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The F35 sound like a great plane but what happens if you jam the radar(is it even possible, I don't know much about radars) and communications ? I'm saying thi

by icefo 10y ago

The F35 sound like a great plane but what happens if you jam the radar(is it even possible, I don't know much about radars) and communications ? I'm saying this because the article state that the F35 is slower than other fighters so if it's possible to jam communications and radar, this plane may have a disadvantage in this kind of situation.

Boothroid 10y ago
I think it's reasonable to question the supposed invincibility of this thing, so not sure why you have been downvoted. These planes generally rely on a cumbersome sea borne platform which is a pretty juicy target for a hypersonic missile, and advances in radar systems are challenging stealth. If this type of weapons system is made obsolete by advances in technology or strategy that's a lot of eggs in one basket. However I don't doubt DARPA etc are coming up with weird and wonderful new concepts also. But the ingenuity and motivation of the Russians, Chinese etc. should not be underestimated. In certain areas their capabilities are superior.
- icefo 10y ago
  I think I've been downvoted because I added the second paragraph later. The comment wasn't really constructive whitout it.
nradov 10y ago
Radar is only one sensor among several and is usually switched off anyway in order to avoid detection. An F-35 could potentially fly an entire strike mission without ever using radar. Jamming doesn't make radar useless. The jammer has to be close or put out a tremendous amount of power to be effective. And the F-35 can counteract jamming to an extent through frequency hopping and signal processing.
metiscus 10y ago
To jam an active radar signal you must overwhelm the returns from the jamming targets active radar with your own transmissions. There are weapons systems that are designed to home in on these emissions and use them for targeting e.g. HARM. With the advent of networked multispectral frequency hopping radars you would have to have a tremendous power source to jam radar in any geographically significant area and then those power sources become large juicy targets. So it is not usually a long term solution to jam modern radar but you can gain a temporary tactical advantage.

by icefo 10y ago

Boothroid 10y ago

I think it's reasonable to question the supposed invincibility of this thing, so not sure why you have been downvoted. These planes generally rely on a cumbersome sea borne platform which is a pretty juicy target for a hypersonic missile, and advances in radar systems are challenging stealth. If this type of weapons system is made obsolete by advances in technology or strategy that's a lot of eggs in one basket. However I don't doubt DARPA etc are coming up with weird and wonderful new concepts also. But the ingenuity and motivation of the Russians, Chinese etc. should not be underestimated. In certain areas their capabilities are superior.

icefo 10y ago
I think I've been downvoted because I added the second paragraph later. The comment wasn't really constructive whitout it.

nradov 10y ago

Radar is only one sensor among several and is usually switched off anyway in order to avoid detection. An F-35 could potentially fly an entire strike mission without ever using radar. Jamming doesn't make radar useless. The jammer has to be close or put out a tremendous amount of power to be effective. And the F-35 can counteract jamming to an extent through frequency hopping and signal processing.

metiscus 10y ago

To jam an active radar signal you must overwhelm the returns from the jamming targets active radar with your own transmissions. There are weapons systems that are designed to home in on these emissions and use them for targeting e.g. HARM. With the advent of networked multispectral frequency hopping radars you would have to have a tremendous power source to jam radar in any geographically significant area and then those power sources become large juicy targets. So it is not usually a long term solution to jam modern radar but you can gain a temporary tactical advantage.