Threat to videoconferencing: How the old F-15 will destroy the newest Su-57
18 May Edition has published a curious article “How an Old F-15 Just-A-1 in the Dogfight” - “How the old F-57 could destroy the latest Russian Su-15 in melee” by Dave Majumdar . The publication was attributed to the headings of The Buzz and Security, as well as to the section of the European region.
The article begins with a reminder of the successes and merits of one of the compared samples. D. Majumdar calls the Boeing F-15C Eagle the greatest fighter of air superiority. During its service, this aircraft set an important record: the machines of this type shot down the 104 of the enemy aircraft, but none of them were lost in battle. However, most likely, the service of such aircraft is nearing its end. Despite this, the F-15C fighter jets are still a formidable force.
The United States Air Force is planning a new upgrade of existing Eagle aircraft, including the installation of modern radio electronic systems. However, until the warlords decided when such a modernization would begin. Now they are trying to determine whether to continue spending money on restoring an outdated glider. According to the Air Force, the existing F-15C needs serious repair and updating of the airframe, with which they will be able to remain in the ranks until the mid-twenties.
Also affect the situation of financial problems. Congress refused to allow the air force to write off the existing A-10C attack aircraft. For this reason, the command of the Air Force remains a small choice in terms of the release of finance. Perhaps the only way out is the abandonment of the Eagle aircraft. At the same time, modern F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft will remain in service for as long as possible.
The United States Air Force in the past received less than half of the desired number of the newest fighters Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor. As a result, about half of the fleet of air superiority fighter jets are relatively old F-15C aircraft. In the distant future, it is planned to create a new fighter, for which work is being carried out under the Penetrating Counter Air program. In the thirties, such aircraft will begin to replace both the old F-15 and the newer F-22A. Russia and China, in turn, are currently developing promising fifth-generation fighter aircraft, such as the Su-57 PAK-FA from the Sukhoi company.
D. Majumdarr indicates that the newest Russian Su-57 aircraft - especially after the installation of the so-called. engines of the second stage - will be the most serious threat to any fourth-generation fighter. The advantages of the Su-57 will be speed, maneuverability, invisibility and potential in terms of electronic warfare. Nevertheless, as the author of The National Interest believes, the United States has ideas to counter Russian technology. Moreover, the process of their implementation has already been launched.
The response to current threats is in the infrared part of the spectrum and concerns waves with a long length. In foreign terminology, this part of the spectrum is designated as the Long-wavelength infrared. It includes waves with a length from 8 to 15 microns. Modern low-profile aircraft can counteract the means of observation of different classes, but this part of the spectrum still remains undeveloped. At the moment, there are no developments or ideas to prevent the detection of an aircraft at large distances using long-wave infrared radiation detectors. In any case, such facilities cannot be installed on existing aerial platforms.
The author does not exclude that in the future the designers of a particular country will be able to find ways to hide the long-wavelength part of the infrared range. Nevertheless, in all likelihood, their implementation will require the development of an entirely new airframe, initially adapted to the use of such technologies.
Currently, Lockheed Martin is developing a Legion Pod suspension container with new detection tools for use on F-15C fighters. The equipment of this container will be based on the detection of the long-wave infrared spectrum. According to the company's development plans, 130 Legion Pod containers equipped with an IRST21 type detection system and improved data processing facilities will be released. It is assumed that such equipment will allow aircraft to work more efficiently in a difficult jamming environment.
The development of the Legion Pod project is nearing completion. American companies aviation Industries expect a serial production contract for new systems to appear later this year.
D. Majumdar cites statements from Paul Lemmo, Vice-President of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. Last year, commenting on the Legion Pod project, he argued that with the rapid delivery of the required number of serial products and high detection performance, the new development would expand the capabilities of combat aircraft. First of all, the potential in the area of so-called will increase. passive attacks.
Also, a representative of the company-developer noted the success in cooperation with contractors. He recalled a long-term partnership with Boeing, which is now engaged in the development of the F-15 and F / A-18 aircraft. It is expected that, thanks to the established cooperation, it will be possible to fulfill the order of the US Air Force for the supply of serial Legion Pod containers in a timely manner.
In the context of the new special container project, The National Interest recalled its conversations with representatives of the US Navy and the defense industry. They said that a container with long-wavelength infrared detectors combined with modern means of control and data transfer will allow you to effectively search and find stealth aircraft. Several aircraft with special equipment can not only find such targets, but also exchange data, specifying the route of the object. One representative of the naval sphere indicated that a similar method is being considered. fleet as the main one in the context of the struggle against stealth aircraft of a probable enemy.
D. Majumdar believes that the F-15C fighter with the Legion Pod outboard container eliminates the advantage of the Su-57 aircraft in the form of reduced visibility for radar vehicles. As soon as the American Eagle detects the Su-57 using infrared detectors, it will be able to connect the extremely powerful AN / APG-63 (V) 3 radar using active phased antenna array to work. Through the use of two detection systems, the Eagle will be able to determine the target route suitable for the use of existing weapons. Further, he will have to launch AIM-120D AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.
Further, in the battle, according to the American author, the situation will not be the best for the F-15C. If they fail to shoot down the Su-57 at a long distance, then the advantage in the battle goes to the Russian aircraft. In close combat Su-57 will be able to use the most important advantage in the form of high maneuverability. However, this advantage is not unambiguous. D. Majumdar recalls the numerous training battles with the participation of the old F-15C and the newest F-22A fighters. The latter are characterized by increased maneuverability, however, some “dog dumps” end in victory for the older F-15C.
In addition, the recent upgrading of the F-15C, involving the use of an assistive target designation system and supplementing the AIM-9X Sidewinder missile weapon system, increases the aircraft's potential. The possibility of shooting in the direction of the pilot's gaze - just like the Russian Su-57 - increasingly leads to the fact that the battles between the F-15C and F-22A end with the mutual conditional destruction of both participants.
The author of The National Interest believes that the F-15C aircraft should be left in operation and not removed from service for as long as possible. However, such disposal of equipment leads to the cost of maintenance and the need for major repairs. In addition, if you take into account the age of the aircraft and the ever-changing threats, it would be more reasonable to invest in the technology of new generations; first of all - in the program Penetrating Counter Air. The emergence of such decisions, among other things, contributes to the refusal of Congress to write off the aircraft A-10C.
Considering the potential of the F-15C Eagle aircraft in its current form and after the appearance of new models of special equipment, Dave Majumdar makes the most important conclusion. The air force must evolve, and the time of the F-15C aircraft seems to be ending soon.
***
It is easy to see that the topic of the recent article “How to Old F-15 Just Millant Kill Our New Years' Su-57 in a 'Dogfight'” was not only a comparison of the newest Russian aircraft with the American “old man”. Among other things, it was devoted to ways of upgrading existing F-15C aircraft in order to obtain the highest possible technical characteristics and combat qualities. If in the case of the technical readiness of the aircraft, it is possible to do only with a major overhaul, then to expand the combat capabilities, taking into account modern threats, completely new equipment is required.
As a result, one of the “main characters” of the article was the promising suspended container Legion Pod, equipped with infrared sensors. In its present form, this container is a product with a cylindrical body, equipped with a head and tail fairing. Container length - 750 mm, diameter - a little more than 400 mm. Weight - 250 kg. Used standard means of fastening on the plane with an electronic interface for data exchange.
According to Lockheed Martin, the container has a modern optical-electronic system IRTS21, capable of detecting infrared radiation from any aircraft. In this case, the product does not impersonate itself by any of its own radiation, and is not afraid of electronic warfare systems. It is expected that the presence of such a detection tool will sharply raise the combat potential of both the old F-15C and, in the long term, newer vehicles.
The contract for mass production of the Legion Pod will be signed this year, and soon the Lockheed Martin plant in the city of Orlando (pieces of Florida) will transfer the first products to the customer. By 2020, it is planned to ship 130 containers. The project will create new jobs 50. All product components are manufactured in the United States.
One of the main goals of the Legion Pod project is to extend the life of existing aircraft while maintaining acceptable fighting qualities. However, as the author of The National Interest rightly notes, the time of the F-15C fighters - despite all their merits - is coming to an end.
As for the opposition of the outdated F-15C and the newest Russian Su-57, then in this case it all comes down to mental experiments. It is impossible to deny the fact that the old Eagle aircraft with new means of detection and modern weapons can be a noticeable threat and pose a certain danger even for promising fighters. However, an increase in performance in a couple of areas will not exactly make an obsolete fourth-generation machine a serious competitor to an aircraft belonging to the fifth. And the age of one of the compared aircraft already does not allow to seriously consider the events of the distant future. The F-15C time is coming to an end, and the Su-57 era is just beginning.
The article "How to Old F-15 Just Might Kill the New Life Su-57 in a 'Dogfight'":
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/how-old-f-15-just-might-kill-russias-new-stealth-su-57-25893
Information