CV32

From Aviation Week's Ares Blog Upgraded F-15Cs to protect F-22s Posted by David A. Fulghum at 4/14/2010 9:07 AM CDT F-22 stealth fighter production is capped, so USAF officials are upgrading their best F-15C with advanced, long-range radars to beef up the air dominance force. Because of the larger size of the F-15s radar and the aircraft’s greater flight endurance, they also will serve as “stand-in” electronic warfare jamming and attack aircraft as part of the Air Force’s composite air dominance force that also includes stealthy F-22s stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Va. Each fighter type will shoulder 50% of the air dominance mission now that the F-22 force has been capped at 187 aircraft. The upgraded F-15Cs will carry the larger APG-63(V)3 active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. The radar's long range and small target detection capability will allow F-22s to operate in electronic silence with their low observability uncompromised by electronic emissions. The first F-15C modified with the Raytheon radar was declared operational with the Florida Air National Guard’s 125th Fighter Wing last week. “Our objective is to fly in front [of any strike force] with the F-22s, and have the persistence [because of larger fuel loads] to stay there while the [stealthy fighters] are conducting their LO attack,” says Maj. Todd Giggy, the wing’s chief of weapons and tactics. Giggy was formerly with the chief of weapons and tactics for the 1st Air Dominance Wing at Langley. “That persistence is something we can add that no one else can in the air dominance world.” The Florida, Louisiana and Oregon ANG will field the first 48 V3 radar-equipped F-15Cs. Massachusetts and Montana ANG units will follow so that the East, West and Gulf coasts have a cruise missile defense capability. “We’re embracing an air-launched concept for theater ballistic missile defense as a deterrent and as a tactical capability to protect our forces in theater and for homeland defense,” Giggy says. One of the missiles in consideration for the theater ballistic missile mission is Raytheon’s NCADE variant of the AIM-120 AMRAAM. “We’re talking to the ANG about a demonstration of an air-launched, hit-to-kill system, says Ramon Estrada, Raytheon’s F-15 AESA program manager. “It takes the AMRAAM body and extends the range to support a ballistic missile mission.” The AIM-120C-6 and AIM-120D AMRAAM models were optimized in part to attack small-signature cruise missiles. The Air Force will deliver up to six AESA radars this summer for installation on F-15Cs at the Weapons School and 442 Sgdn. at Nellis AFB, Nev. The fleet will eventually grow to 176 Golden Eagles that are slated to serve until 2030. The F-15Cs also will provide electronic jamming and attack capability, self-protect the force against enemy missiles and aircraft, shoot their beyond visual range missiles to supplement limited numbers carried by the F-22s and use the radar to create situational awareness for everyone else. “Weapons effects are the priority, and we are carrying so few weapons that BVR fighting is going to be distributed among all the platforms out there,” Giggy says. “So we distribute the targets and weapons management.” The F-15C’s electronic surveillance capability also can identify and precisely locate electronic emitters – communications and radars in the air and on the ground – to direct the attacks of other aircraft carrying conventional missiles or non-kinetic, electronic or cyber weapons. Examples of the latter are Raytheon’s Miniature Air Launched Decoy – Jammer (Mald-J) and the CHAMP high power microwave (HPM) generator for cruise missiles being developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland AFB, N.M. There are also more modifications to come, say aerospace industry officials. “The simple answer is yes,” says Jim Means, Boeing’s director of proprietary programs for global strike systems. “We are looking in all the right places for the future and that includes the radar and modification to the [AESA] antenna.” The APG-82(V)4 radar and a new radome planned for the Air Force’s fleet of about 220 F-15Es “we may retrofit to the F-15Cs,” Means says. “There’s also a new computer, a larger cockpit display and enhanced bandwidth datalinks that can send more data to other aircraft faster.” “Our goal is to break the [enemy’s] kill chain,” Giggy says. “The AESA is a critical component. We can’t stand-in against the current threats unless we can build that [electronic and radar] picture of the battlefield. The V3 allows us to pick and chose where we can go to deliver the [weapons’] effect. And some of those EW and non-kinetic warfare effects are very important.” But they are expected to be only a few of the upgrades considered through the end of the F-15C’s operational life in 2030. “With the capability gap that the Air Force is trying to address through the air dominance category with the F-15C, we looked at a lot technologies,” says Robert Martin, a Boeing business development official for the F-15 program.” The Air Force is going to look across platforms for effects to enhance warfighter capability.” Technologies already in consideration include advanced processing, electronic warfare, multi-spectral sensors, high volume, low probability of intercept datalinks and interoperability with unmanned platforms, he says.

To add flavour for what the other side did ... On the evening of 7 May 1942, with night closing in, the Japanese launched a counter-strike against the American carriers. It comprised: 12x Type 99 bombers 15x Type 97 attack aircraft

From RIA Novosti Russia delays launch of new nuclear submarine 15:3813/04/2010 Russia will not float out a new nuclear-powered multipurpose attack submarine as planned on May 7 due to technical reasons, a source in the shipbuilding industry said on Tuesday. Construction of the Severodvinsk, the first Project 885 Yasen (Graney) class submarine, began in 1993 at the Sevmash shipyard in the northern Russian city of Severodvinsk but has since been dogged by financial setbacks. Russia planned to float out the submarine on May 7 to mark the 65th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in May 1945. "The launch of the new Severodvinsk submarine has been delayed for technical reasons," the source said, adding that the sub would be floated out and pass sea trials later this year. Graney class nuclear submarines are designed to launch a variety of long-range cruise missiles (up to 3,100 miles or 5,000 km) with nuclear warheads, and effectively engage submarines, surface warships and land-based targets. The submarine's armament includes 24 cruise missiles, including the 3M51 Alfa SLCM, the SS-NX-26 Oniks SLCM or the SS-N-21 Granat/Sampson SLCM. It is also equipped with eight torpedo launchers, as well as mines and anti-ship missiles such as SS-N-16 Stallion. The Severodvinsk is expected to enter service with the Russian Navy by late 2010 - early 2011. Last year, work started on the second sub in the series, the Kazan, which will feature more advanced equipment and weaponry. Russia's Navy commander, Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky, has called the construction of new-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile and attack submarines a top priority for the Russian Navy.

From Flight Global DATE: 12/04/10 SOURCE: Flight International USAF may convert some F-15Cs to radar jammers By Stephen Trimble The US Air National Guard may convert some Boeing F-15C Eagles into electronic warfare platforms, possibly adding an entirely new role for the classic air superiority fighter. Adding a jamming pod on the F-15C's currently empty centreline weapon station becomes possible after a subset of the fleet is upgraded with the Raytheon APG-63(V)3 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, says Maj Todd Giggy, chief of weapons and tactics for the 159th Fighter Sqd. "We're actively looking right now at an electronic warfare capability," Giggy says. The first AESA-equipped F-15C rolled out for the 159th Sqd on 12 April at Jacksonville, Florida, the first of three ANG bases to receive 48 "Golden Eagles". USAF officials eventually hope to upgrade with AESA all 176 F-15Cs planned to remain in-service through 2030, but only the first 48 aircraft are funded. As a replacement for the APG-70 mechanically scanned array, the AESA boosts the range and detection capability for the F-15. Ramon Estrada, Raytheon's director of F-15 growth programmes, declined to answer whether the APG-63(V)3 can detect Russia's stealthy new PAK-FA prototype fighter, which Sukhoi designates as the T-50. But Estrada confirmed the AESA is designed to detect targets with small radar cross sections. "I don't know the specifics with the T-50," Estrada says, "but I will tell you that this -(V)3 radar is very capable of detecting low-RCS platforms". The array also improves the F-15's ability to track radar signals, which could prove useful in the jamming role. Giggy, however, emphasized that an F-15C equipped with a jamming pod would not become a rival to the US Navy Boeing EA-18G Growler. "I want to dispel the idea that we're looking at an F-15G," Giggy says. The EA-18G comes with a wide-spectrum and relatively longer-range jamming system, which includes an ALQ-218 receiver system and ALQ-99 jamming pods. The F-15C would instead have a more limited jamming pod optimized for short-range threats, Giggy says. The ANG discussions about an electronic warfare role for the F-15C comes after the USAF has twice abandoned attempts to convert the B-52 into a standoff jamming platform. USAF officials have instead decided to focus on the stand-in jamming role, employing the Raytheon miniature air-launched decoy-jammer (MALD-J), upgrades to the EC-130 Compass Call fleet and, possibly, upgraded F-15Cs. The USAF has lacked a dedicated platform for jamming radars since 1997, when the EF-111 Raven fleet was retired without a replacement. In 2002, the USAF unveiled an airborne electronic attack system of systems plan, which included the B-52 stand-off jammer, MALD-J and the Boeing X-45C. Only the MALD-J programme survived budget cuts, however. Meanwhile, the US Navy is replacing Grumman EA-6B Prowlers with the EA-18G fleet.

I have a database in the works that will cover the height of the Cold War era, from post WWII through to the end of the Vietnam war. But it not will be available in a release version until probably sometime this summer. I am using Harpoon 4.1/High Tide/Command at Sea annex data wherever possible. I would recommend it to anyone.

Now you're talking!

More bad news on JSF, as far as the GAO is concerned ... JSF: Additional Costs and Delays Risk Not Meeting Warfighter Requirements on Time

Often true, though interestingly, the pre-WWII manual USF74 (Revised), circa April 1941, stated that escorts for torpedo bombers was "not normally desirable" except where (1) strong enemy fighter defenses were suspected; or (2) for 'set piece' attacks where the torpedo planes would remain outside the target area until needed. The doctrine called for either "close escort" or "high escort". In practice, it tended to be "close escort", where fighters provided direct protection to the strike aircraft, flying just above them or just behind or on the flanks. (High escort would fly well above the bombers). (All this according to Lundstrom).

No problem, and welcome to HarpGamer. (I should have said that earlier. )

Yes, they did tend to go 'all out', leaving the carrier and task force relatively undefended while conducting their own strike.

The RCS field is for radar cross section, not size in general. The F-22 also has other 'low observable' features other than RCS, such as visual and IR detection.

From Lundstrom's The First Team, regarding the Battle of the Coral Sea (which, of course, was the first carrier vs carrier battle) ... On the morning of 7 May 1942, the carrier Lexington launched the following strike group: 3x SBD (command section) 10x F4F-3 fighters (escort) 15x SBD-2, SBD-3 dive bombers 10x SBD-3 dive bombers 12x TBD-1 torpedo bombers For her part, Yorktown launched: 8x F4F-3 8x SBD-3 17x SBD-3 10x TBD-1 It is notable that the two carriers contributed half of their entire force of 36x operational F4F-3 fighters, to the strike.

From Defense Industry Daily Upgrading the Admiral: Russia’s Kuznetsov 08-Apr-2010 15:11 EDT Russia’s “heavy aircraft-carrying cruisers” have received a lot of unfavorable attention from India’s snake-bit deal to refurbish the Admiral Gorshkov; in fairness, however, the Russians haven’t had much more luck with their own ship. Launched in 1985, it was not commissioned until 1995 – and since then, it has endured extremely long dockings and seen only limited deployment. When it’s operational, the The 55,000t Admiral Kuznetsov is a big step up from the smaller Kiev Class’ combination of Yak-38 Forger V/STOL jets and naval helicopters, flying navalized SU-25 close air support fighters, multi-role SU-33s, or MiG-29K jets. Natural resource exports have eased Russia’s budget woes, and the country wants to maintain carrier capabilities as it tries to rebuild its damaged defense industrial base. The current plan intends to begin designing a new carrier class in 2012 – and to dock the Kuznetov once again, in order to make major design changes and fix some long-standing issues. Russian carrier doctrine is different, as the chosen name for these ships suggests. They are typically equipped with long-range anti-ship missiles, as well as aircraft. According to a RIA Novosti article, changes will bring Kuznetsov more in line with standard carrier configuration, while fixing some long-standing technical issues and improving the ship’s air defenses. The program is reportedly set to begin with a docking in 2012, followed by refits that will last until her re-launch 2017. The hope is that the resulting ship would be fit for service until 2030 or so. Key components of the refit supposedly include: * Replacement of the defective steam turbines and turbo-pressurized boilers. Source have mentioned both gas turbine and nuclear propulsion options. The expense, upkeep, and reliability issues that a nuclear refit would present, all serve to make it a very high-risk choice. In effect, the decision would turn the Kuznetsov into a technology demonstrator for Russia’s next aircraft carrier class, and raise the odds that the ship would never become a reliable fleet asset. * Removal of the ship’s 3M45 P-700 Granit (SS-N-19 Shipwreck) supersonic, long-range anti-ship cruise-missiles * Enlargement of the aircraft hangar, and possibly new aircraft. There are reports that the Russian Navy’s SU-33s could be replaced by smaller navalized MiG-29Ks. They would still be accompanied by Ka-27 anti-submarine helicopters, and radar-carrying Ka-31 AEW helicopters. The current SU-25 close support fighters have no naval counterpart or exact replacement; at present, their long-term fate remains a question mark. * Upgraded air defenses. Existing 3K95 Kinzhal (SA-N-9 Gauntlet) vertically-launched medium-range missiles and Kashtan (SA-N-11 Grisom) short range gun/missile systems would be replaced with a more modern medium-range system, backstopped by a navalized 9M111 Pantsir-S1 (SA-22 Greyhound) gun-missile combination. * New communications and combat system. There are also reports that the ship will receive aircraft catapults. Cataults are not an impossible choice, especially if Kuznetsov becomes a nuclear carrier prototype/ technology demonstrator. Nevertheless, these reports must be seen as more speculative, for several reasons. One is that steam catapults would require a very extensive, space-consuming, and expensive ship refit. the state of Russian shipyards and industry at the moment is poor, and adding that level of risk to the refit project would be a very questionable move. Another is the fact that the MiG-29Ks which are supposed to make up its future air wing do not require catapults, and will deploy from several Indian carriers that lack them. That adds up to huge risk, for little benefit. Again, not impossible, but certainly risky. April 6/10: RIA Novosti breaks the news of Kuznetsov’s proposed modernization from 2012-2017. The report cannot yet be treated as fully confirmed. RIA Novosti | Barents Observer. Feb 4/10: Interfax reports that the Kuznetsov will be modernized at Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, citing “a source in military industry.” RusNavy. Sept 24/09: Russia’s Vedemosti newspaper reports that the Russian Navy may decide to replace its 19 larger and longer-range SU-33 fighters on its Admiral Kuznetsov carrier with 24 MiG-29Ks, when the SU-33’s must be retired in 2015. Caution is advised, since the article is based on a source who sees a contract as possible in 2 years; that’s not exactly a rock-solid basis for concluding that India will avoid the potential trap of being the MiG-29K’s only operator. Vedemosti [in Russian] | Barents Observer. Feb 16/09: Not the best cruise ever. Admiral Kuznetsov is involved in a large oil spill while it refuels off the south coast of Ireland. Times of London. Jan 7/09: Fire breaks out on board while anchored off of Turkey, as a result of a short circuit. It’s a small fire, but 1 crewmember killed by carbon monoxide poisoning. RIA Novosti. 2001 – 2004: In the shipyard for repairs. In late 2003, Kuznetsov returns to sea for inspection trials, and subsequently deploys on a number of missions from 2004-2009. Late 1997 – Nov 3/98: In shipyard for repairs. Returns to service, but remains in port mostly until the Kursk incident in 2000. 1996: Mediterranean cruise. 1995: Admiral Kuznetsov commissioned. 1993: Ship begins to receive aircraft. December 1991: Admiral Kuznetsov sails from the Black Sea to join the Northern Fleet. Oct 4/90: Sip name change to Admiral Flota Sovetskovo Soyuza Kuznetsov, a.k.a Admiral Kuznetsov. This one sticks. Oct 21/89: First aircraft operation trials. First deck landings of MiG-29K, Su-27K and Su-25UTG carried out on Nov 1/89. Mid-1989: Ship is reportedly 71% complete. August 1987: Ship name change to Tbilisi. 1985: Ship launched. November 1982: Ship name change to Leonid Brezhnev. Sept 1/82: Construction of the ship begins, as the Riga.

Any good? ive always been interested in carrier warfare, this sounds to be right up my alley Yes it is, especially if you like detail (which I do, very much).

I don't think there is any question. HCE was never meant to model land warfare in detail. In most cases, the land units serve as 'targets' or 'obstacles' in the course of an evolving air/naval battle. The vast majority of publicly released scenarios reflect this.

we can't install defensive guns in WWII and early Cold War bombers We could not do it before, either. Only Mounts have adjustable arc, and we can't add Mounts to aircraft. If we made airborne guns capable of 360 deg coverage, it would have negative effects on dogfighting and strafing.

If you want to start a separate thread in HCE general or military history sub forums, I will post some info about this from the Battle of the Coral Sea.

From the April 2010 issue of Air Force Magazine: MiG Alley American F-86 Sabres versus MiG-15s with Soviet pilots.

From the April 2010 issue of Air Force Magazine: When the U-2 Fell to Earth An account of Francis Gary Powers' fateful mission over the Soviet Union fifty years ago.

From Navy Times U.S., S. Korea to jointly probe ship sinking By Hyung-Jin Kim - The Associated Press Posted : Tuesday Apr 6, 2010 14:39:35 EDT SEOUL, South Korea — A top American military officer said Tuesday he was confident that a joint probe by South Korea and the U.S. would solve the mystery of an explosion that sank a South Korean warship 11 days ago. The 1,200-ton Cheonan exploded March 26 and sank a few hours later during a routine patrol near the tense western border with North Korea. Fifty-eight crew members were rescued soon after but dozens of other sailors remain unaccounted for and are thought trapped in the wreckage. No survivors have been found among the 46 sailors initially listed as missing, but divers found the body of one crewman Saturday. No cause has been determined. South Korean officials have said they will look at all possibilities including that the ship might have been struck by a floating mine or a torpedo from North Korea. South Korea's intelligence chief Won Sei-Hoon told lawmakers in a closed-door session Tuesday that it was difficult to conclude whether North Korea was involved in the incident, Chung Chin-sup, a lawmaker in the ruling Grand National Party, said after being briefed by Won. The U.S. has promised to send a team of naval disaster experts to help find the cause. "I'm confident that we will find out" the cause, Gen. Walter Sharp, chief of the 28,500 American troops in South Korea, said at a meeting with U.S. businesses in South Korea, where he gave a speech Tuesday and then took questions. "We want to get to the right answer, the correct answer and we don't want to rush to that conclusion." Sharp refused to speculate on the cause of the blast. "I'm not going to speculate on this because again, the experts haven't started looking at it," he said. The U.S. and South Korea "watch North Korea very closely every single day of the year and we continue to do that right now," he said. "And again, as this has been said, we see no unusual activity at this time." Earlier this week, South Korea started work to salvage the ship after ending its underwater hunt for the missing sailors at the request of their families, who raised concerns about additional casualties among divers. One military diver died during a search while a South Korean fishing boat that participated disappeared. Two aboard that vessel died and seven others were left missing.

I can be located in the usual place.

Yeah, I have noticed that too. Under player control I have no problems, but the AI does not want to shoot them. I suggest opening an issue under the Issue Tracker. Curious, because the airborne AI loves to use anti-radar weaps.

From RIA Novosti Russia's Pyotr Veliky nuclear-powered cruiser plies English Channel 14:01 05/04/2010 The Russian nuclear-powered cruiser Pyotr Veliky, deployed to participate in the largest Russian Navy drills in the Indian Ocean, has crossed the English Channel for the first time in her history. "The ship has indeed passed through the channel for the first time," the commander of the cruiser, Capt. 2nd Rank Felix Menkov, told a RIA Novosti correspondent on board the vessel. "The English Channel is shallow...and has a great deal of potential risks, including heavy marine traffic both to the south and the north," Menkov said. Six days after leaving Russia's Northern Fleet headquarters of Severomorsk, Pyotr Veliky (Peter the Great) traveled around 4,000 kilometers (2,160 nautical miles) and entered the Atlantic Ocean. During her six-month tour of duty, the warship is to pass through the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea before entering the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal. The Pyotr Veliky will conduct maneuvers in the Indian Ocean with other ships from the Black Sea Fleet and will make port calls in the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean, the Russian Navy said. Russia's largest and most powerful surface combatant warship, Pyotr Veliky has a displacement of between 24,000 and 26,000 tons, and a speed of up to 31 knots (almost 57 km/h). The ship is 251 meters in length and has a crew of more than 700 sailors.

I've thought about that, but the problems with trying to model an OTH-B radar in the HCDB include: 1. We cannot currently model the 'blind spot' that occurs closer to the radar. 2. The Chinese OTH radars are bistatic, something that also makes them difficult to model. The ASBM appears to be working quite well in any event, and the AI is able to launch upon detection of a target by other radar equipped platforms, an ESM sniff, etc.

I will be generally available right after Easter.