As one of the few fighter jets in the world that can reach a maximum ceiling of 30,000 meters and a maximum speed of Mach 3, the performance of the MiG-31 is unparalleled in the world. Because of this, the former Soviet Union has invested in it without any consideration. Otherwise, it would not be possible to become the world's first combat aircraft equipped with electronically scanned phased array radar.
You must know that similar radars did not appear in Western countries until the late 1990s, and universal equipment would not be realized until the mid-to-late 2000s.
The former Soviet Union implemented large-scale installation on the MiG-31 in the early 1980s, so the performance of this niipn007s-800 electronically scanned phased array radar is still very powerful.
In addition to having a maximum detection range of 200 kilometers, the semi-active radar air-to-air missile has a guidance range of 90 kilometers, tracking 10 targets at the same time, and striking 4 of the most threatening targets. It is also equipped with niipn007s-800 electronic scanning when necessary. The MiG-31 with phased array radar can function as part of an early warning aircraft, commanding and guiding one's own air forces for coordinated operations.
The Soviet Union also conducted a special test before, using four MiG-31 fighter jets 200 kilometers apart from each other, and then turning on the niipn007s-800 electronically scanned phased array radar to effectively monitor the airspace of 1,000 kilometers in the opposite direction.
When the country was negotiating the introduction of third-generation combat aircraft in Russia, the Russians took out the MiG-31. The military headquarters immediately became interested in the NIIPN007S-800 electronically scanned phased array radar. After introducing two batches of Soviet -27 fighter jets, 6 sets of niipn007s-800 electronically scanned phased array radars were purchased at extremely favorable prices for basic performance testing.
At that time, Russia, which had just inherited the Soviet Union's family business, was short of money. Seeing that a certain big country in the East was interested in the NIIPN007S-800 electronically scanned phased array radar, I thought that a big country in the East was interested in their MiG-31. The one that agreed was called A crunchy one.
It was a pleasure to deliver 6 sets of niipn007s-800 electronically scanned phased array radars.
The Air Force Headquarters¡¯ expectation for the six sets of radars is to allocate two sets to relevant research and development units for research, and the remaining six sets will be used on a certain type of aircraft to try to make a low-profile version of the MiG-31.
The first model selected was naturally the J-82. After all, this fighter is a combat aircraft built with the core concept of high altitude and high speed. It is more inclined to an interceptor in terms of mission capabilities. It has a similar mission to the MiG-31 and is equipped with niipn007s-800. The electronically scanned phased array radar can obviously greatly enhance the combat capabilities of the J-82.
It is a pity that although the niipn007s-800 electronically scanned phased array radar is good, its size is too large. The diameter of the optical phased array radar antenna is more than one meter. The diameter of the J82 nose fairing is only 900mm, which is not installed at all. Not going in.
Seeing this situation, it is not without experts who proposed appropriate adaptive modifications to the niipn007s-800 electronically scanned phased array mine, such as reducing the size of the antenna, replacing the core data processor, etc.
With this idea in mind, relevant domestic units began to conduct in-depth research on the Russian radar. The results of this research were incredible. The relevant domestic experts were completely stunned by the simple and crude methods of the Russians.
Except for the radar antenna, which can be slightly modified in shape, the rest of the processor, power supply, and heat dissipation are all mixed together in a messy way like an octopus.
That¡¯s all. The most important thing is to rearrange and classify them, see which parts can be replaced or improved, and start working on it.
It seems that the Russian designers were not prepared to leave a way for upgrades. Not only was the interior messy, but the design of the integrated circuit also made people have the urge to go crazy. What should be integrated must be separated, and what should be separated should be integrated together. This means that even if domestic experts want to improve it, they have no way to start. Unless they dismantle all the internal components and develop a new radar, they can barely meet the program requirements.
It was not until this time that domestic army leaders and relevant experts clearly realized that this radar, like the platform it was applied on, the MiG-31, was a unique piece of equipment specially built by the former Soviet Union for a single mission.
From design to research and development, we only focus on the purpose of interception, and the rest is not within the scope of thinking at all. This results in the MiG-31 showing nobility from top to bottom, but also showing loneliness and frustration that is gradually drifting away from the times.
We must know that nowadays, both offense and defense have become the mainstream of the development of air force. Multi-purpose combat aircraft are increasingly becoming the object of pursuit by various countries. The emergence and popularization of early warning aircraft have brought about drastic and subversive changes in the air force's combat methods and concepts.
By comparison, the MiG-31, which simply emphasizes volley capabilities, is obviously a bit out of date.
Because of this, even if the Russians boast about the MiG-31, the troops have no intention of trying it out. Now they see that the niipn007s-800 electronically scanned phased array radar equipped with it is also a one-time deal, without any trace. ?The Air Force Headquarters' idea of ????increasing the potential for improvement has become firm.
But being firm, what should we do with the remaining four sets of radars? You can't just waste it like this, the money is not in vain.
It just so happens that in recent years, the Navy has used the improved An-26 to produce several support aircraft with good results. The Air Force is lying if it says it is not jealous. The problem is that the Navy's combat environment and combat areas are much simpler than those of the Air Force. The Air Force does not It may completely copy the supporting equipment of the Navy.
After all, the situation at sea is so different from that on land and even on the western plateau that the same radar may perform well at sea, but may be subject to strong clutter interference when placed on the plateau. This is why the Air Force has watched the Navy provide support over the years. The fundamental reason why everyone is envious and jealous of airplanes but has not yet bought one.
Now that there are four sets of phased array radars of the same MiG-31 model, can the Air Force also develop a radar warning aircraft like the Navy to improve its own strength?
This will not waste four sets of radars; secondly, and most importantly, the niipn007s-800 electronically scanned phased array radar itself was developed by the former Soviet Union to protect the vast airspace, fully meeting the needs of the Air Force for homeland air defense.
As for the performance gap between this radar and the professional early warning aircraft radar, the Air Force Headquarters certainly knows that, but the problem is that there is no special radar for early warning aircraft in China, and it will not be possible to import it for a while. Instead of waiting hard, It is better to use a radar system with a certain early warning function to counteract it, which is better than the air force's combat aircraft fighting alone.
So this project of the Air Force is not only a problem of "waste utilization", but also a problem of whether to solve it or not.
In addition, the introduction of 6 sets of radars was originally unplanned, which resulted in the Air Force¡¯s investment in this project being very limited, with only 16 million yuan in funding.
This amount of money was considered a huge sum in the 1980s, but in the mid-1990s it was not enough. Especially for the development of an airborne radar warning aircraft with certain early warning aircraft functions, this amount of money is probably not even enough to fill the gap between teeth. .
Because of this, when the Air Force spread the news in the industry, there were almost no responders. There was no way, the funds were too little, and the life of each aviation factory was not very good. How could it be possible to lose money and make money with the Air Force?
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