Stratospheric router based on U-2S “Dragon Lady” - an advanced tool for network-centric wars

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Being in service with the US Air Force for almost 60 years, the strategic high-altitude reconnaissance U-2, which received new capabilities in the U-2S version, will continue to be quickly deployed to the strategic air bases of the Allied Air Forces of the NATO and the US Air Forces in Osan (Republic of Korea), Al-Khardje (Saudi Arabia ), Akrotiri (Cyprus), Istra (France). These military objects have such a geographical distribution that each reconnaissance aircraft can reach almost any part of the planet as soon as possible. Considering that most modern long-range anti-aircraft missile systems are capable of hitting targets in near space, the Dragon Lady U-2S will operate only in friendly (defended) airspace, using their qualities as a long-range repeater only due to the large practical ceiling, and, accordingly, the radio horizon


An integral part of the modern theater of war are repeater planes, air command posts, RTR / RER / DRLO planes and ground targeting. The outcome of a regional or global military conflict often depends on the successful accomplishment of communication tasks between various military units, correct targeting of enemy targets, and the correct distribution of tasks at a strategic level. Under the conditions of the current scientific and technical progress, the element base of onboard avionics equipment has undergone serious changes in the direction of miniaturization of microprocessor systems, as well as a significant increase in their performance, storage capacity, as well as an increase in the rate of information exchange with peripheral devices. The resource of their work, noise immunity, as well as the quality of work in the presence of the consequences of a nuclear explosion have increased; working terminals with LCD MFIs have become much easier, and the resolution of displaying information is several times better.

Due to this, for example, radar patrol and guidance aircraft (A-50U, E-3C, "GlobalEye AEW & C" and others), ground target designation (Tu-214R, E-8C) and anti-submarine patrol aircraft (Il-38N, P -8A "Poseidon") have become multipurpose, and can perform not only operations in accordance with the class designation, but also partly are air command posts. This became possible thanks to the additional connected avionics capable of exchanging tactical information with other units in the theater of operations via encrypted high-frequency communication channels of Link-11/16 systems (NATO standard). In principle, such multipurpose fighters as Su-30SM, Su-35S, PAK-FA and the Swedish Gripen-E, where the K-DlAE / UE / S-108 and CDL-39s allow not only to receive a "picture" of the theater of operations from the VKP / AWACS board, but also to transmit between the sides within a link or squadron. In this case, information for transmission can be obtained by optical-electronic / radio-electronic means or by the on-board radar of one of the fighters.

But there are also special highly specialized machines, where, for example, relaying is the main and only function of an airplane in a theater. These include the American E-6A "Hermes" and the domestic Tu-214SR. The first was used as a relay for communication of the US General Staff or VKP E-4B with SSBN / MAPL American fleet. To date, it has been finalized to the Mercury E-6B version and is also involved in the management of the Minuteman III LGM-30G ICBMs, which are part of the 20th Air Force of the US Air Force (Global Attack Command). Russian Tu-214SR - products even more modern, information about them is even less than about the E-6B. It is known that they are intended for communication of the presidential administration with other ground and airborne military targets, as well as for the operational relaying of the collected data on board the president. But if these “air signalmen” are more applicable to ensuring systemic coordination of the strategic link, then the capabilities of the next unit will most widely cover the tactical link, including each ground unit and each soldier equipped with specialized communications equipment.




The air command post-repeater and the air command post of the nuclear control of the US Armed Forces E-6B Mercury nuclear triad. Designed for senior officers of the US Armed Forces. Strategic vehicles are modernized E-6A Hermes transponders, and in addition to collecting, amplifying, and distributing communication channels, they are able to directly participate in the management of the ICBM, SLBM, and TFR arsenals in service with the US Air Force and Navy. For communication with strategic missile submarines in the structure of the Mercury antenna complex, a manufactured and towed 7,93-kilometer ADL-range antenna OE-456 / ART-54 and an additional 1,22-kilometer antenna (provided in the extra-long 17-60 kHz range) are provided . They are synchronized with the OG-187 / ART-54 converter amplifier with 0,2 MW power and directly with the AN / ART-54 communication complex. All X-NUMX strategic repeaters E-16A were upgraded by Boeing to the level of the multi-purpose strategic ECP-E-6B for a six-year period (from 6 to 1997 year).

The basic modification (strategic repeater) of the E-6A “Hermes” (photo below) was developed based on the glider of the Boeing 707-320C aircraft and built around the TACAMO concept (“take charge and move out”, in Russian, “took charge and move”) , which is a multi-frequency NATO AF radio communication provided by aerial command posts even during a nuclear conflict. “Hermes” completely replaced the slow and low-altitude turboprop EC-130Q based on the famous “Hercules”. The E-6A also provides two longwave antennas operating at frequencies from 3 to 30 kHz for communication with SSBNs, but without the ability to control ICBMs, since there was no command system ALCS, and 3 higher MIL-STD-1553B interface buses they could connect ADL communication devices with more advanced and productive automated workplaces of operators. Aircraft "Hermes" and "Mercury" can be in the air 16,5 hours without refueling at an altitude of 12 - 13 km.




As it became known on March 22, 2016, “Lockheed Martin” intends to extend the life of the high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft U-2S “Dragon Lady” for several more years. U-2 has been in operation for 59 years. These aircraft are still "in the stream" of modern intelligence aviation due to the modernization of optoelectronic systems, as well as due to the excellent altitude and range capabilities, according to which the U-2 continues to remain at the level of the unmanned “Global Hawk”.

Modernization of “Dragon Lady” consists in the installation of modern and light multi-frequency equipment for the retransmission of radio communication channels / data transmission between ground forces, relay satellites, air command posts and command headquarters. Any information can be transmitted (from a video file recorded on a device of any extension to a prepared multimedia or graphic file with information about the tactical situation in a certain area of ​​the battlefield). This U-2S can also be used as an intermediate link in target designation on a theater, saturated with promising long-range air defense systems, where the use of such aircraft as the RC-135V / W is associated with enormous risks for the crew.

His participation is as follows. F-22A "Raptor", successfully used as an unobtrusive reconnaissance aircraft in local conflicts, flies over enemy territory in following the terrain, and, in LPI mode or passive radar, detects all radio sources (ZRSK, RTR radar, etc. .) that are in the lowlands and cannot be detected by remote aerial reconnaissance means such as E-3A or “Rivet Joint”. The coordinates of the targets from the Raptor are transmitted to the U-2S “Dragon Lady” repeater, which is exactly 2 times higher than any aircraft of similar designation, and from its side, the target information is sent to the F-16C or B-1B, which then start According to the enemy’s air defense, reconnoitered by Raptor, dozens of airborne AGM-158B “JASSM-ER” can participate in an MRAU.

Thanks to the U-2S practical ceiling equal to 21,5 km and the dynamic 26,5 km, the stratospheric repeater has just a huge radio horizon, which is calculated using a simple formula (D = 4,12 √h1 + √h2, where h1 is the height of the antenna of the retransmission, ранhNNXX + √h2, where h22000 is the height of the antenna of the retransmission, it is retransmission, it is inc. height of the carrier serviced by the repeater of communication equipment). For example, if the “Dragon Lady” flies at an altitude of 30 m, and the ground vehicles associated with it are at an altitude of 635 meters above sea level in an open area not covered by large elevations, then the radio horizon will in this case be 6 km, for E- The 475A radio horizon does not exceed 2 km. To maintain a normal ground tactical link with the command, the high-altitude U-500S is not forced to approach the enemy as closely as Hermes. This ability not only reduces the chances of being intercepted by ground or air defense systems, but also allows you to maintain communication with ground special forces, which can be located more than XNUMX km in the rear of the enemy.


OBC high-resolution panoramic cameras still remain indispensable attributes of the U-2S “Spy Lady” “Dragon Lady”


Improved U-2S "Dragon Lady" equipped with a new turbojet twin-engine F118-GE-101 with increased to 8625 kgf thrust; the same is installed on the B-2 “Spirit” low-profile strategic bombers, so the placement of light electronic equipment had practically no effect on LTH, and U-2S is also able to carry the optional OPERS-electronic equipment SYERS-2B / C and OBC for conducting high-altitude aerial survey with the possibility further data retransmission to other means.

All strategic capabilities of the U-2S regarding flight range are kept at the level of other modifications of the aircraft. Its range is 10300 km and allows 10-12 hours in the air. After 2020, U-2S will be completely replaced by strategic drones - RQ-4B and MQ-4C "Triton" (version for the Navy), until that time 32 "Dragon Lady" will continue to participate in building the network-centric capabilities of the US Armed Forces, now and then appearing in the sky over the regions of maximum military-political tension.
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25 comments
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  1. +5
    29 March 2016 06: 15
    After 2020, U-2S will be completely replaced by strategic drones - RQ-4B and MQ-4C "Triton"

    In the meantime, they are stationed at the general Bale airfield in California.
    1. +1
      30 March 2016 18: 50
      but the scope is that they will have a smaller UAV ... I thought the opposite was true ...
  2. +1
    29 March 2016 06: 18
    U-2S will continue operational deployment at strategically important air bases

    Pilots by the name of Powers didn’t strain much
    1. +3
      29 March 2016 09: 57
      Quote: sanja.grw
      U-2S will continue operational deployment at strategically important air bases

      Pilots by the name of Powers didn’t strain much

      Have you read the article carefully?
      U-2 should now fly away from the theater of operations, and not insolently invade the airspace of Russia, as before May 1, 1960.
      1. 0
        29 March 2016 20: 16
        Quote: 0255
        U-2 should now fly away from the theater of operations, and not insolently invade the airspace of Russia, as before May 1, 1960.

        The question is, why is he needed in this role? How is this U-2 (airplane with a pilot) superior to a drone imprisoned for the same tasks?
        1. +1
          29 March 2016 20: 22
          Quote: Bad_gr
          How is this U-2 (airplane with a pilot) superior to a drone imprisoned for the same tasks?

          I think the fact that U2 is "in hardware". Unlike "drone" Yes
          1. 0
            29 March 2016 21: 17
            Quote: Cat Man Null
            Quote: Bad_gr
            How is this U-2 (airplane with a pilot) superior to a drone imprisoned for the same tasks?

            I think the fact that U2 is "in hardware". Unlike "drone" Yes


            [img] http://cdn1.pri.org/sites/default/files/styles/open_graph/public/migration/
            PriMigrationsDamanticWordpressAttachmentsImagesMigration / www.theworld.org / wp-con
            tent / uploads / drone.jpg? itok = 5DpXBRnK [/ img]

            1. 0
              29 March 2016 21: 22
              Quote: Bad_gr
              Quote: Cat Man Null
              Quote: Bad_gr
              How is this U-2 (airplane with a pilot) superior to a drone imprisoned for the same tasks?

              I think the fact that U2 is "in hardware". Unlike "drone" Yes


              [img] http://cdn1.pri.org/sites/default/files/styles/open_graph/public/migration/

              PriMigrationsDamanticWordpressAttachmentsImagesMigration / www.theworld.org / wp-con

              tent / uploads / drone.jpg? itok = 5DpXBRnK [/ img]


              Sorry, I'm not special in these things .. feel

              Who is on the photo? Is it scouts? Are they in service?
              1. 0
                31 March 2016 12: 02
                Quote: Cat Man Null
                Who is on the photo? Is it scouts? Are they in service?

                US Air Force! Drones

                in the top picture
                "... RQ-4 Global Hawk is an American strategic reconnaissance UAV. The device can patrol for 30 hours at an altitude of 18 meters ...."

                in the bottom picture
                "... MQ-9 Reaper (from English -" reaper, reaper ") - reconnaissance and strike UAV, developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for use in the US Air Force, US Navy and British Air Force. The first flight took place on February 2, 2001 ...
                ........... The service ceiling is 13 m. The maximum flight duration of the MQ-000 Reaper UAV is 9 hours ... "

                Strategic reconnaissance drone MQ-4C Triton http://army-news.ru/2014/10/strategicheskij-razvedyvatelnyj-bespilotnik-mq-4s-tr
                iton /


                Etc
            2. +1
              29 March 2016 21: 23
              The existing UAVs have a thinner "board".
  3. 0
    29 March 2016 07: 16
    What a heavy syllable the author has. Perhaps of course not quite a good translation. But brains had to be gathered together to read.
  4. +2
    29 March 2016 08: 01
    F-22A “Raptor”, successfully used as a stealth reconnaissance aircraft in local conflicts, flies over the enemy’s territory in the following terrain, and, in the LPI or passive radar mode, detects all radio emitting sources (air defense missile systems, RTR radar, etc. .), which are in the lowlands and cannot be detected by remote aerial reconnaissance equipment such as E-3A or “Rivet Joint”.

    I broke all my brains over this phrase! Is the Raptor an RTR airplane? And if he flies while following the terrain, will it be easier for him to detect radiating sources? The radio horizon will also act on it.
    Then flying low, the Raptor is in danger of being detected in the IR.
    1. +6
      29 March 2016 08: 35
      Quote: KKND
      Is the Raptor an RTR airplane?

      And this is one of the postulates of network centricity. Any of the "units", from "Raptor" to private infantryman, should become a source of intelligence information.
  5. +5
    29 March 2016 09: 07
    The material is presented in an accessible form and can be understood by both amateurs and specialists. The U-2 American aircraft, which was previously used for visual and radio reconnaissance, is currently undergoing modernization of avionics and can be used as a relay for transmitting information via radio channels from airplanes carrying out reconnaissance and target designation or direct support of troops to higher levels of combat control (air command posts, headquarters of formations and associations, etc. etc.).
    For this, the U-2 can, while barraging over “its” territory for 10-12 hours, view enemy territory to a depth of about 700 km. This, so to speak, is a theory. How this plan will be implemented in practice, time will tell. There are a great many private issues that can force one to abandon an undertaking, starting with the pilot’s physical condition in a long flight, selecting the received information and clearing it of interference created by the enemy over the battlefield, etc. etc., but these are already topics for specialists. There is an information message and it is necessary to somehow respond to it.
    1. +1
      29 March 2016 16: 11
      There is an information message and it is necessary to somehow respond to it.

      Yes, this "message" is already 35 years old. For the first time in the open press ("foreign military review") appeared in the late 70s. And U-2, I remember, was called TR-1 at the same time. And the tactics are the same - 200 km from the front line at 20 km altitude. I think that they "reacted" properly under Dmitry Fedorovich. smile
  6. +1
    29 March 2016 10: 28
    The ability to collapse or severely obstruct communication and control within a radius of 500 km makes the U-2S a very attractive target for enemy aircraft! And you will not confuse it with anything, and will not dodge a heavy long-range missile! In general, "not everything is so simple" (c) wink...
    IMHO
    1. +2
      29 March 2016 10: 42
      Quote: engineer74
      The ability to collapse or severely obstruct communication and control within a radius of 500 km makes the U-2S a very attractive target for enemy aircraft! And you will not confuse it with anything, and will not dodge a heavy long-range missile! In general, "not everything is so simple" (c) wink...
      IMHO


      Yeah, launch a rocket with noise over your territory, which will not formally cross the border, but will create problems for the plane)))
  7. 0
    29 March 2016 14: 17
    Quote: 0255
    Quote: sanja.grw
    U-2S will continue operational deployment at strategically important air bases

    Pilots by the name of Powers didn’t strain much

    Have you read the article carefully?
    U-2 should now fly away from the theater of operations, and not insolently invade the airspace of Russia, as before May 1, 1960.

    Well, what's the point then from him (if he "does not invade")?
  8. 0
    29 March 2016 15: 29
    Small-scale army level repeater. Hanging relatively close to the front line, slow-moving, not maneuverable and visible to everyone, and heard by everyone, the retractor is the same. Well done, do it.
  9. +3
    29 March 2016 18: 59
    We got out of naphtholine
  10. 0
    29 March 2016 19: 41
    Really! Moth last year)
  11. +1
    29 March 2016 20: 25
    Quote: 0255
    Quote: sanja.grw
    U-2S will continue operational deployment at strategically important air bases

    Pilots by the name of Powers didn’t strain much

    Have you read the article carefully?
    U-2 should now fly away from the theater of operations, and not insolently invade the airspace of Russia, as before May 1, 1960.

    Yeah, they just haven’t yet learned how to hang motionless U-2S, so you’ll have to move along the borders, moving away from the theater of operations, taking into account the S-400 zone, well, the VKS will not be pleased to watch the gunner)))
  12. 0
    29 March 2016 22: 29
    Yes, have a conscience- they shot down in the 60s, and in the 21st century we felt a threat !? No more arguing or voicing opinions? You are smart people, all this is Noodle! Just for whom?
    Well, if only talk))))!
  13. 0
    30 March 2016 11: 50
    I’m interested in reconnaissance planes in the neutral zone near our borders that are capable of jamming electronic warfare, because this will not be an act of aggression.
    1. 0
      31 March 2016 15: 31
      Quote: bmv04636
      it will not be an act of aggression.

      It depends on what is written in international agreements (legal norms). request
      Is aggression, for example, a targeted physical (barometric, electromagnetic, etc.) impact on a military object by a neighboring state, with the aim of incapacitating it or impairing its performance?

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