The F-35 vs. The VHF Threat

[unhappycamper]

http://thediplomat.com/2014/08/the-f-35-vs-the-vhf-threat/



Amid the debate over the F-35’s effectiveness, Yugoslavia offers some interesting insights into the VHF threat.

The F-35 vs. The VHF Threat
By Guy Plopsky & Fabrizio Bozzato
August 21, 2014

The heated and ongoing international debate regarding the combat effectiveness of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) in a highly contested environment has led many observers to question the fighter’s survivability in the face of advanced Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) systems and very high frequency (VHF) radars. Yet, few have examined the issue closely using lessons drawn from the only incident in which a stealth aircraft was lost in combat; when USAF Lt. Col. Dale Zelko’s F-117 – call sign “Vega 31” – was shot down by a Serbian S-125 (SA-3) SAM system over the then Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during Operation Allied Force on the night of March 27, 1999.

Electromagnetic radiation is known to scatter from bodies smaller than its wavelength. This phenomenon, known as Rayleigh scattering, is often used by F-35 critics to point out that the aircraft could be detected by enemy radar operating in the VHF range, given that some of the aircraft’s geometrical features such as the wing and elevator edges are smaller than the 1-3 meter wavelength within which such radars typically operate. Reportedly, this is also how Colonel Zoltan Dani, then commander of the 3rd Battery of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia’s 250th Air Missile Defense Brigade, managed to detect, and later down, Lt. Col. Zelko’s plane. According to The Aviationist, a series of in-field modifications carried out by the Yugoslavs further reduced the frequency of the 1960s vintage P-18 VHF acquisition radar under Dani’s command, which enabled his men to detect Zelko’s F-117 at a distance of 30 to 37 miles (50-60 km).

Because of their relatively long wavelength, VHF radars generally lack sufficient accuracy to guide a missile to a target on their own and are therefore used to cue higher frequency, shorter wavelength engagement radars to the approximate location of the target. Narrowband stealth aircraft such as the F-117, F-22 and F-35 were designed to be very low observable (VLO) in these higher frequencies in order to significantly limit the range at which they can be successfully detected by engagement radars. Consequently, despite inputs from the VHF acquisition radar, the S-band engagement radar of Dani’s SA-3 battery was able to track the F-117 only at a distance of 8 miles (13 km), obtaining a lock and launching two missiles towards it only on the third attempt (the colonel would order his men to switch the engagement radar on for no more than 20 seconds for each attempt in order to avoid being targeted by NATO electronic warfare aircraft).

The advent of powerful, digital active electronically scanned array (AESA) VHF acquisition radars – for example, the Russian ground-based 3D Nebo SVU and Chinese ship-borne Type 517M – enables the detection of narrowband stealth aircraft such as the F-35 at greater ranges. These radars also offer faster and more accurate cueing of engagement radars, enhanced resistance to jamming and – in the case of ground-based systems – significantly improved mobility over their predecessors. Such systems therefore potentially pose a major challenge to the quick establishment of air superiority; however, a smart combination of the F-35’s capabilities along with supporting platforms and systems could allow the JSF to maintain the upper hand.

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The upshot of this article is that the F-35 needs E/A-18 Growlers to provide jamming. Since F/A-18s cost around $100 mill, I doubt wikipedia's take on the E/A-18:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_EA-18G_Growler

Boeing EA-18G Growler

The Boeing EA-18G Growler is an American carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, a specialized version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet. The EA-18G will replace the Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowlers in service with the United States Navy. The Growler's electronic warfare capability is primarily provided by Northrop Grumman. The EA-18G began production in 2007 and entered operational service in late 2009.

Role Electronic warfare
National origin United States
Manufacturer Boeing
First flight 15 August 2006
Introduction 22 September 2009[1]
Status In service
Primary users United States Navy
Royal Australian Air Force
Produced 2004–present
Number built 117[2]
Unit cost
US$68.2 million (flyaway cost, FY2012)[3]
Developed from Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet

[jollyreaper2112]

1. welk

Don't hold your breath expecting changes. nothing about this will change until we lose a significant war because of the shortcomings. Nobody will accept the truth that aircraft carriers are obsolete until we lose a couple to the latest generation of antiship missiles. business as usual is simply too lucrative to change. ever wonder why every major overhaul of safety regulation isn't done before a disaster happens when the potential is appreciated but only after when there is a significant body count? the engineers were not taken by surprise but they were ignored before the disaster.

[bemildred]

2. Correct. Loot wins every time. nt