Yet another ECM Question...plus AWACS

[ericinexile]

Thought I'd merge my two favorite annoyances (ECM and AWACS) into one simple little test: At what distance will an E-2 spot an inbound Su25t with ECM pods? The answer: At the same distance it would pick up a non-jamming target. And the AWACS isn't supplying just azimuth information. It also relays distance and angels.

 

So my question is this: Is this how jamming works in the real world as well? And if so, is this just due to the far greater power of the AWACS radar or is some other little little law of physics at play? Thanks.

 

Smokin' Hole

[GGTharos]

Self Protection jammer should only react to a threat (ie. a lock) so it shouldn't be protecting you from scans at all (typically ... ). That's as far as a 'realistic' explanation goes, now - LO has its own ECM quirks and one of them is that it jams fighter radar but not AWACS radar :)

[Force_Feedback]

But there are exceptions, all ECM systems work differntly, one thing is sure, the Ka-50 doesn't have any, so don't count on any improvements, well, maybe a 5 minute warm-up period. Forget about fighters, comrade should be flying the Airwol... Black Shark now, with its enhanced mind control, so better start learning Russian...

[Aeroscout]

Self Protection jammer should only react to a threat (ie. a lock) so it shouldn't be protecting you from scans at all (typically ... ). That's as far as a 'realistic' explanation goes, now - LO has its own ECM quirks and one of them is that it jams fighter radar but not AWACS radar :)

 

Ok heres what I dont get. The jammer jams the fighters radar. does this prevent it form detecting other targets? how does this work?

[GGTharos]

But there are exceptions, all ECM systems work differntly,

 

That is why I specifically mentioned SPJ's and said 'Typically' ... a stand-off jammer will do something different, and there are deception jammers out there that will happily broadcast 5-6 extra targets for you to shoot at, too :D

 

one thing is sure, the Ka-50 doesn't have any, so don't count on any improvements, well, maybe a 5 minute warm-up period. Forget about fighters, comrade should be flying the Airwol... Black Shark now, with its enhanced mind control, so better start learning Russian...

 

Yep ;)

[GGTharos]

Ok heres what I dont get. The jammer jams the fighters radar. does this prevent it form detecting other targets? how does this work?

 

That depends - in general detection is reduced when your radar is noise-jammed on the frequencies it uses it. It will -probably- not kill the radar's ability to do stuff, but it will cut down on range significantly.

On the other hand, that nooise jammer is asking for a HoJ shot really bad, which is why such jammers are usually stand-off jammers.

 

A jammer will -probably- make you *easier* not harder, to detect, normally ... this is why an SPJ won't 'fire' until it knows you're been targeted, and the way it knows -that- is when the ESM set tells it 'crap we're being locked up!'.

 

Typically.