miketheterrible Wed Aug 30, 2017 10:18 am
That was the other thing I was going to mention. Is that if both sides are going to go without using their own radar, then they both would rely on something like IRST. Once F-22 uses its radar, it will be picked up by passive sensors on the Su-30. If Su-30 uses its radar, it will be picked up by the passive sensors on the F-22. As mentioned before, AESA radar while it has its benefits, it has its drawbacks. On average, 10% of the AESA modules fail (this is by director of the Zhuk radars who studies all type of radars and I have read this in western publication as well) and while they are rated at 15W or 16W, they rarely operate at that power due to cooling issues and overall damages the electronics. Only for real situations that may call for it. But all in all, they may detect something as large as an Su-30SM at roughly 200 - 250km, which of course is greater range than the Bars-R could detect the stealth fighter at. But as you said, once the F-22 or F-35 does use its radar, then the Su-30SM will detect it. What would give the trump card to the F-22 or F-35 is if it is operating with various other jets that would be using their radars to detect the Su-30SM and passing off the information to the F-22's and F-35's. Of course, once that happens, other aircrafts from Russia's end will be used.
that is why Stealth isn't as much as an emphasis anymore than it once was back in the 80's and 90's. Because new methods of detecting stealth is being used, and well, it is expensive as all hell too.
But if what is said about the L-Band AESA elements used on the Su-57 are true (small antenna for IFF and larger antena for scanning the skies), then they are using UHF based tech for their jets to really put a stomp on low observable targets. But this was inevitable. I am far more surprised that this technology isn't being pushed on older jets to really give them a boost in fighting stealth. Su-30SM and even older Su-27's could very well use this technology.