Rafale DH/EH of Indian Air Force : News and Discussions
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(opex (fr), oct.16)
The TARAMMAA project will enable the Rafale F4 to see even further ahead
The first radar to equip the Rafale in series production and developed by the Thomson-CSF group [now Thales] from a technology developed in the 1970s by the Radant company, the RBE2 [Radar à Balayage Électronique 2 plans] with passive antenna [PESA] was one of the most advanced of its time, not only because, unlike its predecessors, it combined air-to-air detection with terrain-following functions, but also because of its performance, thanks to the fact that it was able to be used in a wide range of applications, not only because, unlike its predecessors, it combined air-to-air detection with terrain-following functions, but also because of its performance, with computers capable of performing up to one billion operations per second, allowing the tracking of forty targets and the simultaneous engagement of eight.
Then, the RBE2 evolved thanks to the contribution of active antennas [AESA, for Active Electronically Scanned Array]. Without going into too much technical detail, such a radar integrates thousands of sensors called TRMs [Transmitter Receiver Modules], which increase both its reliability [thanks to the redundancy of the latter] and its performance, since it is more difficult to detect and less vulnerable to electronic jamming while having an increased detection range, including for targets with a reduced radar signature.
Indeed, according to Thales' description, the RBE2 AESA, which entered service in 2012, can detect and track "a very large number of air targets simultaneously, both downwards and upwards, for close combat and long-range interception of many land or sea targets, in clear or jammed environments and in all weather conditions". In addition, it provides real-time 3D maps for terrain tracking and "high-resolution 2D radar maps of overflown terrain for navigation and target designation". And with the long-range METEOR air-to-air missile, thanks to its extended detection capability, it allows the Rafale to engage targets beyond visual range [BVR].
However, the RBE2 AESA will obviously have a successor. And, as the specialist magazine Air Fan pointed out in its latest issue dedicated to the Rafale F4, the French Defence Procurement Agency [DGA] is working on it, via the "TARAMMAA" scientific and technical project [PST], for Technologies et architecture radar MLU multivoies à antenne active [Technologies and multichannel radar architecture with active antenna], launched as a continuation of the upstream study programmes [PEA] CARAA [Capacités accrues pour le radar RBE2 à antenne active] and MELBAA [Modes et exploitation large bande pour l'antenne active].
This TARAMMAA project focuses on improving the performance of the transceiver modules and on a new software and hardware architecture. Director of the Rafale programme at the DGA, the French Defence Procurement Agency (IGA) General Engineer Guilhem Reboul explains that the idea is to ensure that "part of the processing is done directly in the antenna itself and no longer in dedicated computers".
"It's very innovative," he says. He adds: "Gallium nitride [GaN] technology will be preferred for the antenna modules in order to allow new functions such as the interleaving of air-to-air and air-to-ground modes. Combined with enhanced processing capabilities thanks to increasingly powerful algorithms and computing resources, these modules will guarantee remarkable detection ranges and high resistance to jamming," in line with the Aero Electronic Warfare 2025 PST, which is preparing the Rafale F4 and... Rafale F5 upgrades.
Hence the priority given by the DGA to the establishment of a French gallium nitride industry, within the framework of the NIGAMIL programme [for "Gallium nitride for MILimetric applications"]. Indeed, this material is used in particular for the manufacture of high-performance integrated circuits operating at up to 100 GHz, which would significantly improve the power level, efficiency and therefore the compactness of radar systems, active antennas or electronic warfare systems.
In the meantime, explains Air Fan, the Rafale F4.1, currently under development, will have an RBE2 AESA radar equipped with a GMTI [Ground Moving Target Indicator] mode for the detection and tracking of ground targets [testing of this has been completed] as well as an improved SAR [Synthetic Aperture Radar] mode for the production of very high resolution radar ground maps. "For the crews, these developments will be a spectacular operational advance. /deepl
Now take the fluffy bits out. You have a 1970's backend, with limited modes of operation. That they stuck an AESA antenna on. Then India spent $2 billion or $60 million each. To bring the Rafale radar and other stuff up to requirements
We will see what the next radar is like. The current one is second rate.
www.strategicfront.org
Carry over the conversation from the above post, about the radar.
We will see what the next radar is like. The current one is second rate.
Eurofighter Typhoon - Updates and Discussions
Most advanced typhoons in the market. Sad that typhoons will lose in India. What all stuff they are getting in the typhoon deal? Will they be getting meteors? We couldn't afford it. Will be only slightly less than what export of F35 to a non partner would cost. Like 15-20% more cost than Rafale.
second rate?
(hushkit, sept.2020)
Eurofighter Typhoon versus Dassault Rafale: A 2020 comparison
(...)
Radar:
At time of writing the following comparisons would be for the latest F3R Standard Rafale with the RBE2 AESA radar vs a Typhoon FGR.4 in UK service with the CAPTOR-M. I will add an estimate in brackets for the Kuwaiti/Qatari standard Typhoon with the ‘Radar 0’ version of the CAPTOR-E AESA which is flying and enters service this year in Kuwait.
Air-to-air engagements at long ranges
The RBE2 (has the advantage) against targets with a low radar cross section due to the greater performance of AESA types against these threats. CAPTOR-M (has the advantage) against larger targets such as bombers or MiG-31 ‘Foxhound’s due to a much larger aperture and generally higher altitude perch during air-to-air engagements. (Radar 0 will out-range both against airborne targets)
Air-to-air engagements at short ranges and why?
RBE2 due to much faster AESA scan, acquisition and classification of target capabilities, greater resistance to dropping contacts during manoeuvres, as well as excellent information display for pilots in F3R cockpit. (RBE2 likely to still beat Radar 0 upon IOC due to more mature system and HMI).
Air-to-ground
RBE2 as a multifunction AESA radar gives far more air-to-ground functionality than CAPTOR-M. (Radar 0 is optimised for air-to-air and is unlikely to challenge RBE2 in this arena).
Maritime attack
RBE2 again due to advantages of AESA array plus a more mature maritime attack mode with Exocet integrated. Typhoon has anti-ship munition options but no current operators use them.
Yes second rate. The old hornet had GMTI about 30-40 years ago. Something the Rafale is hoping to get in F4.1, as below.
As to it's SAR capability, in the middle east they used binoculars for situational awareness.
google is your friend
So no need to scramble for missiles and bombs in emergency.. and also use stocks in many bases.
We even integrated Hammer in Tejas..
So armaments redundancy finally.
We even integrated Hammer in Tejas..
So armaments redundancy finally.
i guess some will be produced locally next.
Tara kit is similar to Hammer?
I am guessing rudram brahmos ng etc will also be integrated later.
Tara kit is similar to Hammer?
I am guessing rudram brahmos ng etc will also be integrated later.
What's going on with Brahmos NG anyway? Wikipedia says it was supposed to be ready this year.
Also Brahmos is an Indo-Russian joint venture. How big is Russia's participation in the NG? For obvious reasons it's going to be politically difficult to integrate Russian weapons on the Rafale as long as Putin remains in power.
Also Brahmos is an Indo-Russian joint venture. How big is Russia's participation in the NG? For obvious reasons it's going to be politically difficult to integrate Russian weapons on the Rafale as long as Putin remains in power.
You still need to, nobody can produce modern weapons overnight. In an emergency you need to knock door of a friend so that he will provide things you want from his inventory or reserve.
True, even so we can avoid last minute integration s like in kargil, mirage with Israeli laser guided bombs.
Our Ace is Rafale, it can never be let down for lack of ammunition.
Still like Indranil tweeted this is only MoU,
What French charges for integration is to be seen.
Have we already made in a agreement with original deal?
There is a chance we may decline if it's too costly.
Only a question of priority and budget. Nothing technical.
Hammer is or is to be integrated on Tejas? source?
It was said from the beginning that Astra integration was included in the 36 Rafale deal. Done job so.
Expected flight testing to begin in 2022 and finish in 2024. By Nov end or Dec we will know.
Russia's providing the engine. Pretty much everything else is Indian. There won't be any Russian involvement in the integration process. The Russians were not involved when we integrated the Brahmos 1 on MKI as well.
Defence Aviation Post
Defense News India | Latest Defence Updates › h...
HAL Successfully Integrates & Tests AASM Hammer From Tejas
Depends on the ownership of the subsystem. Airframe will most likely be Indian. Guidance, seeker etc will be Indian. The booster as well.
Propulsion and flight controls could be Russian or a mix of Indian and Russian. The source codes could very well be written in India.
We have to wait for all the answers.