However i was not arguing in favor of what was said in the opening article.
I knew that.
...what do you think about this new radar for JF-17? What are your views about KLJ-7A. How good it is and how well will you rate it. Some data is already given about it, rest you may be able to assume/educated guess based on your experience and knowledge.
On paper, the system seems to be excellent. But the reality is that we should take all claims -- even Americans' -- with caution.
All these on-paper specs were done under ideal conditions, which while does exist in open environment, they are very rare.
These are the normal target resolutions:
- Altitude
- Speed
- Heading
- Aspect angle
In normal situations, any radar system must contends with atmospheric losses that degrades target resolutions, unknown signals interference that enhance hence create false target resolutions, and geographical reflections which includes water that can produce ghosting effects.
Ghosting effects is the worst to encounter, especially in combat. Ghosting effects is when a radar system 'sees' multiple targets when in reality there is only target. Each ghost have its own target resolutions as above. A ghost can actually be higher altitude and/or with different airspeed. But a ghost will have the same heading and aspect angle as the real target.
An AESA system is not immune from these factors but their effects are far less noticeable to the system. A pilot that transition from the mechanical scanning system to the AESA will immediately notice the superiority of the latter.
For example...
Persistence and consistency are not the same. A target can have a persistent or even a permanent presence, like a fixed post in the ground, but fog or rain can make it visually inconsistent to the observer.
A radar system have two maximum ranges:
- The maximum travel range where the beam travels and at this point target resolutions degrades to the point of being statistically unusable, hence, tactically detrimental.
- The maximum usable range where target resolutions are persistent and consistent enough that it is tactically useful.
An AESA system is superior in both. We want the maximum travel range not because we want to reach as far as possible, but because the longer the maximum travel range, the longer the maximum usable range.
An AESA system is superior in signals-to-noise (S/N) ratio, which equals to finer target resolutions. It is like measuring in ones instead of in tens. This is useful in look-down-shoot-down situations where ground clutter interference is highest. Ground clutter often produces ghosting effects so the missile may end up calculating the interception point too far in front or too far aft of the real target.
What everyone want to know is the comparison between AESA systems in fighter A and fighter B. Unfortunately, that is not going to be available to the public in large part of the secrecy involved. The bottom line is that the superiority of the AESA system is so obvious that future air combatants, no matter which class, fighter or bomber or else, will insist on it.