Radar warning receiver
This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2011) |
Radar warning receiver (RWR) systems detect the
Depending on the market the RWR system is designed for, it can be as simple as detecting the presence of energy in a specific radar band, such as the frequencies of known surface-to-air missile systems. Modern RWR systems are often capable of classifying the source of the radar by the signal's strength, phase and signal details. The information about the signal's strength and waveform can then be used to estimate the type of threat the detected radar poses.
Description
The RWR usually has a visual display somewhere prominent in the cockpit (in some modern aircraft, in multiple locations in the cockpit) and also generates audible tones which feed into the pilot's (and perhaps
The typical airborne RWR system consists of multiple wideband antennas placed around the aircraft which receive the radar signals. The receiver periodically scans across the frequency band and determines various parameters of the received signals, like frequency, signal shape, direction of arrival,
The RWR is used for identifying, avoiding, evading or engaging threats. For example, a fighter aircraft on a combat air patrol (CAP) might notice enemy fighters on the RWR and subsequently use its own radar set to find and eventually engage the threat. In addition, the RWR helps identify and classify threats—it's hard to tell[citation needed] which blips on a radar console-screen are dangerous, but since different fighter aircraft typically have different types of radar sets, once they turn them on and point them near the aircraft in question it may be able to tell, by the direction and strength of the signal, which of the blips is which type of fighter.
A non-combat
The RWR can be an important tool for evading threats if avoidance has failed. For example, if a SAM system or enemy fighter aircraft has fired a
Types in service
This section may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience. |
- AN/ALR-400 (Spain; EF-18A/B Hornet, Airbus A400M, C-295, CH-47 Chinook, Cougar, TIGER, NH90, CH-53)
- AN/APR-39 (USA; V-22 Osprey)
- AN/ALR-46 (USA; F-5, B-52G)
- AN/ALR-56 (USA; CC-130Hercules)
- AN/ALR-66 (USA; P-3COrion)
- CF-18Hornet)
- AN/ALR-69 (USA; F-4E Phantom II).
- AN/ALR-76 (USA; S-3, EP-3)
- AN/ALR-94 (USA; F-22)
- ARI 18223 (British aircraft such the Jaguar Mk.1)
- ARI 18228 (British F-4 Phantom)
- BOW-21 (Sweden; JAS 39 Gripen Germany; Panavia Tornado)
- SPO-150 Pastel (Soviet-Russian aircraft)
- Sirena series (Soviet aircraft)
- SkyGuardian 2000 (British EH-101 and WAH-64 Apache; Portuguese EH-101)
- SPO-15 Beryoza (India; )
- SPS-1000V5 (Portugal; F-16Fighting Falcon, C-295M)
- Tarang (India; Su-30MKIFlanker)
- Thales Spectra (France; Dassault Rafale)
See also
- Laser warning receiver
- List of Rainbow Codes
- List of World War II electronic warfare equipment
- Monica tail warning radar
- Semi-active radar homing
- Serrate radar detector
- Missile approach warning
References
- ^ Unclassified FY 2000 RDT&E,N BUDGTE ITEM JUSTIFICATION SHEET (PDF) (Report). Defense Technical Information Center. February 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-11-24.