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What’s the typical effective guidance range of radar on fighter jet
The effective guidance range of a radar on a modern fighter jet depends on several factors, including the radar’s power, target size (radar cross-section, RCS), environmental conditions, and jamming or countermeasure effectiveness. Below are typical ranges for fighter radars in different contexts:
Typical Ranges by Radar Type and Target Size
1. Against Large Targets (e.g., bombers, transport aircraft):
• Radar cross-section (RCS): 10–20 m²
• Typical detection range: 150–250 km
• Effective guidance range: 120–200 km
2. Against Fighter-Sized Targets:
• Radar cross-section (RCS): 1–5 m²
• Typical detection range: 100–150 km
• Effective guidance range: 80–120 km
3. Against Stealth Targets:
• Radar cross-section (RCS): 0.01–0.1 m²
• Typical detection range: 20–50 km
• Effective guidance range: 15–40 km
Key Influencing Factors
1. Radar Type and Power:
• Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radars:
• Examples: AN/APG-81 (F-35), AN/APG-77 (F-22)
• Greater range and resistance to jamming compared to older mechanically scanned radars.
• AESA radars can guide missiles at ranges closer to their detection range due to precise beam steering and tracking.
• Mechanically Scanned Radars:
• Examples: Older radars on legacy fighters (e.g., F-15C, MiG-29).
• Typically shorter effective ranges and more vulnerable to jamming.
2. Target Characteristics:
• Larger and less stealthy targets (e.g., bombers) are detected and tracked at much longer ranges.
• Stealth aircraft with small RCS require the radar to be much closer for effective guidance.
3. Environment:
• Atmospheric conditions, terrain, and clutter can reduce radar range.
• High-altitude engagements generally improve radar effectiveness due to thinner air and reduced ground clutter.
4. Missile Seeker Transition:
• Radar-guided missiles (e.g., AIM-120 AMRAAM) are often cued by the launch platform’s radar in the midcourse phase.
• The effective range for radar guidance is the point at which the radar can securely provide midcourse updates to the missile.
5. Countermeasures:
• The presence of electronic countermeasures (ECM), chaff, and jamming can reduce the radar’s effective guidance range.
Examples of Fighter Radar Capabilities
1. F-22 Raptor (AN/APG-77 AESA):
• Effective guidance range against 1 m² RCS: ~100–120 km.
• Can detect large targets at ranges >200 km.
2. F-35 Lightning II (AN/APG-81 AESA):
• Effective guidance range against 1 m² RCS: ~80–100 km.
• Designed for stealthy engagement and electronic warfare environments.
3. Su-35 (Irbis-E PESA):
• Effective guidance range against 1 m² RCS: ~80–100 km.
• High peak power enables detection of larger targets at extreme ranges (>300 km).
4. Typhoon (CAPTOR-E AESA):
• Effective guidance range against 1 m² RCS: ~90–110 km.
• Balanced performance for multi-role missions.
Conclusion
The effective guidance range of a fighter jet’s radar varies widely but typically ranges from 80–120 km against fighter-sized targets. Advanced AESA radars offer the best performance, particularly in contested environments with stealthy targets or electronic warfare.
