IRST and IR AAMs doesnt NEED ranging when paired together for BVR intercepts.
Only a similar detection range and with sensor fusion they enhance eachother capabilties meaning that of the IR seeker can be greatly increased and it can be fired in BVR....
A few facts about this new generation of IR seekers and BVR performances.
First, during the kosovo campaign, RAF tornado F-3 exchange pilots flying AdA Mirage 2000 Cs reported using the MAGIC II seeker to keep track of their leaders in adverse MTO conditions, through cloud and rain.
They also used these MAGIC IIS to track and detect the tankers well before they could acquiere them visualy.
This beats their own bvisual acquisition capabilties and de-facto is the very definition of BVR.
Now some squadron noises gives some Mirage 2000-5Fs pilots words of MICA capable of detecting tatgets at up to 70 km in optimum conditions, they also uses them as IRSTs.
BOTH AIM-9X, AIM-132 an MICA have seekers with BVR capabilties in the case of the two first, this is the first time that IR seekers have a detection range superior to their motors.
In the case of Typhoon, sensor fusion with AIM-132 allows naturally for a higher level of detection probability in BVR , very much as it would do with a radar it allows for the IRST to clue the seeker on a target that its own detection probability would allow for and help it not to disregard the target in the noise clutter.
This is NOT possible with internally mounted weapons.
Some home work:
Laser range-finders are used in Ada service to complement the radar in both A2A and A2G since the Jaguars and Mirage F-1 CTs.
In A2A it is logical to assume that a target will use ECMs and make radar ranging difficult for the level of accuracy needed for A2A gunery.
In A2G the lack of precision allowed by radar SAR make the presence of laser range-finder useful for gun precision, THIS HAVE BEEN THE PRIMARY ROLE OF THE LASER-RANGE FINDER AND STILL IS.
In every case, PIRATE DOES allow for BVR firing of AIM-132 and doesn't posses a laser range-finder; the same applies for OSF.
Those writing that an IRSTs needs laser range-finding for BVR engagements are simply miss-informed on the real purpose of the laser.
For a starter, when OSF contract was passed by DGA to Thomson TRT in 1991, laser technology barely allowed for a range of <> 33 km which is WAY less than that of the AAM seeker in service with AdA/MN now and more or less that of the MAGIC II seeker at the time.
Then there is the little matter of performances degradations of the laser being also WAY higher than that of an IRST/IR seeker in adverse MTO conditions.
Also, AdA doesn't assume that the opponent will not be protected and as laser detection is not too much of a luxury for us, the use of laser range-finding is NOT considered as part of the conceipt of "Dicretion".
To finish, these AAMs are capable of tracking very much like the IRSTs they are slaved to, they are lock-on after launch or lock-on before launch capable, and already posses datalinks allowing for mid-flight target updates.
To get datalinks capabilties you will have to wait for AIM-9X block II and still wont have their BVR range, speed and end-game maneuvrability (MICA).
For the FIRST Mirage 2000 MICA IR firing on 23d June 2005 at CEV Cazaux, the aircraft used its radar for a BVR intercept but MTO conditions were very bad, data link was also used during the inertial flight sequence of the MICA.
This was the worst case scenario where weather conditions reduces the range of an IRST and in cany case the 2000 doesn't posses one.
The target was destroyed.
I havent read ANY reports on the use of the MICA IR bar some comments on what sort of astonishing capabilties it provided the pilots with.
From internal sources it know that OSF "works perfecly".
In most case from medium to high altitudes the IRST and IR seekers will meet much more favourable conditions and this will cause a lot of worries to all potential opponents including L.O aircrafts.
With sensor fusion, these AAMs can be launched at targets using IRSTs, Radars, Link-16 and EW Suite, (SPECTRA can target a radar and allows firing of both MICA IR/EMs and AASM) and HMDS, i am not sure of Typhoon capabilites thought (ECM SUITE) but it would be interesting to check these out...
In the case of MICA, one of AdA top brasses (général Rouzaud) reported that it can be fired bacward and provided for a greater range than that of the pursuer AAMs due to the combined AAM velocities.
He saids that this was pushing them to rewrite their own tactical book or reshot some of "Top gun" scenes.
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/7950/2000cigognesid7.jpg
This doc is extracted from the website of the Air Defense Squadron 1/2 Cygones based at my old A-B B/A-102 Dijon.
AdA\Groupe de chasse 01_002 Cigognes-4.htm
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1926/micavendeeap4.jpg
This one from the 1/7 Vendee where they INSIST IN DICREET INTERCEPT:
Avec la version IR, l'acquisition de la cible se fera dans une totale discrétion jusqu'à l'impact.
AdA\Le missile MICA.htm
Clearly, the world of Air Combat is changing FAST, those who think that low-speed/low-Gs and L.O are enough to survive one of Europe newbies have to rethink big time.
