Well, The EOTS has been publically shown to detect fighter sized objects at 66km. I could easily see that an aircraft carrier would take up the entire FOV at that range.
Allied systems are much, much better than this.
Here is an interview and firsthand info about the SniperXR's performance, ffrom a decade ago.
Highlights:
During my mid-afternoon flight with 416th FLTS test pilot Maj. Hank (Hog) Griffiths, the Sniper XR Flir routinely produced cockpit-display images that rivaled a black-and-white photograph. Thermal imagery was automatically enhanced by proprietary image-processing algorithms, and both optical and electronic zoom options allowed us to detect, identify, track and target fixed and moving objects at ranges up to 86 naut. mi (160km). "
That is longer than the claimed range on the Mig-35's radar!!
"*Detecting trucks, trailers and tanks at PB-11, one of several targets in the Edwards Precision Impact Range Area. From a 22-naut.-mi (40km) . slant range, Griffiths selected "area track" and autofocus to produce an IR image encompassing several vehicles scattered across a large circle cleared of brush and other vegetation. Zooming in (electronically, not optically) reduced resolution, but the larger image aided identification of the vehicles. Still, objects were sharply defined, and grooves in the dirt were clearly visible. In black-hot polarity, the vehicles appeared white (cooler) against the darker dirt. Griffiths locked the pod's point-tracker onto a truck body, noting that the box symbol remained around the selected vehicle as we maneuvered. He could easily slew the box to another vehicle, then lock onto it. I observed that the point-tracker "really locks it up rock-solid."
"At 14 naut. mi. (26km), a 4X zoom made the image fuzzier, but vehicle types were still easily distinguished. Cloud shadows moving across PB-11 made it difficult to spot dark-colored vehicles in white-hot (infrared) polarity or the TV mode (visible light). But switching to IR black-hot made the same vehicles appear as bright white objects against a dark background, simplifying lock-on and point-tracking tasks. "
"From 22 naut. mi. (41km) , I could tell which revetments contained aircraft, and a single airframe could be seen on a taxiway. Locking-on the latter and alternating among IR white- and black-hot, wide and narrow FOV and the TV camera, and zooming in and out, we identified the aircraft as an F-4 Phantom from a 12-naut.-mi. range. At 8 naut. mi., I could see a break in the F-4's wing (thanks to a deflected aileron) in IR white-hot, which depicted the derelict fighter as a dark object. "
"At one point the pilot climbed to about 30,000 ft. MSL, selected a navigation steerpoint and noted that the Sniper pod was aimed at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). In IR black-hot, 2X zoom, area track mode, aircraft 86 naut. mi. (160km) away were visible as white spots taking off from LAX runways. "
i read the article and the 86 mile range you're talking about doesn't at all sound like something to hang your hat on. the rest of the figures sounds comparable to what the Russians are doing.
Did you read the tags on that pic? It said that it can "detect a tank from 15km". The Sniper was doing that from 40km 10 years ago!
It says that it can detect a carrier out to 80km while the Sniper can detect and track planes taking off from LAX at 160km! Keep in mind a carrier is a MUCH bigger target than a plane, even a jumbo. Also note that it was able to see the cooler body of the plane, not just the engines at 160km.
That is a HUGE difference.
Remember too that this was a decade ago and the Sniper has been upgraded, not to mention newer versions of it in the F-35 in the form of EOTS.
Well, at the picture MiG-35 have two different OLS systems -- one forward looking for air targets (that can detect incoming fighters at least from 50 km, and outgoing fighters at least from 90 km). And russians have R-27ET BVR missiles in their arsenal, it have heat-seeking guidance, and a range comparable to AIM-120, its quite a nasty combination -- no radar detection and lock from fighter is required to launch, no radar lock from missile at terminal distance is needed, and it have same range as AIM-120.
Second OLS-K is placed under fuselage, and it seems specifically aimed at ground targets, and often in such cases russians mention minimal detection distances.
Anyway russians always sell their weaponry abroad severily downgraded, so Sirya or India would never get their hands of "top notch" russian electronic equipment.
But there is interesting technology cooperation appeared between Russia and France, for example latest russian tanks have their thermal optics components produced partially from french hi tech components, who knows what components used in MiG-35 production. Good old MiG-29 plus french made electronic could pose a serious threat to any opponent.
And there is one interesting change in Russia politics, after prolonged continuous debacles in russian military system with various shady figures taking Minister of Defence position, now had come a prominent figure -- Sergey Shoygu. He is refused to enlist chechen and other caucasus arabs in army for example. For decades russian tank and aviation industry survived exclusively by supplying their tanks and fighters abroad, now it could be changed and russian military have a chance to get contemporary tanks and airplanes not by 1-5 per year but in dozens per year at least.
Can we at least wait till someone buys it before declaring it an enemy? :)
ReplyDeleteDid you really look at those FLIR & IRST stats? My God they are bad.
80km for detecting an "Aircraft Carrier"!!!???
Talk about obsolete before you ever get built.
compared to what? i don't know the performance of allied systems so you tell me. is it terrible?
DeleteRussia is buying the Mig-35...there are rumours that Syria is also negotiating to buy the Mig-35.
DeleteWell, The EOTS has been publically shown to detect fighter sized objects at 66km. I could easily see that an aircraft carrier would take up the entire FOV at that range.
ReplyDeleteAllied systems are much, much better than this.
Here is an interview and firsthand info about the SniperXR's performance, ffrom a decade ago.
Highlights:
During my mid-afternoon flight with 416th FLTS test pilot Maj. Hank (Hog) Griffiths, the Sniper XR Flir routinely produced cockpit-display images that rivaled a black-and-white photograph. Thermal imagery was automatically enhanced by proprietary image-processing algorithms, and both optical and electronic zoom options allowed us to detect, identify, track and target fixed and moving objects at ranges up to 86 naut. mi (160km). "
That is longer than the claimed range on the Mig-35's radar!!
"*Detecting trucks, trailers and tanks at PB-11, one of several targets in the Edwards Precision Impact Range Area. From a 22-naut.-mi (40km) . slant range, Griffiths selected "area track" and autofocus to produce an IR image encompassing several vehicles scattered across a large circle cleared of brush and other vegetation. Zooming in (electronically, not optically) reduced resolution, but the larger image aided identification of the vehicles. Still, objects were sharply defined, and grooves in the dirt were clearly visible. In black-hot polarity, the vehicles appeared white (cooler) against the darker dirt. Griffiths locked the pod's point-tracker onto a truck body, noting that the box symbol remained around the selected vehicle as we maneuvered. He could easily slew the box to another vehicle, then lock onto it. I observed that the point-tracker "really locks it up rock-solid."
"At 14 naut. mi. (26km), a 4X zoom made the image fuzzier, but vehicle types were still easily distinguished. Cloud shadows moving across PB-11 made it difficult to spot dark-colored vehicles in white-hot (infrared) polarity or the TV mode (visible light). But switching to IR black-hot made the same vehicles appear as bright white objects against a dark background, simplifying lock-on and point-tracking tasks. "
"From 22 naut. mi. (41km) , I could tell which revetments contained aircraft, and a single airframe could be seen on a taxiway. Locking-on the latter and alternating among IR white- and black-hot, wide and narrow FOV and the TV camera, and zooming in and out, we identified the aircraft as an F-4 Phantom from a 12-naut.-mi. range. At 8 naut. mi., I could see a break in the F-4's wing (thanks to a deflected aileron) in IR white-hot, which depicted the derelict fighter as a dark object. "
"At one point the pilot climbed to about 30,000 ft. MSL, selected a navigation steerpoint and noted that the Sniper pod was aimed at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). In IR black-hot, 2X zoom, area track mode, aircraft 86 naut. mi. (160km) away were visible as white spots taking off from LAX runways. "
Here is the Archive.org cache of the original AvWeek article.
Deletei read the article and the 86 mile range you're talking about doesn't at all sound like something to hang your hat on. the rest of the figures sounds comparable to what the Russians are doing.
DeleteDid you read the tags on that pic? It said that it can "detect a tank from 15km". The Sniper was doing that from 40km 10 years ago!
DeleteIt says that it can detect a carrier out to 80km while the Sniper can detect and track planes taking off from LAX at 160km! Keep in mind a carrier is a MUCH bigger target than a plane, even a jumbo. Also note that it was able to see the cooler body of the plane, not just the engines at 160km.
That is a HUGE difference.
Remember too that this was a decade ago and the Sniper has been upgraded, not to mention newer versions of it in the F-35 in the form of EOTS.
Sniper just got a very impressive upgrade this year in the form of the ATP-SE program. I'll try and get some details.
DeleteWell, at the picture MiG-35 have two different OLS systems -- one forward looking for air targets (that can detect incoming fighters at least from 50 km, and outgoing fighters at least from 90 km). And russians have R-27ET BVR missiles in their arsenal, it have heat-seeking guidance, and a range comparable to AIM-120, its quite a nasty combination -- no radar detection and lock from fighter is required to launch, no radar lock from missile at terminal distance is needed, and it have same range as AIM-120.
ReplyDeleteSecond OLS-K is placed under fuselage, and it seems specifically aimed at ground targets, and often in such cases russians mention minimal detection distances.
Anyway russians always sell their weaponry abroad severily downgraded, so Sirya or India would never get their hands of "top notch" russian electronic equipment.
But there is interesting technology cooperation appeared between Russia and France, for example latest russian tanks have their thermal optics components produced partially from french hi tech components, who knows what components used in MiG-35 production. Good old MiG-29 plus french made electronic could pose a serious threat to any opponent.
And there is one interesting change in Russia politics, after prolonged continuous debacles in russian military system with various shady figures taking Minister of Defence position, now had come a prominent figure -- Sergey Shoygu. He is refused to enlist chechen and other caucasus arabs in army for example. For decades russian tank and aviation industry survived exclusively by supplying their tanks and fighters abroad, now it could be changed and russian military have a chance to get contemporary tanks and airplanes not by 1-5 per year but in dozens per year at least.