The Radar Game

By Grant, Rebecca

Book Id: WPLBN0000701785
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 3.75 MB
Reproduction Date: 2005

Title:	The Radar Game
Author:	Grant, Rebecca
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Science., Physics, Physics--Research
Collections:	Physics Literature Collection
Historic Publication Date:
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Citation APA MLA Chicago Grant, B. R. (n.d.). The Radar Game. Retrieved from http://www.gutenberg.us/

Description
Physics Literature

Excerpt
Excerpt: Precision weapons and rapid targeting information mean little if aircraft are unable to survive engagements with enemy air defenses. In addition to costing the lives of pilots, high levels of attrition can ultimately affect the outcome of the theater campaign. One of the most critical factors in determining the success of an air operation is survivability. In the last several decades, the term survivability has been associated with analysis of how low observables and electronic countermeasures can help aircraft carry out their missions in hostile airspace. Discussions of survivability immediately bring to mind stealth aircraft, radar jamming and debates about the latest SA-10 threats. Yet the quest for survivability is not a fad of the Cold War or the high-technology 1990s. Its roots, and its importance to combined arms operations, go back to the first use of military aircraft in World War I.

Table of Contents
THE RADAR GAME Page i Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ii The Origins of Aircraft Survivability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ii Winning the Modern Radar Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iii Aircraft Survivability and its Operational Impact . . . . . . . . .iv Survivability Before Radar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Elements of the Duel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Deceiving the Eye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 The Engagement: Designing Aircraft to Survive . . . . . . . . . .3 Probability of Kill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Survivability and the Air Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 The Interwar Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 The Radar Game Begins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 How Radar Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Radar Early Warning: The Battle of Britain . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Survivability and Air Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Deception Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Early ECM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 The Radar Game and the Theater Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Survivability and the Theater Campaign: Operation OVERLORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 The Postwar Radar Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 On the Verge: The U-2 and SR-71 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Operational Challenges: SAMs in Vietnam . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 The Libya Raid, 1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Evolving Air Defenses and the Limits of ECM . . . . . . . . . . .21 Winning the Radar Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Low Observables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Steps Towards Low Observables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Calculating Radar Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Specular Reflection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Diffraction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Traveling Waves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Radar-Absorbing Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 RCS Reduction Features for Aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Other Components of Stealth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Signature Reduction and Mission Planning . . . . . . . . . .30 Signature Varies with Wavelength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 The Radar Range Equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Shrinking the SAM Rings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Defeating the Integrated Air Defense System . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Tactical Advantages of Stealth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 The Benefits of Radar Cross Section Reduction . . . . . . . . . .37 Low Observables in the Operational Environment . .38 Stealth in Desert Storm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Duels of the Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Direct Attack in a Dense Threat Environment . . . . . . . . . . .40 Tactical Attack Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Threat Avoidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Stealth and Electronic Countermeasures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Conclusion: The Future of Stealth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Counters to Stealth? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Improving Future Survivability and Effectiveness . . . . . . . . .50