Photos: Bundeswehr

www.airpower.at
Austri a's vi rtual
Mi l i tary Avi ati on Journal HOME
- HOME - HOME - HOME
Press Books
Forum
Imprint
What does the Tranche 1 Euro Fighter with IRIS-T? I f the neutral i ty
mi ssi l es use the ordered mi ssi l e?
In Austria the rumor, you would have bought the wrong missiles for the Euro Fighter goes.
"Expensive sin missiles for the Euro Fighter were a bad buy!" headlined last the courier. The IRIS-T
would be only as good as the old Sidewinder at Draken.
So it is once again time for facts, figures and graphics.
By Martin Rosenkranz for www.airpower.at
Analog-to-digital-analog - the development to
date
In the development of new weapons systems is
constantly the question of the use of existing
munitions - represent this more urgent than
missiles by no means cheap purchases. The
same applies vice versa - older weapons systems
- in our case aircraft - should be able to use the
extra power of modern missiles.
This resulted in the Euro Fighter and in the IRIS-
T - both all-digital weapons systems - to the
same knowledge.
It requires both the Euro Fighter and in the IRIS-
T a on and compatible downwards analog /
digital interface to the NATO forces launched
AIM-9L Sidewinder continue to be used at the
Euro Fighter and to be able to use on older
aircraft such as the Tornado, the IRIS-T without
expensive retrofits.
And so it was that one given the limited
development funds and the desire for rapid
results, the complex digital integration of IRIS-T
pushed into the Euro Fighter on the back burner - was content with the analog interface - and the
R & D money went into other areas. The fact that the extremely complex data helmet was not ready
yet here was apparently also jacking.
Result was that you had seen in sum hardly more work, but the IRIS-T brought relatively quickly
and cheaply to the Euro Fighter. The development department was happy too - because that is
always happy when the risk can be reduced with a gradual integration.
The digital integration is by the way still not fixed until now, the air forces of the three partner
countries disturbs the clear little - only in Austria is - organized with just 15 euro fighters and
missiles a little more fanfare than would have collapsed a world.
So what can IRIS-T in analog mode. And in terms of performance has really nothing to do with the
old Side overcomers. But first a few basics so - who wants to really understand that - it is clear
how the matter in principle works.
Intrusion
There are several
methods intrude a
Infrarot-Luft/Luft-
Lenkwaffe at a
target.
The oldest and most
traditional method is
"boresight".
Moreover, the
infrared seeker
head of the missile
is oriented such that
only one target can
be detected on the
longitudinal axis of
the missile and the
aircraft. The pilot
then controls the
aircraft according to
the seeker head of
the missile a target
directly ahead of
the aircraft
perceives.
Finds the seeker
head of the missile
gets a goal of the
pilot an audible
signal through the
headphones played.
The signal itself is a
"hum" which is
quieter and louder
with the quality of
the infrared
signature. Once set
off the search head
solves the
"boresight" mode
and can pursue his
goal over the entire
pivoting range of
the seeker head.
With the
introduction of the
Target detection areas in the plan view
From top to bottom: AIM-9P, AI9-P5, AIM-9L, IRIS-T
. needs to be brought into the red zone get order an intrusion on the black
plane the corresponding missile
The graphs represent the technical development in Breich Suckpfe with
starting the late 70s and 80s. IRIS-T was only completed in the current
decade. AIM-9P = tail-aspect
AIM-9P5 = marginal all-aspect capabilities
AIM-9J in 1977 saw
the first Sidewinder
Expanded
Acquisition Mode
(SEAM) is used.
SEAM controls the
infrared seeker
head of the missile
on the radar of the
machine. The
seeker head is
followed by the
pivoting of the radar
until such time as
one of the two
triggers its pivoting
range. From
intrusion is again
the hum, the resolve
of the seeker head
of the SEAM
connection and the
separate tracking of
the target by the
seeker head in the
entire range of
rotation.
In a variant of the
SEAM, the seeker
head can be
admitted via a FLIR
/ IRST system on
its target .
Advantages of this
version are
passivity -
there is no
emission of
electromagnetic
radiation
occurs, the
target is
unaware of the
intrusion.
the optical
controllability
for the pilot
when visibility
is poor. While
in clouds, at
night and at a
great distance
AIM-9L Sidewinder = NATO has been compared with the non-NATO version
a much better search performance head.
IRIS-T is the enormous power seeker has both the all-aspect as well as the
tail-aspect area increased significantly.
the intrusion
via SEAM
Radar can
indeed be
carried out, an
unambiguous
identification of
the targeted
aircraft type is
only visually
possible -
which, even
under
conditions of
poor visibility
at great
distances is
possible with a
FLIR / IRST
system.
A fourth method is
the seeker head of
the missile control
over a helmet visor
- experts know as
"slam-Shot". For the
first time this
method was applied
in the Soviet Union
in the 80s.
makes it possible to
use those search
head swivel range
offer the new IR-
Luft/Luft-Lenkwaffen
- the pilot only
needs to turn his
head, the seeker
head follows. Again,
the connection to
the helmet is
achieved by
injection of the
seeker and the
seeker pursues the
goal itself
constantly.
Other methods are
being drawn up with
the demand "lock-
on-after-launch"
(loal) - ie target
detection and
intrusion only after
launch of the
carrier aircraft - is
centrally located in
the room. When it
comes to a
realization is still
unclear. Is also
unknown how the
hook-up should take
place technically on
the right target.
Since this is still at
the level of research
and development is
the secrecy still
very rigorous. It is
conceivable that the
ability of modern
seekers for image
recognition as well
as application takes
data link
technologies. The
missile gets so
informed after which
signature it is in
which part of the
airspace are looking
for.
It is clear that the
target allocation in
SEAM mode works
toured with both
radar and FLIR /
IRST system in
installment 1/Block
5. Only Darabos
has indeed omitted
in his comparison to
FLIR / IRST, so that
the optical
assignment is
omitted for Austria.
The helmet visor
history will give it
only to the digital
integration of IRIS-T
and how it looks is
up with future
developments
actually only the
wishes of the
partner air forces.
Whether and when
to come as "loal" or
other developments
Modis is in addition
to a question of
cost also be a
question of the
operational
requirement.
This is the biggest
advantage of
systems based on
software. You can
use the computer
hardware can be
relatively quickly
adapted to the
operational needs
while bringing the
necessary power.
For example it is
not said that the
software package
with which the Euro
Fighter is once
digital address the
IRIS-T, not even on
the tranche 1 /
Block 5 runs. If the
systems are not
burdened with
dozens of other
functions - and for
the Darabso
comparison has
indeed provided a
lasting - can fold
the well.
If the SEAM mode
by radar - as with
the Sidewinder.
However, the
changes after the
intrusion. Then the
IRIS-T very well use
the full pivoting
range of the seeker
head and maintain
the intrusion outside
the radar pivoting
range. This is very
enjoyable especially
for the pilot, which
can position his
machine much more
flexible than would
be possible with a
Sidewinder -. While
retaining his goal in
sight
But this is just one
aspect.
Seeker services
The first IR-guided missiles were equipped with
"tail-aspect" seekers could be practically grew
only switch from behind directly into the
exhaust stream to another machine and often
ran simply the strongest heat signature by -
and that was often the sun.
Subsequently, more powerful search heads
have been developed that (AIM-9J & P3) could
be set off in the entire rear hemisphere
another machine with an "expanded target-
engagement cone".
With the introduction of the AIM-9L (as well as
P-4) and the following came the "all-aspect"
seeker head, which could be switched from all
directions on a different machine principle.
However, to date, remains unchanged in all IR-
guided weapons is an extreme disproportion
between the possible Aufschaltreichweiten from
the front and from behind, because the
signatures by friction at the Flgelforderkanten
are marginal in terms of those which backward
- at the exhaust - prevail.
The modern seeker of the IRIS-T has also "all-
aspect" - than the AIM-9L but with dramatically
increased performance. So the
Aufschaltreichweite the IRIS-T corresponds to
the worst measuring point approximately that of
the AIM-9L even most optimal measuring point.
Head-on is the detectability with the IRIS-T
increased by 500% compared to the AIM-9L.
Measured on the sides, the increase was over
Head-on engagement areas
The AIM-9 "Lima" only a small area in the
obese the missile can be switched off and fired.
IRIS-T analog switch can be in the red zone
and behllt the intrusion in the violet range.
400%. In the tail-aspect-range is the increase
over 300%.
It is thus alone is the power of the search
head of the IRIS-T increased over the
Sidewinder so that from may be "just as good
as" no more talk. Instead of more quickly in
the vicinity of a target to tinker an intrusion
during the course and speed corrections is
carried out to conform to the Euro Fighter is
able to produce an intrusion with IRIS-T if the
target is at best still a tiny dot in the sky.
In sharp shot
Another advantage - the IRIS-T can in all flight
conditions, including max. G be fired. And
once in flight suggests the IRIS-T anyway its
predecessors by far.
The seeker creates a squint angle of
approximately + / -90 , even the target
tracking in extreme encounter speeds. The
thrust vector control contributes to the almost
instantly can change the direction of the
missile. The use of flares makes the IRIS-T
actually cold - she recognizes her goal as an
image and not running automatically the
greatest heat source after.
Range is also increased dramatically - you can
actually measured by a tenfold increase in the
use of shot sizes of IRIS-T to the AIM -9LS
out.
This all leads to a fundamentally improved self
defense capability.
During the window for a promising intrusion
and shot at a head-on engagement with relative
approach speed of Mach 2 is not 2 seconds
for a AIM-9L - with an AIM-9P5 It is actually
hopeless tiny - it is in the IRIS-T under the
same conditions almost 10 seconds.
Alternatives?
In fact, there were three alternatives to the
chosen variant - the purchase of the IRIS-T.
1. Also new and integrated into the Euro
Fighter, there is the British ASRAAM -
also a highly modern Kurzstrecken-IR-
Luft/Luft-Lenkwaffe which is integrated
into the Euro Fighter. The ASRAAM
achieved little more reach, but waived it
on something maneuverability. Otherwise,
performance and price are expected to
keep up with the IRIS-T the balance.
IRIS-T digital & helmet visor. The search head
can be briefed on the entire pivoting range to a
target.
2. Used and integrated into the Euro Fighter,
there is the AIM-9L Sidewinder. For this
one would have in turn required U.S.
licenses.
3. Licenses the other hand, one in Austria
has been there for the AIM-9P5
Sidewinder the Draken. This, however,
has a different aerodynamic configuration
compared to the "Lima" and the cost of
integration including the necessary flight
tests and approval would not be without.
Also, the question arises whether it still makes
sense makes money in the purchase or
integration into an outlet system as the L / P
Sidewinders stuck when it is clear that you can
not get away with it over the life of the system
Euro Fighter and in any case once a new
acquisition would be in store.
It was last someone should " now look to the
ambiguities of the past months in the future "-
the words you hear well - faith alone is
lacking.
Martin Rosenkranz