Finding an aircraft carrier strike group (AUG) is one thing, it is much more difficult to ensure its escort and destruction. What is the role of early warning aircraft (AWACS) in this? Why are AWACS aircraft critical to the safety of the AUG and why is it so important to destroy them? How can this be done? Let's try to figure it out.
Why is it so important to destroy AWACS aircraft
AUG is difficult to detect and destroy for two reasons. First, because it actively avoids detection. Secondly, because the AUG firepower can destroy a significant part of attacking aircraft and anti-ship missiles (ASM). AWACS aircraft are a critical element that is required to perform these tasks.
If there is no AWACS aircraft that patrols away from the AUG, making it difficult to determine the location of ships and detecting enemy reconnaissance aircraft, then the ships will have to turn on their own radar, which immediately unmasks them. At the same time, reconnaissance aircraft, using electronic reconnaissance equipment (RTR), will detect the ship before it detects them. And they will be able to get close enough to it, gradually lowering the flight altitude and using the radio horizon as a cover.
The radio horizon is the second problem of the absence of an AWACS aircraft, since without it there will be no one to issue target designation to anti-aircraft guided missiles (SAMs) with an active radar homing head (ARLGSN) so that they can hit low-flying targets at a great distance. And without this, the air defense (air defense) of the ship will have to repel a massive raid of low-flying anti-ship missiles only in the final phase of their flight, which, with a massive raid, will cause an overload of the target channels of anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM).
Of course, the enemy can use fighters as "ersatz" AWACS, but their effectiveness will certainly be lower, due to the worse characteristics of the radar and the smaller sector of its view. In addition, after turning on the radar, fighters can also be detected and attacked. Even if fighters are able to evade long-range air-to-air (V-V) missiles, they will have no time left to perform AWACS missions - while they are maneuvering, anti-ship missiles will have time to reach their targets.
What means can be used to destroy AWACS aircraft guarding the AUG?
Flying fortress
During the years of confrontation between the United States and the USSR, one of the main methods of destroying the enemy's AUG was the infliction of massive strikes by anti-ship missiles using Tu-22M3 missile bombers. To defeat the AUG, several Tu-22M3 regiments had to be involved. At the same time, it was believed that they would suffer significant losses from enemy aircraft. There were no ways to ensure their safety at that time, since there were no fighters with a comparable range. We do not have such machines now.
However, long-range vehicles capable of effectively destroying air targets may well appear in the United States. In the article "B-21 Raider: Bomber or More?" we considered the potential of this machine to counter air targets.
It is believed that the B-21 Raider will be able to carry air-to-air missiles, air-to-air missiles capable of shooting down enemy air-to-air missiles, and laser self-defense weapons. Its radar with an active phased antenna array (AFAR) and electronic warfare (EW) will exceed the characteristics of similar systems installed on fighters, and the stealth characteristics will be comparable.
Combined, all this will allow the B-21 Raider to turn into a "flying fortress" and become a formidable enemy of aviation.
Thus, when solving the tasks of destroying the enemy's AUG, the B-21 Raider can be on the "spearhead" and perform the functions of delivering anti-ship missiles that are not usual for bombers, but solve the tasks of destroying enemy AWACS aircraft and protecting anti-ship missile carriers from enemy aircraft. This task should be carried out simultaneously with the raid of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of the Gremlins type
At the same time, B-52H, B-1B, B-2 bombers will act as carriers of anti-ship missiles. And it is possible that transport aircraft will be mainly used to solve the task of launching an anti-aircraft missile / anti-ship missile outside the enemy's air defense zone, as in the case of Gremlins-type UAVs. Whereas the B-21 Raider bombers will carry out reconnaissance and strike operations in the depths of the enemy's orders.
To cover the B-21 Raider in the United States, there was a Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) long-range fighter project designed to gain air superiority in the depths of enemy territory. It is believed that this machine will be larger than the F-15 and F-22 aircraft to accommodate a larger supply of fuel and weapons, and its cost will be about $ 300 million.
There is very little information on this aircraft, presumably the developments on it will be implemented in the American sixth generation fighter. Does this mean that it was decided to abandon the escort of the B-21 Raider in the depths of the enemy's territory, due to its ability to self-defense against enemy aircraft? Or will all sixth generation fighters be heavy vehicles? Which fits well with the forecasts for the development of tactical aviation. We will find out the answer in the next 5-10 years.
PAK DA and PAK DP
In Russia now there is no aviation complex capable of escorting attack aircraft at a great distance from the basing sites and ensuring the destruction of AWACS aircraft and enemy fighters. For the implementation of such an aviation complex, several critical systems / technologies are needed - anti-missiles В-В and laser self-defense weapons. Only they (in combination with powerful avionics and stealth) will be able to ensure superiority over enemy fighters to low-maneuverable large-sized combat vehicles.
Without these technologies, even if a promising long-range aviation complex (PAK DA) is created, it will remain a "classic" subsonic stealth bomber, an analogue of the aging B-2. Not that it was completely bad - perhaps the PAK DA will simply become an inexpensive and reliable replacement for the Tu-160M and Tu-95MSM. But in terms of the fight against enemy aircraft, which significantly complicates the task of destroying the AUG, he will not help us in any way.
Periodically, information appears about the creation of a promising long-range intercept aircraft complex (PAK DP), which is to replace the MiG-31. Sometimes it is also called the MiG-41.
Based on the officially announced tactical and technical characteristics (TTX) of the MiG-41 - a maximum speed of 5M, a cruising speed of 2.5M, an altitude of up to 45,000 meters, the presence of a radio-optical phased antenna array (ROFAR), anti-satellite weapons and laser self-defense weapons, then looms a machine of the future, capable of changing the balance of power in the air. But how close is all this to reality? The question is open.
For a long-range fighter capable of destroying AWACS aircraft covering AUG, the characteristics of the Project 70.1 (701) multifunctional long-range interceptor (MIR), developed by the MiG Design Bureau in the 80s of the XX century, can be considered more interesting:
The 70.1 product was planned to be armed with an ultra-long-range V-V missile KS-172, capable of hitting large-sized air targets at a range of up to 400 kilometers and an altitude of up to 30 kilometers. Rocket KS-172 OKB "Novator" included two stages. The first housed an inertial guidance system, an ARLGSN and a high-explosive fragmentation warhead of directional action.
A multifunctional interceptor with a range of more than 5,000 kilometers could become a serious help in the attack of the AUG, ensuring the destruction of AWACS aircraft, and possibly tactical aircraft. However, apparently, while the PAK DP is as far from mass production as the PAK DA, if not further.
In theory, the Peresvet laser combat complex in aviation performance could become a serious threat to AWACS aircraft and enemy tactical aviation. But if the possibility of its creation is at least voiced, then the tactical and technical characteristics and purpose are hidden by the "fog of war."
Are there any other ways to destroy aircraft that provide security for the AUG?
A flock of "Hunters"
Since 2012, the UAV S-70 "Okhotnik" of the "Sukhoi" company has been created in Russia. It is assumed that the main purpose of this aircraft will be interaction with the fifth generation Su-57 fighters. And one of the tasks of this interaction is to expand the radar field of the Su-57 fighter.
In fact, the Su-57 fighter may not use its radar in active mode, but use the Hunter UAV radar in order to retain all the advantages of its stealth, striking from the shadows. This means that the Okhotnik UAV should be equipped with a radar comparable in capabilities to the Su-57 radar, which is indirectly confirmed by the significant projected cost of this machine, which is about 1 billion rubles (approximately 15-17 million US dollars).
What is interesting about the Hunter UAV from the point of view of confronting the AUG?
Apparently, its avionics will be quite advanced compared to other UAVs, which will allow it to work effectively against air targets. The takeoff weight of about 20-25 tons will make it possible to accommodate a powerful radar with AFAR, and a payload of 4-8 tons will allow the use of heavy V-V long-range missiles of the R-37 / RVV-BD type.
The estimated maximum flight range of the Okhotnik UAV will be 6,000 kilometers. And if it is equipped with an air refueling system, then the flight range can be much greater. The maximum flight altitude will be 18 kilometers. UAV "Okhotnik" can be controlled via satellite. Since work on air targets does not require the transmission of such huge amounts of information, as in surface mapping or in the detection and recognition of ground and surface targets. It is also possible to implement a backup version of the "Okhotnik" UAV control from control aircraft based on the Tu-214PU or Tu-214SUS.
The technologies used in the design of the Hunter UAV will increase the chances of this combat vehicle when it encounters enemy aircraft and air defense systems. Presumably, the effective dispersion surface (EPR) of the Okhotnik UAV will be less than that of the Su-57. Considering that the main target of the Okhotnik UAV will be AWACS aircraft whose radar is in active mode, they may well determine their position by means of RTR and launch long-range V-V missiles of the R-37 / RVV-BD type outside the radar detection zone AWACS aircraft, without turning on its own radar.
Despite the high cost, the Okhotnik UAV will still be much cheaper than even fourth-generation fighters. What is considered expensive in order to drive the "Barmaley" in Syria is quite inexpensive for solving the tasks of destroying the AUG. Therefore, to attack the AUG, it is quite practical to use 4-8, or even more, UAVs, even taking into account the risk that some of them will be lost.
conclusions
It can be assumed that a strike group of 4-8 UAVs "Okhotnik" (controlled via a satellite from a ground control point or from a control aircraft based on the Tu-214PU / Tu-214SUS) will be able to ensure the destruction of AWACS aircraft that provide cover for the AUG from the direction of attack of the anti-ship missiles.
The range of the strike group based on the Okhotnik UAV will be about 3,000 kilometers from the base. When the Okhotnik UAV is equipped with an in-air refueling system, the radius of destruction will increase to 5,000 kilometers (here, the control aircraft based on the Tu-214PU or Tu-214SUS will already be a limiting factor).
The destruction of AWACS aircraft will increase the survivability of reconnaissance and attack aircraft. And also to reduce the likelihood of destroying enemy air defenses attacking anti-ship missiles. This will ultimately significantly increase the likelihood of successful destruction of the AUG ships.
