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jpak

(41,760 posts)
Thu Apr 12, 2018, 04:50 AM Apr 2018

"Interesting" article regarding Trump's threat against Syria (Russian S-400 system)

Russia's S-400: The Ultimate Weapon to Kill U.S. Fighters and Bombers in Syria?

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/russias-s-400-the-ultimate-weapon-kill-us-fighters-bombers-25318?page=3

Stealth fighters are not entirely invisible to radar. Russian defense officials are quick to point out that low-bandwidth radars can track the position of stealth fighters at some distance. However, such radars are not precise enough to provide targeting lock. On the other hand, an S-400’s high-band targeting radar can target a stealth plane at short range, which may be as far as a few dozen miles. Thus, one tactic for countering stealth radars is to use tracking data from a low-band radar to cue a targeting radar to “ambush” a stealth fighter that passes briefly within firing range. This technique was improvised in the field by Serbian Col. Zoltan Dani to shoot down an F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter in 1999.

Theoretically, the S-400 is designed to use this tactic even more effectively with its capable low-bandwidth observation radar and its ability to network with friendly systems. Therefore, pilots of stealth planes would need to carefully avoid the “bubbles” in which they can be targeted by high-band radar, while systematically peeling away enemy radar one by one.

Another way of saturating an air-defense battery would be to target it with long-range cruise missiles. As these are generally programmed to hit a specific location, they are not ideal for hunting a mobile weapon system such as the S-300 or -400. Furthermore, the S-400 is designed to shoot down cruise missiles, albeit not at the maximum 250-mile range. However, a barrage of missiles might catch a battery before it can react, or at least saturate it with targets, forcing it to choose between staying and place and firing back, or abandoning its firing position.

Lastly, the U.S. Navy could employ its EA-18G Growlers—modified F-18 Super Hornets equipped with ALQ-99 jamming pods—to suppress a battery’s radars. While Growlers by themselves might not completely shut down hostile radar, they could significantly degrade detection and targeting ranges, allowing the other platforms, including stealth fighters, to get close enough to deliver their weapons. The Growlers can also carry HARM missiles, and are being upgraded to share sensor data in order to generate faster targeting solutions against hostile radars.

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Trump WILL attack Syria - that is a certainty - the consequences are "bigly"

be afraid

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"Interesting" article regarding Trump's threat against Syria (Russian S-400 system) (Original Post) jpak Apr 2018 OP
Interesting. Crutchez_CuiBono Apr 2018 #1
The weapons are massive and intimidating. no_hypocrisy Apr 2018 #2
DJT is using Syria to distract us from his crimes sharedvalues Apr 2018 #3

no_hypocrisy

(46,231 posts)
2. The weapons are massive and intimidating.
Thu Apr 12, 2018, 06:19 AM
Apr 2018

However, it's Trump's shortsightedness that will cost American lives.

He's either assuming that Russia doesn't truly have those kind of weapons or he's musing, "They wouldn't dare . . . . "

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