
I think the initial setup was indeed two squadrons with half the fleet AESA-equipped, and the other half vanilla F-15Cs. But when a third batch of AESAs was delivered (9+9+9), the machines were appearantly concentrated in 12FS.
By: - 15th October 2004 at 11:37 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
YF,
I think the initial setup was indeed two squadrons with half the fleet AESA-equipped, and the other half vanilla F-15Cs. But when a third batch of AESAs was delivered (9+9+9), the machines were appearantly concentrated in 12FS.
A third batch? THe aviation week article i got the info from was very recent. Just last week in fact. They made no mention of another batch. 18 AESAs were the stated number. And from the way they operated as was described in the article, it makes far more sense to put the third batch as u said in another squadron, instead of concentrating all in 1 squadron. Care to provide Ur source? Thanks.
By: - 15th October 2004 at 11:55 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Would have to dig for my source - it's been a while since i read about batch 3 and centralising them all in 12FS.
There are only two F-15C/D squadrons in 3FW, by the way. Putting a third batch in yet another squadron would mean that a new wing (and hence a new base) would be getting AESAs. While i seem to recall that combining the AESAs in one squadron would help that.
By: - 15th October 2004 at 16:13 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Only 2 squadrons in the wing? That I didn't know.... but from the Aviation week article, their mode of operations was to pair up a non-AESA with an AESA, with the wingman taking the non-AESA. Then the AESA would perform look down scanning due to its better clutter differentiating capability, while the V1 scans above. After sanitising the bottom, the AESA would devote some time to scan the skies above along with the V1. That seems like a pretty good use of the AESAs, instead of concentrating ALL on one squadron, leaving the other purely a V1 squadron.
By: - 15th October 2004 at 16:58 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
3Wing (not Fighter Wing, sorry) has more than just the two air defence Eagle squadrons though:
3Wg, Elmendorf AFB
12 FS - F-15C(V2) - yellow
19 FS - F-15C/D - black
90 FS - F-15E - red
517 AS - C-12F, C-12J, C-130H - white
962AACS - E-3B/C - green
By: - 15th October 2004 at 23:03 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
So only 17 AESA equipped F-15s ?
By: - 15th October 2004 at 23:11 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Either 18 or 27.
Posts: 2,713
By: google - 13th October 2004 at 14:41
What is the closest Russian analogue?
-3,600 T/R Elements, in 'brick' modules, with each element less < 1 square inch.
-Can detect cruise-missile sized target at 50 nautical miles
-714 hours MTBF
-Still limited FoV, mainly forward hemisphere only. Assuming that everything in your rear is covered by friendlies.
-Extremely heavy; the radar weighs about 400 lbs and requires an additional 600 lbs of lead ballast added into the tail of the F-15 to prevent the nose from tipping over. However, the upcoming V3 radar should be about 240 lbs lighter.