DRDO, PSU and Private Defence Sector News

Chinmoy

New Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2015
Messages
8,930
Likes
23,094
Country flag
Instead of a big old radome at top, can't the Netra Mk3 AAAU be similar in design to the Northrop Grumman's MESA that is mounted on top of the E-7 Wedgetail?

The E-7 Wedgetail's MTOW is about half of the E-3 Sentry.
Can be done. But there one operational aspect IMO. With E-7 type of arrangement, the fore and aft detection gets heavily downsized in compare to the starboard and port side. With a nose mounted RADAR in Mk3, we are mitigating the disadvantage of a blind fore side.

A RADOME on other hand, gives unparalleled advantage in field of range and target detection/acquisition over a bar structure.
 

mamamia12

New Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2023
Messages
324
Likes
947
Can anyone explain if having a 360-degree rotordome coverage is actually beneficial given the type of terrain we have? Some argue that it lacks front and back detection, but why would it need radar in those directions if it typically won't be flying straight into enemy territory, but rather along the border, at a distance from it? In our terrain, whether it's along the border with Pakistan or China, our movements tend to follow the shape of our borders, sort of like a back-and-forth motion, providing us with a clear picture. Even if we have a 360-degree radome, it seems unlikely that the front and back radars would be of much use. Considering the challenges Embraers face in the Himalayas, why not opt for Bombardier planes with their impressive 12-hour endurance? I believe the endurance of A320/A321-based aircraft is around 6 hours, but correct me if I'm mistaken. To keep them airborne for longer durations, we'd need to deploy tankers, which adds to the logistical burden. So, what's the rationale behind the Indian Air Force or the Center for Airborne Systems (CABS) opting for a never-before-seen A321-based platform? Also can this A320 based platform reach endurance of 10 hours like E-7 Wedgetail?. Correct if iam wrong in any opinion.

1707314856745.png
 

Chinmoy

New Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2015
Messages
8,930
Likes
23,094
Country flag
Can anyone explain if having a 360-degree rotordome coverage is actually beneficial given the type of terrain we have? Some argue that it lacks front and back detection, but why would it need radar in those directions if it typically won't be flying straight into enemy territory, but rather along the border, at a distance from it? In our terrain, whether it's along the border with Pakistan or China, our movements tend to follow the shape of our borders, sort of like a back-and-forth motion, providing us with a clear picture. Even if we have a 360-degree radome, it seems unlikely that the front and back radars would be of much use. Considering the challenges Embraers face in the Himalayas, why not opt for Bombardier planes with their impressive 12-hour endurance? I believe the endurance of A320/A321-based aircraft is around 6 hours, but correct me if I'm mistaken. To keep them airborne for longer durations, we'd need to deploy tankers, which adds to the logistical burden. So, what's the rationale behind the Indian Air Force or the Center for Airborne Systems (CABS) opting for a never-before-seen A321-based platform? Also can this A320 based platform reach endurance of 10 hours like E-7 Wedgetail?. Correct if iam wrong in any opinion.

View attachment 239800
360 degree coverage gives you an upper-hand over a non 360 degree platform. With current Netra type arrangement, your movement would be always an expected one for enemy. With a 360 degree coverage, you are erasing your blind spot. So strategically speaking, if your enemy can anticipate your movement pattern and knows about your blind spot, you are at disadvantage. But if you can keep them guessing and under observation from all side, you are at an advantage.

Regarding use of A320 and A321, IAF is preferring them as it would bring down the acquisition time and cost drastically. A new contract for a new platform means a lengthy deal process. So this is a practical move on behalf of IAF.

On comparison POV with E-7 Wedgetail/Boeing 737 and A-320, both do have same or near equal performance.

E-7 Wedgetail A-320 passenger
MTOW 77.6 T 78 T
Range 6500 km 6100 km
Capacity 19.8 T 19.9 T
Service Ceiling 41,000 ft 41,000 ft
Engine 2x CFM56 2xCFM56
Max Thrust 2x121 kN 2x140 kN
 

NutCracker

New Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2022
Messages
5,692
Likes
29,913
Country flag
360 degree coverage gives you an upper-hand over a non 360 degree platform. With current Netra type arrangement, your movement would be always an expected one for enemy. With a 360 degree coverage, you are erasing your blind spot. So strategically speaking, if your enemy can anticipate your movement pattern and knows about your blind spot, you are at disadvantage. But if you can keep them guessing and under observation from all side, you are at an advantage.

Regarding use of A320 and A321, IAF is preferring them as it would bring down the acquisition time and cost drastically. A new contract for a new platform means a lengthy deal process. So this is a practical move on behalf of IAF.

On comparison POV with E-7 Wedgetail/Boeing 737 and A-320, both do have same or near equal performance.

E-7 Wedgetail A-320 passenger
MTOW 77.6 T 78 T
Range 6500 km 6100 km
Capacity 19.8 T 19.9 T
Service Ceiling 41,000 ft 41,000 ft
Engine 2x CFM56 2xCFM56
Max Thrust 2x121 kN 2x140 kN
Why Americans/Boeing didn't think of installing Radar on the nose cone , since even in E7 wedgetail the frontal and rear lobe of main radar might've been quite smaller and hindering the effectiveness
 

Chinmoy

New Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2015
Messages
8,930
Likes
23,094
Country flag
Why Americans didn't think of installing Radar on the nose cone , since even in E7 wedgetail the frontal and rear lobe of main radar might've been quite smaller and hindering the effectiveness.
Every plane has Radar on their nose cone. Even the passenger jets too. But those are not used for surveillance or recon purpose. Those are weather doppler radar.
 

IndianHawk

New Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2016
Messages
9,058
Likes
37,675
Country flag
High altitude requirement diluted means taking off from high altitude, not the flight in high altitude.
As far as I see @Azaad did talk about the service ceiling of R99 rather then flying from Leh or Ladakh.
Maybe I am reading it wrong.
 

Articles

Top