WVR Counter Measures

Hi Guys and Girls,

Although ECM systems exist for BVR, do systems exist for WVR? If you could mess with the range finding of the attacking aircraft you could gain a serious upper-hand. If the range finder is constantly miss-reporting the “real” range the attacking pilot would wait until sure before firing.

Any thoughts?

RAB

The range to target is the least of your worries in a WVR environment against a 4.5+ Gen fighter.

'ECM' doesnt stop working just because you can already see the target. It just wouldnt be effective or relevant at that distance. Modern fighter aircraft usualy have some sorts of targeting system other than radar (EOTS, IRST) which would track aircraft in visual range even if it would still be able (it wouldnt) to jam the radar.

In reality nobody wants to close into WVR because this usually ends with both aircraft killing each other with short range AAMs. Actual combat between modern Legacy Fighter Jets would happen at extreme BVR ranges with both sides maneuvering in and out of engagement zones. Add 5th Gen to the mix and the Legacy Jets just die without ever seeing what hit them.

originally posted by: mightmight

In reality nobody wants to close into WVR because this usually ends with both aircraft killing each other with short range AAMs.

What if one side is OK with that since they have way more of them?

a reply to: mbkennel
Way more of what, kamikaze pilots? Sending out entire squadrons on one way trips will do wonders for morale.