Research laboratories, as well as individual tactical squadrons of the US Air Force and deck squadrons of the Navy, with the financial and technical support of the Pentagon and such eminent aerospace giants as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, never for a second slow down the pace of combining most modifications of existing multifunctional fighters into complex network-centric field of systemic coordination of the XXI century. So, with regular regularity, due to the development and integration of new complexes, stations and terminals for the two-way exchange of information about surface / ground and air situations in the theater of operations into the avionics of tactical aviation aircraft, more and more new concepts of conducting strike operations or defensive operations are emerging. … Undoubtedly, the US Navy was able to get ahead of the Air Force in this direction, a vivid indicator of which is the promising concept of warfare over the sea / ocean theater of operations under the names: "Kill web", which includes such sub-concepts as NIFC-CA (network-centric naval air defense missile defense), ADOSWC (integrated anti-ship defense system) and NIFC-CU (integrated anti-submarine defense system).
Moreover, the latter, due to the use of the largest number of elements (multifrequency acoustic emitters and hydrophones installed in hydroacoustic buoys, flexible extended towed antennas and built into MAPLs and surface ships of the SAC) can be considered the most complex system in development, requiring maximum computing power with processors of the latest generations. All of the above concepts provide for the use of a large number of protected radio data transmission channels, including the anti-jamming directional "MADL" or "Small Data Pipe" (Ku-band channel; will be introduced in the F-35B, F / A-18E / F / G avionics and warships with the “Aegis” system for transmitting tactical information over short distances), as well as such a subchannel as “DDS” (“Data Distribution System”), which made it possible to get away from the hierarchical structure of the “Link-16” system. At the same time, the latter (known as "JTIDS") continues to be the basis of the naval network-centric link. In today's work, we will move away from the discussion of "rampant" network centrism in the US Navy and consider the hardware and software synchronization between the weapons control systems of the 5th generation F-22A "Raptor" stealth fighters and the modernized fighters of the F-15C "Eagle" family, which today reached the step of operational combat readiness.
So, according to the statements of the military analytical resource "Military Parity" with reference to the British source theregister.co.uk dated May 9, 2017, the US Air Force was able to implement a systemic link between the F-22A and F-15C weapons control complex by using "Link-16 tactical network lines used by the Talon HATE ventral pod." Here, the data provided by the British source and Military Parity should be duly corrected.
First, pilots of F-22A "Raptor" stealth tactical fighters, when using protected radio channels of the "Link-16" network, will only be able to observe the tactical situation picture received from other ground, ship and air units on the MFI of their aircraft dashboards. The "Raptors" are not equipped with the "Link-16 / TADIL-J" transmitting module due to the significant transmission of the decimeter radio signal. In particular, the F-22A would have been easily detected by our or Chinese electronic reconnaissance means at a distance of several hundred kilometers even at the moment of the first fixation of the "Network Time Reference" (NTR) necessary for the functioning of the entire Link-16 network. Consequently, through this channel, the Raptors can only receive information from the Talon HATE suspended container located under the fuselage of the F-15C / E / SE. Information can be either a reliable radar image from the AN / APG-63V2 / 3 onboard radar, following a couple of hundred kilometers ahead of the F-15C, or an infrared image from the IRST sensor installed in the bow of the Talon HATE container.
To organize a two-way exchange of tactical information between "Needles" and "Raptors", a completely different data channel is used, which was not mentioned by "Military Parity" and its English primary source. This channel is called IFDL ("Intra-Flight Data Link") and is the main tactical radio channel of the F-22A fighters. If earlier the F-15C / E family was not equipped with terminals using this radio channel, today, as part of the Eagle - Raptor tactical link, the IFDL module is integrated into the Talon HATE container element base. Thanks to this, the F-15C / E (both standard and Silent Eagle versions) were able not only to transmit, but also to receive information from the AN / APG-77 airborne radar of Raptor fighters, which opens up for the advanced mixed link of the US Air Force completely new horizons for flexible operation in a theater of operations saturated with advanced enemy air defense systems.
If the leading vehicle in the "bundle" is the unobtrusive F-22A (the enemy's radar can be detected only at a distance 3-4 times less than the slave F-15C / E), we have the following flight profiles of machines and distribution of tasks. When approaching a theater section where enemy anti-aircraft missile battalions / regiments are deployed, the inconspicuous Raptor, which, together with the Eagle, went out to the battlefield at an altitude of 9-14 km (in order to save fuel), is reduced to a height of 1, 5-2 km, after which it begins to conduct passive electronic reconnaissance of radio-emitting radar equipment and enemy radio stations. The radio horizon, taking into account refraction, can reach approximately 185 km. In extreme cases, the F-22A pilot can use the LPI ("Low probability of intercept") airborne radar mode to conduct a short-term air superiority operation with a minimal chance of "flashing" his location. At the same time, it is worth remembering that the uniqueness of the LPI mode is absolutely not confirmed in practice: if for the outdated SPO-15LM "Birch" it will most likely be too tough, then with the promising L-150 "Pastel" the situation may develop in a diametrically opposite direction, and therefore the flight crew of the extremely expensive Raptors will focus on launching long-range AIM-120Ds only against radio-emitting objects (fighters with electronic warfare stations and active radar stations turned on) in the passive AN / APG-77 mode.
The driven element of the tactical "bundle", namely the F-15C / E (in the number of one or several vehicles), upon approaching the combat area will drop to a height of 45 - 80 m, after which it will continue flying in the mode of following the terrain. During the flight, the 2nd pilot of the Strike / Silent Eagle will receive information about the ground and air conditions from the Raptor's advanced radiation warning station - AN / ALR-94, or the AN / APG-77 radar via the IFDL channel. The AN / ALR-94 radiation warning station is the most advanced and expensive means of passive electronic reconnaissance among all known complexes of a similar purpose located in the avionics of tactical fighters of the 4th and 5th generations. More than 30 passive antenna-sensors located on the fuselage contours and planes with a high resolution detect and accompany all radio-emitting sources in the meter, decimeter, centimeter and millimeter ranges, and also issue target designations to the inertial navigation system of long-range air combat missiles AIM-120D both on board the F-22A itself, and on other fighters receiving information over the Link-16 channel (by decoding from IFDL in the Talon HATE container on board the F-15C / E).
It is the F-15C / E in the Raptor-Eagle that will play the role of a heavy air arsenal, which, according to the F-22A's target designation, will launch AGM-88E AARGM anti-radar missiles, as well as JASSM-ER or AGM-84H SLAM multipurpose tactical missiles -ER. The Raptor-Eagle network-centric link configuration with the leading F-22A will become the most efficient tactical unit of the US Air Force in the modern theater of operations. Moreover, a similar link can be represented by two or more Raptors; in this case, the first F-22A will carry out electronic and electronic reconnaissance, transmitting tactical data to the Iglam, and the second machine will perform exclusively the tasks of gaining air superiority, covering the entire mixed link.
A model of building a link with leading F-15C / E and slave F-22A is also being considered. In this case, the Raptor pilots will receive data packets with the tactical situation from the onboard radar stations and the Iglov ROV flying at high altitude. With this configuration, data transmission can be carried out both via the IFDL channel and the less secure "Link-16". The advantage of this model is that it provides low-flying Raptors with information from the IRST infrared complex located in the Talon HATE container on the Needles, because the F-22A cannot boast of having a specialized infrared sight. The use of the tactical "bundle" "F-15C / E - F-22A" will be especially important in the theaters, near which there is no possibility to use airborne AWACS, electronic reconnaissance and ground targeting systems such as E-3C / G "Sentry", RC-135V / W "Rivet Joint", E-8C "J-STARS" due to the dominance of enemy air defenses.
This "bundle" is also distinguished by rather high combat qualities in the "air-to-air" mode, where the F-22A, flying almost 50-70 km in front of the F-15C / E, will act as stealthy carriers of the AIM-120D long-range air combat guided missiles AMRAAM; onboard radars AN / APG-77 will be disabled, and the tasks of the RTR will be performed by the SPO AN / ALR-94. Thanks to it, the vehicles will be able to covertly launch the AIM-120D against enemy fighters with electronic warfare stations turned on and with "active" on-board radars, as well as against other radio-emitting targets. In the case of targets that remain silent and do not use electronic warfare, the F-22A will come to the aid of the F-15C / E, which, being far behind the Raptors, will turn on the new AN / APG-63V2 radar, detect these targets and carry out target designation close to sneaking up "F-22A for close attack missiles AIM-120D. For example, if such a tactical fighter "bunch" of the US Air Force is opposed by a squadron of our Su-30SM, with a high degree of probability "overseas jackals" will win this battle. The fact is that the N011M Bars on-board radar can detect the Raptor at a distance of no more than 50-60, provided that there is no REP from the missile-hazardous direction, with them this range can be reduced to 30-40 km.
Consequently, the Su-30SM pilots will only detect the approaching modernized F-15C / E at a distance of 150-160 km, and, without waiting for an attack, will continue to converge, since we do not have a long-range R-77PD airborne missile system with a ramjet engine in the series. At the same moment, the F-15Cs will "see" our Sushki at the same distance and issue target designations to the Raptors located less than 100 km from our fighters. After that, the F-22A, not including its radiation radars, will be able to conduct a very successful air battle with the Su-30SM, guided only by the information transmitted from the F-15C / E about the air situation via the IFDL radio channel (such an outcome is quite real only in the confrontation between squadron Su-30SM and "bunch" "Raptor-Eagle" one on one, in the absence of AWACS aviation from our side). All this prompts further reflections on the urgent need for large-scale production of RVV-AE-PD missiles, as well as the development and equipping of tactical aviation with new on-board radars with AFAR of the Zhuk-AE type, but with a higher energy potential. Su-35S, capable of tracking the Raptor at a distance of 100-120 km, have much more chances to outplay the promising network-centric "bundle" of the US Air Force, but even here, due to the absence of ultra-long-range RVV-AE-PD and a large EPR "Thirty-fifth" some lag behind the Americans.
If we look at the problem globally, then we can state that the fighter component of our Aerospace Forces may soon collide with more than one type of mixed network-centric fighter squadrons. In addition to work in the field of system coordination between the F-22A and F-15C / E, the program for the aggregation of weapons control systems for F / A-18E / F / G "Super Hornet / Growler" and F-35A / B / C fighters continues to develop. " Lightning II ". In particular, for the "bundle" "F-35A - F / A-18G", during the exercise "Red Flag 17-1", tactics were even worked out, providing for the operation of the F-35A "in the shroud of interference" delivered by the F / A-18G Growler. Even this model of sharing simpler 4 ++ / 5 generation vehicles poses a significant threat to our tactical aviation, represented exclusively by 4th and transitional generation vehicles. In such difficult circumstances, we can only wait for the earliest achievement of operational combat readiness of the 5th generation T-50 PAK FA fighters, as well as the long-awaited development of a promising low-signature medium fighter from the MiG corporation. The US network-centric fighter squadrons also have a serious drawback, the root of which is precisely in the 5th generation vehicles.
We are talking about the small combat range of the F-35A / B / C and F-22A in comparison with the F-15C / E, this drawback is especially noticeable at a low-altitude flight profile, when the fuel consumption is maximum. Thus, the maximum operational depth of an air operation in a theater of operations with a powerful enemy air defense for Raptors and Lightnings will not exceed 700-800 km without PTB and 1100-1200 km with PTB, while the improved Strike / Silent Needles will be able to operate at a distance of up to 1700 km from the place of refueling, but their visibility is far from "stealth" (EPR is about 1 m2). Standard air tankers of the KC-10A "Extender" type are extremely vulnerable and therefore cannot be used in close proximity to enemy territory. It is for this reason that we are now witnessing the activation of "Lockheed Martin" in the direction of preparing an advanced project of a stealthy strategic air tanker of the next generation, allowing American tactical aviation to operate in the depths of the airspace of large states. And this again indicates to us a greater likelihood of an escalation of a military conflict, in which Washington will try to drag both Russia and China.
Today, it is necessary to continue to closely monitor the situation with the deployment of such mixed network-centric squadrons of the US Air Force in the Eastern European theater of operations. After all, it is here, where the distance from the western borders to the strategically important objects of Russia is estimated at two to four hundred kilometers, that the F-22A - F-15C / E link has the greatest efficiency. The first stage of counteraction on our part is already ready, and it consists in deploying the maximum possible number of S-300PM1 / B4 and S-400 air defense systems. The second stage is more complex and includes the development of advanced passive electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare, capable of highly efficiently detecting and suppressing terminals of network-centric radio channels such as IFDL, MADL and TTNT, which are a vital detail in group operations with F-22A, F- 35, Super Hornet and Eagle / Strike Eagle.
