OT: Pilot ejects - what happens to systems / missiles

[jason_peters]

When a pilot ejects from a fighter how are all the planes systems kept secret - is it all erased in some way?

 

Are the missiles / bombs made secure during the ejection sequence or all armed so they detonate on impact with the ground ?

 

Just interested on how all the top secret info is kept top secret

[159th_Viper]

 

Just interested on how all the top secret info is kept top secret

 

Maverick/Hellfire/JDAM I would have thought.

[Eddie]

On all types I have worked with as soon as the ejection handle is pulled all mission data and software is erased from the aircraft's mission systems. There is also a data erase switch in the cockpit of every UK & US fighter I've seen that the pilot can use should he be forced to land/crash land and security is not possible.

 

Explosive ordnance only arms when it leaves the pylon anyway, so will remain in a safe (i.e. the fuse will not fire) state. Of course explosive ordnance could still detonate on impact with the ground regardless.

 

Typically, if it was suspected any classified systems had remained intact after an aircraft had crashed in hostile territory either ground forces or a follow up air strike would be tasked to destroy any wreckage.

[Boulund]

How does this work with the black box and all that?

[norm]

what happens if you destroy a friendly downed ac in game? i could add to immersion if you were ordered to if your wingie went down.

[Eddie]

How does this work with the black box and all that?

 

Well, I can't say for sure as obviously I can only comment on types I have experience of. But most military aircraft don't have a "black box", fighters generally have the HUD video camera and the on-board video recorders will also capture TGP/FLIR etc data but these recorders are not designed to survive a crash. When it comes to black boxes, international aviation law does not require every aircraft to have one, only that those aircraft designed to carry one must have it fitted and operational. And even then, when operational, military aircraft are not subject to most civil aviation laws.

[Lucas_From_Hell]

I think some (specially the more modern ones) have a "black box" or similar device as well, considering it's useful to investigate a crash and etc.

 

Not sure if these are disabled in combat sorties, but I don't think these are designed to be destroyed in case of crash or something like that.

 

Not sure, however.

[Eddie]

I think some (specially the more modern ones) have a "black box" or similar device as well, considering it's useful to investigate a crash and etc.

 

Not sure if these are disabled in combat sorties, but I don't think these are designed to be destroyed in case of crash or something like that.

 

Not sure, however.

 

Yes indeed they do. But I'll say no more on that.

[isoul]

I cant remember if there is actually a black box but there is "something" that records the flight data so in case of an accident the specialists can determine why the incident happened.

 

Here in Greece we have many cases that military aircraft crashed and the pilot haven't survived so all the questions were to be answered by a "flight recording device".

[EtherealN]

Maverick/Hellfire/JDAM I would have thought.

 

Truth. ;)

[jason_peters]

so info like the parameters of how the RWR determines what the threat is is left in the EWR module for others to look at? Or is it encrypted and the key erased on ejection ???

Edited February 1, 2010 by jason_peters

[EtherealN]

Jason, re-read what Viper posted.

 

Standard procedure (at least for NATO) is to bomb the wreckage of anything that is downed/crashed that contains secret information or technology unless it fell on friendly territory. The failure to do so with the 117 downed over Serbia during Allied Force is considered by some as a major blunder that might have aided Russia in the development of it's own stealth technology.

 

The only fool-proof "encryption" is a 2000 lb JDAM. ;)

[jason_peters]

Just would have thought some items would remain intact even after that (ie chips with data on them). maybe all that is cooked by the heat of the blast.

[Eddie]

2000lbs of HE is pretty much certain to make everything go away. But the most sesitive data is erased automatically as I stated previously.

 

While there are other factors at play, the issue is that it's not possible to give you a more detailed answer on this subject for reasons I hope you can understand, you'll just have to make do with what's already been said and use your own intelligence to fill in the gaps I'm afraid.

[EtherealN]

Translation for those that don't get it: even though some people here do know exactly what is done, they may not be at liberty to tell since it's classified. ;)

[fritzgryphon]

The Ka-50 solves this problem by removing the blades on ejection.

 

If you can find anything in the wreckage, you deserve it.

 

:thumbup: