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Flanker Fire Control System. Faced with the overwhelming capability of Western Electronic warfare systems, the Russians fitted the Fulcrum Flanker and Foxhoand with infrared search and Track/Laser fire control systems to supplement he vulnerable pulse Doppler radar. As Western tactical and strategic aircraft lack laser warning receivers, the Fulcrum, Flanker and Foxhound can engage and shoot their victims without being detected. (Jim Thorn)
Technology Explained
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Optical Warfare the New Frontier Part 1
Electronic Warfare is a discipline characterised by rapid change, where openings and vulnerabilities are exploited quickly and always to the detriment of the slower party.
As with Electronic Warfare at lower frequencies, the electronic battle at optical frequencies is equally intense and can have an equally decisive impact upon a conflict. As an instance the Russians’ deployment of the Fulcrum and Flanker fighters equipped with laser ranging Infra-red Search and Track sets (IRS&T) was a successful attempt to circumvent overwhelming Western capability in microwave Electronic Warfare techniques by shifting the aircraft’s key fire control sensor into the optical frequency range.
This move was hardly unexpected as Russian efforts in IRS&T equipment development have been noted for at least half a decade, what is truly alarming is the lack of response to this event by Western air forces. As emerging Stealth technologies erode the capability of microwave radar based systems to provide missile guidance and fire control parameters, optical systems in the visible and infra-red bands will assume an ever increasing importance. Optically guided weapons will proliferate in land, sea and air battle scenarios at the expense of conventional systems. To these issues must be added the practical implications of an air and ground environment where laser beams of eye damaging wavelengths and power levels are used by almost every fire control system, be it air-to-air, air-to-surface or surface-to surface. As with microwave EW, a clear understanding of the technology of electro-optical systems is essential to the conduct of offensive and defensive electro-optical warfare. The following will hopefully clarify some of the issues.
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