GarryB Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:18 pm
This is in line with what I have read and talked about that MIG-31 can provide terminal guidance to S-300 missiles. S-300 missile just needs to recognize MIG-31 radar frequency bouncing of target.
Similar to the first interception using the R-37 where the Mig-31M that launched the missile still had the old unupgraded radar and could not even detect the target 300km away.
The Mig-31M and its Mig-31 radar received target information from an Su-30 flying closer to the target. Using that information the Mig-31M was able to launch its missile and transmit course corrections till it got within range of the target for its own radar to detect and lock up the target.
I don't see why such an engagement could not have been accomplished with any other platform providing target data.
To do the same with an S-300 missile is complicated by the fact that the missile needs to recognise the radar beam marking the target, but I would assume it would be an X band signal, or perhaps Ka, which is pretty commonly used for tracking by ground and air radars.
Of course with the new S-400 small missiles being active radar homers, I would think a real development would be S-400 missiles with QWIP based long wave IR seekers... even if they can only detect targets within 10km then NEBO can get them inside that distance for pretty much any aircraft except perhaps the B-2.
In such a situation the only aircraft that can penetrate your main SAM defences is a very large subsonic plane with no self defence capability. A very large radar array with Su-35s as interceptors to run those bombers down...
Of course enormous AESA antenna arrays on aircraft and S-400 batteries will likely make penetration of Russian air space fairly difficult. Along with all the space based assets they are looking at developing and the new SAM systems they are introducing into service...
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