Forum: Modern Military Aircraft

This is the weakness I see in the Typhoon MAW, it is an active system using RF energy output, which I suppose can be detected, while the CMAWS is a passive system. PIMAWS for Typhoon would fix that but I don`t know the status of that German system presently.

Wouldn't the most ideal system be passive until a threat such as missile launch is detected and then go active to give as much data as possible?

Just an idea?

Andy

BAE made US acquisitions, I hope you don`t really believe that BAE in the UK has ZERO access to advances made by BAE US? That would be naive.

BAE Systems North America does, indeed, make the ALR 94, (described by many as the most sophisticated system on the F 22). However, as Thumper3181 already said, to sensitive technology is only for US. When BAE purchased Sanders, it was obliged to agree to this. Otherwise, US Govt. may go so far as to conficate BAE Systems assets.

Introduction

The F-15 Eagle was once the pride of the US Air Force and she was seen as the best fighter in world at the time she entered service, back in November 1974. At least in the west the F-15 remained to be the best fighter. The aircraft achieved an impressive combat record and proved itself effective in the AA and AG roles. More than 1600 F-15 were built to date and customized versions of the latest variant are still in production to fulfill the orders of international customers. The expensive Eagle is only sold to trusted Allies of the United States and next to the USAF there is only a handful of operators including Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Singapore.Until the late 90s exported Eagles were inferior or equal at best to their US counterparts, this has changed as an increasing number of aircraft manufacturers from around the world is fighting hard for order from the international market. Various manufacturers offer their best products and force Boeing to offer singificantly more advanced versions of the F-15. The latest export models are even more capable than the examples used by the USAF. The F-15 is over 30 years old now, but Boeing continously upgraded the aircraft to keep it up to date and ensure that it remains operationally relevant. The F-15 is still a capable, but the upper limit of its growth potential is nearly reached and except for Japan there are nearly no chances to sell the Eagle anywhere. Its days as the worlds best fighter are counted. With the F-22 the USAF introduced a successor for the Eagle which is now seen as the worlds best fighter jet. But the Raptor is extremly expensive and the USAF can'T afford the required number. The USAF is therefore forced to keep a quantity of F-15s until sufficient numbers of F-35s are available.

But it's not just the Raptor which surpasses the F-15. The Eurofighter Typhoon, next generation multirole fighter jointly developed Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom is rated among the best fighters in the world and is classed as number 2 in the AA area by some experts. The Eurofighter program was started in 1983 following initial definitions of requirements by the airforces and design/concept studies by the industry. The Typhoon had a hard time surviving the end of the cold war and is criticised for its costs and long development. Meanwhile the Typhoon has entered service with all 4 customer nations and the first export customer as well. Deliveries startetd in 2003 and first squadrons were equipped since 2004. FOC is now being close to be achieved, with most customers undertaking operaitonal QRA duties. The Typhoon is the current next generation fighter with the largest order book for some agreed 620 aircraft, plus 97 aircraft for the secured export customers Austria and Saudi Arabia. There is the potential for additional orders and Eurofighter is currently active in Norway, Denmark, Swiss, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania, India and Japan.

The comparison
Though there are basically 5 variants of the F-15, the relevant differentiation between them is the single seat fighter F-15C and the twin seat multirole fighter F-15E with its versions.
A comparison of the F-15Es and Typhoon block 5s AG capability doesn't make much sense, as the Typhoon block 5 have only an initial and very limited AG capability. Full swing role capabilities won't be achieved before 2010/2011 with block 10 aircraft and even then the Typhoon will be limited by the available weapon options. The F-15E basically owns advantages in terms of payload and range and being a twin seat. But with the right weapons the Typhoon is likely to enjoy some advantages in terms of survivability thanks to lower signatures, a more sophisticated and comprehensive EWS and probably superior performance at the expense of payload and range.

More interesting is the comparison in the AA area as this is the task for which both aircraft were designed. Comparing the F-15C to the current Typhoon block 5 shows a noticeable superiority for the Typhoon in most areas and therefore a superior overall performance in the AA area. Typhoon's lower visual signature and vastly superior agility, in combination with more advanced and effective flying suits for crew protection make the aircraft a superior dogfighter. But this is somehow balanced by the availability of HOBS missiles and HMS which are available for both aircraft.

A more significant difference can bee seen for both types BVR capabilities. In terms of flight performance the F-15 enjoys an edge in terms of range and endurance at the expense of acceleration, speed and manoeuvre performance due the large weight and drag of its 2270 l tanks. Speed performance for both aircraft is similar in a combat configuration, but the Typhoon has the ability to supercruise and is claimed to accelerate faster. The altitude performance should be at least similar. The Typhoon enjoys a huge advantage in terms of super sonic manoeuvrability and agility. The Typhoon is no stealth aircraft, but some measures were take to reduce the aircraft's signatures providing the aircraft with a tactical advantage, which might be more or less significant depending on the threat.
Another factor in Typhoon's favor is the vastly supperior MMI which enhances the pilots SA. Comparing the AN/APG-63V1 and Captor-C unveils two radars with paritially similar technology, but the Captor is even more sophisticated and superior to the V1 in terms of range, multiple TWS and engagement capabilities, radar coverage, LPI, operations (handling, presentation) and maybe ECCM as well. Back in 2001 18 F-15C of the 3rd FW were equipped with the V2 variant with AESA. The V2 is basically a V1 with the MSA being replaced by the AESA. There are neither new modes nor really new capabilities, but the AESA should improve the V2s range performance and TWS capabilities. The new V3 which is planned for entry into service from 2008 uses AESA as well, but will be significantly more capable than the V2 as it makes better use of the possibilities provided by AESA. At that time Typhoon will get the more capable Captor-D which still a MSA system. But the Typhoon has the chance to close the approaching gap if a Captor AESA might be introduced from 2011 onwards. A demonstartor has already been tested onboard the Typhoon and a production version is expected to be ready by 2011. Nonetheless no order has been placed, though the interest in such a systems exists.
Unlike the F-15 which mainly relies on the aircraft's radar, the Typhoon is additionally equipped with the PIRATE dual-band, imaging IRST/FLIR sensor which provides the aircraft with an additional target detection, identification and tracking capability which is also passive and immune against ECM.
The F-15s EWS was continously updated, but it is still limited to a conventional RWR, ECM and chaff/flare dispensers. Typhoon's fully integrated and automated DASS features a more sophisticated and comprehensive EWS including ESM rather than simpler RWRs, LWR, MAWS, automated chaff/flare dispensers with a great load, directed ECM and fibre-optic super sonic capable TRDs.
A NATO LINK 16 compatible datalink is available for both aircraft with the F-15's FDL and Typhoon's MIDS. Due the lack of details it's difficult to make a comparison and parity can be assumed in this area.
A true force multiplier for the Typhoon is the sensor fusion which vastly enhances the aircraft's sensor capabilities improving data reliability, CM resistance and reducing the pilot's work load. The armament consists of AMRAAMs for both aircraft. Summing up this short overview the Typhoon is very likely to perform better in the BVR area due its better combination of relevant factors. The latest F-15K/SG derivates might be more effective than the upgraded F-15C with a second crew member, at least improved EWS, superior MMI and stronger engines, but even these versions can't balance all of the Typhoon's advantages.

It's called sarcasm Toan.

TEll that to the Indian AF. at redflag in 2009(i belive) that there SU-30 mki had there asses YES a$$ handed to them by combat loaded Eagles to clean config. flankers... so stop with this new jet old jet crap..... Germany still flies the hell out of the F-4 and the Aussies the F-111... so drop the old jet crap NEW does not make it better.. heck look at the F-35 damn thing is so new they keep pushing the arival date back, and that thing is way over priced P.O.S.....

TEll that to the Indian AF. at redflag in 2009(i believe) that there SU-30 mki had there asses YES a$$ handed to them by combat loaded Eagles to clean config. flankers... so stop with this new jet old jet crap..... Germany still flies the hell out of the F-4 and the Aussies the F-111... so drop the old jet crap NEW does not make it better.. heck look at the F-35 damn thing is so new they keep pushing the arrival date back, and that thing is way over priced P.O.S.....