(contd.)
2) Research into next generation Infrared Search and Track devices.
In highly contested environments, the air warfare scenario becomes a perilous one. In a matter of moments, the hunter can become the hunted. Thus advantage rests with the one who holds the first initiative. Here passive sensors come into play, prominent among them being the Infrared Search and Track device.
DRDO as of 2020 has not yet developed anything resembling an IRST pod.
https://idrw.org/does-india-have-th...-the-su-30mki-fleet-into-super-30-on-its-own/
However there are several off the shelf products for the MWF program to choose from.
I)
Boeing Defence
Boeing has been working on an IRST pod for the USN before 2014. It has also developed the IRST Block II for the Block III version of the Super Hornet.
https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2014/navy/2014irst.pdf?ver=2019-08-22-110355-343
The IRST consists of a passive
Army considers multispectral and radar sensor fusion for helicopter pilots receiver, a processor, inertial measurement unit, and environmental control unit. The infrared receiver, processor, and inertial measurement unit are fitted inside the sensor, which
attaches to the front of the fuel tank mounted to the aircraft on the BRU-32 bomb rack.
The Navy developed the
IRST Block I using components from the F-15K/SG aircraft's infrared receiver, which is
based on the IRST design of the now-retired Navy F-14 Tomcat jet fighter. IRST Block II will include improvements to the infrared receiver and updated processors.
https://www.intelligent-aerospace.c...d-search-and-track-irst-for-navy-super-hornet
For the first time, Boeing and the U.S. Navy flew an
F/A-18 Super Hornet equipped with an
Infrared Search & Track (IRST) Block II pod in late 2019.
IRST Block II is a critical component of the Block III Super Hornet.
Currently in the risk reduction phase of development, IRST Block II flights on the Super Hornet allow Boeing and the
Navy to collect valuable data on the system before deployment to the fleet.
The Block II variant will be delivered to the Navy in 2021, reaching Initial Operational Capability shortly thereafter.
https://www.intelligent-aerospace.c...ornet-infrared-search-track-irst-block-ii-pod
Assuming India opts for the Super Hornet in it's 57 Navy ighter jet RFI then the pod could be made available for the AMCA and by extension the MWF.
Finally, there is the suggestion that Boeing could be available to help along the AMCA programme directly as a partner or consultant in such a way that it makes the Block 2 Super Hornet -> Advanced Super Hornet -> AMCA flow more seamlessly from a development-to-manufacturing perspective.
https://www.livefistdefence.com/2016/11/boeing-unveils-an-amca-sweetener.html
II)
THALES
Assuming India had opted for the RBE-2 AA AESA radar for it's MWF then Safran's OSF IRST is a given.
https://en.calameo.com/read/001187356c18a3c20bd23
The IRST option was added back into the Indian Rafales via the 13 India Specific Engagements (ISE).
Here are the 13 India-specific enhancements to the Rafale jets:
- Radio Altimeter height measurement from 10,000 feet to 15,000 feet
- Radar Warning receiver (RWR) frequency band from 2.5 -18 GHzto 10 18 GHz
- Low Band Jammer (LBJ) pod with frequency band of 1- 4.5 gHz
- Flight Data Recorder (FDR) recording time from 10 hours data to 16 hours data plus two hours of audio
- High altitude engine start-up to 12,000 feet
- Non Cooperative Target Recognition (NCTR) mode in Radar
- Doppler Beam Sharpening (DBS) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) modes in Radar
- Ground Moving Target Indicator and Ground Moving Target Track (GMTI/T) modes in Radar
- Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST)
- Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)
- Training Mode in Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS)
- Towed Decoys Very High Frequency Omni Range (VOR)
https://www.republicworld.com/india...cific-weapon-enhancements-of-iafs-rafale.html
OEM didn't provide any data on the performance so I had to rely on a third party analyst for the below figures.
Rafale’s primary air-to-air sensor is OSF optical sensor suite on top of the nose, with 80/130 km range. It consists of IRST sensor with 40 km identification range and video camera with 45-50 km identification range.
https://defenseissues.net/2015/11/01/dassault-rafale-vs-eurofighter-typhoon/
III)
Finmeccanica - Selex (Leonardo)
Designed as a derivative of the PIRATE IRST, the Skyward IRST is already in service with the Gripen NG (E/F).
This IRST is known as
PIRATE – or Passive InfraRed Airborne Track Equipment – developed through a Leonardo-led “Eurofirst” consortium along with Thales UK and Tecnobit of Spain, which was competitively awarded a contract in 1992.
Balzarotti noted that
even after 25 years after the initial contract in 1992, the PIRATE IRST is still in production for new Typhoon aircraft rolling off the production line. It has seen
incremental improvements including
more powerful hardware and improved algorithms.
This growing experience and expertise saw Leonardo win a contract to supply its new
Skyward IRST technologies for Saab’s newest fighter aircraft, the
Gripen E. The company is now in the
series production phase for the Skyward-G contract, said Balzarotti, and will supply over 60 units for the Swedish Air Force’s Gripen E fleet.
https://www.airforce-technology.com/features/fighter-aircraft-irst-stealth-vision/
https://www.leonardocompany.com/doc..._Skyward_IRST_LQ_mm08130_.pdf?t=1538987511165
Typhoon has PIRATE IRST with 90/145 km detection range and 40 km identification range.
https://defenseissues.net/2015/11/01/dassault-rafale-vs-eurofighter-typhoon/
The MWF can get hold of the Skyward IRST in two ways :
a) The Gripen E/F wins the MMRCA. As part of the earlier promised ToT deal by SAAB, MWF can get access to the deal.
“We are setting up an entire aviation ecosystem in Brazil. And the experience and knowledge that Brazil is gaining from this manufacturing is being used by them to design their indigenous fighter aircraft,” the SAAB India CMD said.
https://theprint.in/defence/saab-wa...t-full-tech-transfer-local-production/298778/
However the Gripen will render the requirement of the MWF redundant, sharing design philosophy and engine (GE F414).
There is also the question of dissatisfaction with SAAB post the February 27 aerial battle which involved the Saab 2000 `Erieye’ AWACS.
Sources said that India had registered a diplomatic protest with Sweden after the Pakistani air force revealed that it had ordered three new Saab 2000 early warning aircraft in 2017. These aircraft, which supplemented an earlier order of four by Pakistan, were extensively used in the February 27 aerial battle to direct and control 25 fighter jets towards Indian targets.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...ainst-india/articleshow/68590492.cms?from=mdr
b) Finalise a Joint Venture between Leonardo (Finmeccanica - Selex's parent company) or Finmeccanica - Selex and a Public Sector Union company like BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited) or a DRDO lab like LRDE (Electronics and Radar Development Establishment) to produce the IRST pods jointly under Make in India.
However with the AgustaWestland (subsidiary of Leonardo) AW101 VVIP chopper scam casting shadows of woe on it's India operations and the MoD extending it's blacklisting in 6 month intervals.
The firm, which has a product list that ranges from helicopters to guns and unmanned systems, has been barred from business dealings with all departments and wings of the defence ministry for another six months, after its case was reviewed as part of the ministry’s blacklisting policy.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...by-6-months/articleshow/70047563.cms?from=mdr
In a notification put up on its website, the defence ministry said it “has again considered” and its “competent authority has decided to further extend the period of suspension of business dealings with M/s Leonardo S.p.A (erstwhile Finmeccanica group of companies including Agusta Westland) for a period of 6 (six) months with effect from 08.11.2019 (8 November 2019).”
https://defence.capital/2019/10/23/india-extends-defence-trade-ban-on-italian-firm-leonardo/
Given the political hues of the case and the CBI actively pursuing suspects, the possibility of such a Joint Venture in the near future is very remote.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is all set to seek sanction to prosecute at least 6 public servants for their alleged involvement in the Agusta-Westland chopper scam.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...cute-5-mod-officials/articleshow/74217885.cms
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/agu...s-christian-michels-interim-bail-plea-2216131
Given a cursory analysis of the situation, LRDE needs to produce a viable prototype rapidly from scratch to even hope of competing with established industry giants. It is the chronicler's (
@vampyrbladez) opinion that first two options be looked at for the MWF program's requirements.