Northrop Grumman Corporation announced the successful testing of a unique distributed aperture electro-optical system (EOS) AN / AAQ-37 (DAS) for the 5th generation F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. The system installed on the stand aircraft successfully detected the launch and accompanied the two-stage missile at a distance of over 1200 km. The rocket escort lasted 9 minutes - from the moment of launch to the moment of fuel burnout.
These numbers look incredible and, nevertheless, company representatives say that this is only part of the capabilities of the future aircraft. The EOS DAS F-35 will be capable of a 360-degree view with a high refresh rate, high resolution and sensitivity, all of which will be projected onto the pilot's helmet display.
The system consists of several optical sensors located at different points in the fuselage. The computer combines their images into one seamless picture of their surroundings. DAS detects and tracks targets in a completely passive mode (no radar or laser illumination), and does not require pilot intervention. As soon as the enemy appears on the battlefield, DAS will instantly capture the target (ground, air, missiles, including air defense and air-to-air) and will continuously monitor it, excluding the possibility of leaving the blind spots. In this case, the pilot can shoot into the rear hemisphere and perform any maneuvers.
Also, this system allows the pilot, using his helmet-mounted display, to literally see through the structure of the aircraft in different wavelengths - the computer calculates what the pilot would see if there were no opaque plastic or metal, and transmits the synthesized image to the display. At night, in bright sun, fog and rain, the F-35 pilot sees an unrealistically clear detailed world. Not a single person has ever received such perception abilities, it is no coincidence that this system is called "God's eye".
The F-35 is also equipped with a high-resolution omnidirectional infrared CCD-TV camera (EOTS) for surveillance and target designation. It provides the capture and tracking of any ground, surface and air targets. Completely passive, it is capable of detecting and tracking targets automatically and at a great distance, as well as reporting laser irradiation of the aircraft. To reduce the size and unmasking features, the designers abandoned the spherical fairing and closed the camera with faceted sapphire glass.
The complex of such equipment provides the ability to covertly perform a very wide range of tasks: missile defense, reconnaissance, support in an irregular conflict, etc.
