Multipurpose F / A-18E / F "Advanced Super Hornet": what will the new "Super-Hornet" surpass in F-16C Block 60 and F-35? (Part of 2)
When designing the F / A-18E / F "Super Hornet", the developer took very seriously the need to increase the range of the new machine. For a deck multipurpose fighter, this figure is paramount, since it determines the distance that the carrier-based strike force should approach the enemy’s CUG / AUG or coastline to perform an anti-ship or strike operation, as well as the distance at which a fighter link can escort an attack wing equipped with tactical missiles such as AGM-84H SLAM-ER. At Super Hornet, this figure is 1,35 times the result of the Hornet in airspace patrols at altitudes of 5000 - 12000 m (1200 km versus 780 km) and 1,38 times in impact version (940 versus 580 km). In this embodiment, the flight profile “high altitude - low altitude - high altitude” is implemented. The increase in the range of the F / A-18E / F became possible after increasing the volume of internal and external fuel tanks. If the F / A-18C / D in the internal tanks was 4903 kg and in the 3-x PTB still 3048 kg (total 7951 kg), then in the fuel system F / A-18E / F internal tanks were used on the 6668 kg and PTB on 7390 kg (total 14058 kg). The increase in the capacity of the internal fuel tanks was made possible by the larger and more capacious Super Hornet glider, and the placement of the 5 PTB for 1479 kg of fuel (3 PTB for 1016 kg for the Hornet), due to the higher landing gear racks that allow installation on the suspension nodes larger containers with weapons or fuel. The length of the fuselage F / A-18E / F - 18,35 m, wingspan 13,45 m (against 17,1 and 12,3 m in F / A-18C / D).
The tactical capabilities of the Super Hornet practically do not lag behind the promising deck F-35C. The maximum speed of the Super Hornet at 1900 km / h, although it is its weak point (like that of Rafal), is still 500 - 600 km / h ahead of the deck version of the F-35C (its speed is only 1300 - 1400 km / h). The maneuverability of the F / A-18E / F is superior to that of the ship's Lightning. Combat radius of action at a similar level. And the presence of a double modification F / A-18F makes the car advanced aviation a complex capable of simultaneously conducting air combat, suppressing enemy air defenses, as well as conducting optical and radio reconnaissance with the transmission of information to the operator's control room of the ship's Aigis BIUS via the Link-16 radio channel, the largest amount of tasks will be assigned to the operator of the fighter systems in a rear cockpit, the dashboard indicator equipment of which is duplicated with the IFI in the first cockpit.
The main objectives of the project were achieved - an increase in the combat load and the nomenclature of armaments with a simultaneous expansion of the range of the machine. On 11, suspension units can now be placed on 14,5% more rocket-bomb weapons (8051 kg), among which Boeing also notes very promising models (JAGM short-range tactical missiles, planning AGM-154 JSOW ammunition, AGM-158A / B JASSM / JASSM-ER tactical cruise missiles, LRASM low-profile anti-ship missiles, ADM-160C MALD-J bait missiles capable of simulating EPR of any air attack weapon and other high-precision weapons).
The Super Hornet, like its two-seat younger brother, the electronic warrior and the Killer F / A-18G Growler, belongs to the transitional generation of tactical aviation 4 ++, where most of the onboard equipment belongs to the 5 generation and complies with all network-centric traditions of warfare of the 21st century, which is not complete without radar and optical electronic equipment on the most sophisticated element base. Thus, the digital electro-remote control system (EDSU) "Super Hornet" from the company "Lockheed Martin" almost completely superseded the backup cable system, which was installed on the modifications F / A-18C / D. The new EDSU with 4-x redundancy, in the event of the destruction of one or even certain sections of two planes, is able to correct the position of the healthy planes for the continuation of the flight and even the performance of a combat mission. Of course, close combat with the enemy in damaged planes will be unrealistic, or very difficult, but destroying the target in long-range combat, or striking a ground target will be absolutely no difficulty.
Instead of the aging AAS-38 optic-electronic sighting system “Night Hawk”, “Super Hornets”, like the “Hornets”, in the course of the modernization, they received a promising container optical-electronic sighting system AN / ASQ-228 ATFLIR (“Advanced Targeting Forward-Looking Infared "), including IR / TV channels of sight, as well as a laser range finder with target designator, which allows you to conduct high-precision combat work both during the day and at night. The AN / APG-79 airborne radar is represented by active phased array with a 1100 web of receiving and transmitting modules scanning the airspace in the 120 sector of degrees in elevation and 120 degrees in azimuth. The station accompanies airborne targets on the 28 aisle and captures the AIM-120C-7 and AIM-120D 8 missiles of them for accurate auto-tracking. The target detection range with the EPR 1m2 is 128 km. A variety of modes of operation for ground and air targets are provided by a high-performance new generation processor. The device is so advanced that its architecture continued the upgraded AN / APG-63 (V) 3 series of on-board radars installed on the F-15SG Singapore Air Force, as well as on the American F-15SE “Silent Eagle”. With the AN / APG-79 synthetic aperture mode, in terms of the accuracy of ground target detection and ground surface mapping, it almost reaches the level of the AN / APG-81 airborne radar installed on low-profile F-35A / B / C fighters.
The equipment for electronic intelligence, target designation and defense of the F / A-18E / F multipurpose fighter is represented by: the ALR-67 (V) 3 warning system (SPD), the multi-frequency ALQ-214 towing station, and the AN / ALE- 55. These devices are integrated into the EW IDECOM complex. The 6 modules AN / ALE-47, located in the lower generatrix of the fuselage, contain 120 infrared traps to counter missiles with ICGSN.
The information field of the pilot F / A-18E / F has become much better than the modification F / A-18C / D. All electromechanical devices, LED and lamp indicators were replaced with multifunctional indicators with liquid crystal arrays. In the cockpit of the F / A-18E / F pilot we see the 5 MFI:
- the lower central multifunctional indicator, which is colored, and is designed to display a map of the area on different scales; its diagonal is 8,9 inches;
- the lower left MFI for displaying graphical and numerical information on the amount of fuel in the internal and outboard fuel tanks, as well as on the operating modes of the turbojet power plant; the diagonal of this indicator is 5,9 inches;
- 2 side-mounted square monochrome LCD MFIs to display information about the tactical air situation received by the AN / APG-79 radar, the nomenclature of armament on suspension points (left MFI), to map the artificial horizon and information from the optical-electronic complexes, as well as the earth mapping surfaces (right MFI); The diagonal of these displays is 7,2 inches:
- the upper central monochrome indicator with a diagonal of about 8,6 '' for displaying the image received from optical-electronic aiming complexes, as well as navigation information and frequency ranges with on-board radio channels. Here we note that a single computerized interface allows you to adapt the work of indicators for the convenience of any pilot. For example, data from the on-board radar can be displayed both on the left and on the right indicator. This can greatly facilitate the work of the pilot, who, for example, served for several years in the US Air Force as a pilot on the F-15C Eagle air superiority fighter, where the MFI, which displays on-board radar, is located in the left panels.
SILENT HORNET - OUTSIDE THE TRANSITION GENERATION
On the world wide web you can find a huge number of articles, reviews, forums and officially provided documentation from the Boeing company on the most advanced modification of the famous F-15C / E-F-15SE Silent Eagle family of fighters. The car received conformal armament compartments, a “stealth” configuration of rear vertical tail (keels and stabilizers) with 20-degree camber for removing the enemy’s electromagnetic radiation, and the newest AF / AN / APG-63 (V) 3 radar, built on the elemental radar. the AN / APG-79 BTsVM base and similar characteristics with it. Its speed characteristics are about 800-900 km / h higher than the F / A-18E / F (about 2350 versus 1750 km / h with a normal load on the suspensions). The parameters of this multifunctional fighter as an interceptor are unique, but the cost of servicing is almost 2 times higher than that of the Super Hornet and amounts to about 42 thousand dollars per hour of flight. For this reason, F / A-18E / F is more attractive to the customer, and it is his Boeing Corporation that is trying to promote and push in the Asian arms market.
The latest version of the fighter is considered the "stealth" modification of "Advanced Super Hornet" (also known as "Silent Hornet"). The product embodies all the best achievements of the Hornet and Super Hornet projects. At the same time, the detailed information on this fighter is much less than on the “Silent Eagle”, and therefore for the review we will be guided by photographs, technical sketches and infographics from the Internet.
In view of the continuous improvement of airborne radar stations of tactical fighters of the Russian and Chinese Air Forces, their equipping with promising infrared and television optical-electronic complexes, as well as the upcoming entry into service of the Air Forces of these countries of long-range and ultra-long-range air-to-air missiles RVV-BD, The product 180 ”and PL-21, specialists from the US Navy, the Defense Ministry and the development companies came to the conclusion that the existing look of the F / A-18E / F“ Su per Hornet ”will cease to correspond to emerging threats already after 2020. Effective scattering surface within 2 m2 with rocket-bomb armament on hangers would give the car absolutely no advantage in long-range air combat with such advanced fighter-bombers like the MiG-35, Su-27CM / 3, Su-30CM, J-XNXXM / S etc. Therefore, the specialists of Boeing and Northrop Grumman began searching for methods to significantly expand the combat potential of the staffed Super Hornets. In addition, the management of Boeing planned to make a decent order book from Asian and European countries on a new car.
The first demonstrator of the promising F / A-18E “Advanced Super Hornet” could be seen at the international aerospace exhibition “Aero India-2011” at Yelahanka (Bangalore) airbase. In India, they tried to push him through the MMRCA tender for the purchase of 126 light multipurpose fighter jets of the “4 ++” generation to upgrade the national air force. For public relations, a specialized program “International Super Hornet Roadmap” was developed for PR, which involved licensed assembly at the aviation industry defense enterprises of the countries of customers with almost complete transfer of production technologies and provision of full-fledged logistic support during operation in the Air Force of the client country .
The development of the upgrade package for the updated Super Hornet has been around since the end of the first decade of the 21st century. The package itself included: equipping with additional superflux conformal fuel tanks to increase the fighter’s combat range, development of a universal suspension container for placing missile-bomb weapons, installing an advanced optical-electronic sighting system with a high-sensitivity infrared camera of high resolution, upgrading the power plant, integrating it into an open-air avionics system SM / LW laser missile warning station (Spherical Missile Laser Warning) and a deeply improved Ie electronic warfare system IDECM Block IV, as well as the installation of a wide-format multifunctional indicator with a diagonal of 19 or more inches. Indeed, the idea turns out to be very, very good, since the modernization technique can be applied not only in relation to F / A-18E / F, but also in relation to the EW aircraft and the F / A-18G “Growler” air defense breakthrough.
LET'S CONSIDER BASIC ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE UPDATE ON THE PROGRAM "ADVANCED SUPER HORNET"
1. Conformal fuel tanks. This option adds another 240-250 km to the combat range of the upgraded Super Hornets. Two superimposed fuel tanks with a capacity of 1982 l can hold up to 1585 kg of aviation kerosene JP-5 each, which in total gives an increase in 3170 kg (3964 l) of fuel. This decision led to an increase in the range of F / A-18E / F / G to almost 1500 - 1600 km, and this is without underwing PTB. In the case of a suspension still 2 PTB over 1800 liters, the radius can reach almost 2300 km! A similar concept of placing conformal fuel tanks is used on tactical fighter F-16C Block 52 / 52 + / 60 and F-16I "Sufa". What can I say right away? The advantage of conformal TB (CFT) is to give a simple deck fighter a range of action equivalent to our medium range bomber bomber Tu-22МNNXX (without a boom with a refueling system, of course) or the unobtrusive promising super-maneuverable T-3 PAK FA fighter. The disadvantages are also evident. Despite all the perfection of the streamlined aerodynamics of overhead conformal fuel tanks, they create a certain resistance, which partially “cuts” and maneuverable qualities of the “Silent Hornet”, bringing them to the level of F / A-50C / D, and rate of climb (to 18 - 220 m / c) and acceleration characteristics. Speed will suffer with thrust. The first, taking into account the hanging container for armament, will not exceed 230-1,4М, and the thrust-to-weight ratio will be about 1,5-0,75 kgf / kg. In this situation, the pilots of the Silent Hornets should exclude the possibility of a BVB with a strong (MiG-0,85CMT or Su-29CM). But as a tactical strike fighter among the F / A-30E / F deck vehicles, it will remain a very powerful machine, in terms of the combat qualities of the corresponding MiG-18KUB and Chinese J-29S (without speed characteristics).
2. Unobtrusive suspended "stealth" container with rocket-bomb armament. This device is the basis of the foundations for a radical reduction of the Silent Hornet radar signature. Air-to-air, air-to-ground / ship / radar guided missiles, as well as guided bombs, have their own EPRs ranging from thousandths to hundredths of a square meter (AIM-120D, for example, has an EPR of 0,02 and XXNXX), Electromagnetic waves are reflected from the active radar canvas GOS and any other metal parts. The container is made of special radio-absorbing materials and coatings, and is also represented by sharp edges without right angles, leading a part of the unabsorbed radar radiation into space. Its design and materials reduce the EPR of the fighter’s arsenal to the indicators of a small (“narrow”) guided bombs of the GBU-2 SDB type (39 м0,01). At the same time, the arsenal, located in the stealth container of the Enclosed Weapons Pod (EWP), may consist of X-YUMX AIM-2D missiles, or 4-X AIM-120D and 2 SDB, there are also options with UAB JDAM with semi-active laser guidance and so on The disadvantage of this method is the same aerodynamic resistance of a rather large “stealth” container, which leads to an even greater reduction in speed and loss of maneuverability. In addition, the placement of a massive hanging container can lead to a limit on the ultimate overload of 120-6 units. Such a container is simply indispensable for long-range air combat, breakthrough of enemy air defenses and rendezvous with the enemy carrier strike grouping, since the Silent Hornet ESR will remain at the same level, within 5 м6.
3. A promising optical-electronic sighting system mounted on the Advanced Super Hornet is represented by an infrared sensor IRST-21, able to detect, track and target for various land, sea and air targets. This complex gives huge advantages when operating a fighter in the passive mode (with the radar turned off and with full radio silence). A small ESR, together with a highly sensitive IRST-21, is capable of enhancing the combat qualities of a tactical fighter without revealing its own location for enemy ground and air units with weak radar facilities.
At the end of August 5, 2013, the prototype F / A-18F Advanced Super Hornet made its 21st test flight, during which the main modernization units of the new machine were tested. The equipment proved to be excellent, and the machine received an initial combat readiness for adoption and serial production in any country in the world. As we can see, despite the slow and steady advance in the US Air Force and its allies of the 5th generation tactical fighter F-35A / B / C, their software continues to conflict with the hardware of avionics, including radar, and sometimes optoelectronic systems , at the moment it remains "raw". “Advanced Super Hornet” remain the most balanced machines that can act at a high level as in navyand from ground-based air bases. The flight performance of these fighters is higher than that of the Lightnings, the modernization potential is similar, and therefore, you can soon expect them to enter the Big Game arena, because it is no coincidence that Boeing and Northrop boldly predicted their network-centric brainchild another “several decades” of service.
Information sources:
http://www.militaryparitet.com/perevodnie/data/ic_perevodnie/4829/
http://www.militaryparitet.com/perevodnie/data/ic_perevodnie/1337/
http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fighter/f18.html
http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fighter/f18c.html
http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fighter/f18ef.html
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