The AN/APG-71 radar on the F-14D was digitally redesigned from the older AWG-9, giving it greater range and signal processing. While the radar itself could detect targets out to 460 miles, the mechanical antenna limited usable tracking to about 230 miles. However, thanks to the F-14D’s advanced datalink and the APG-71’s digital architecture, two aircraft could network their radar feeds—allowing one jet to transmit long-range radar data to another. This enabled the system to bypass individual antenna limits and operate closer to its true range potential. Unlike standard datalink, this setup leveraged the APG-71’s digital signal processing to interpret and act on external radar returns in real time. Unlike a fighter receiving targeting data from an AWACS, which provides general situational awareness or track data, the F-14D’s system allowed direct sharing of raw data between aircraft. his was more integrated than standard datalink, which typically doesn’t support full radar functionality or control. This is a F-14D only ability.
So what is your source for this bit? None of that appears in the Wikipedia article (and what is in the Wikipedia article doesn’t appear to be cited to anything).
The wikipedia article doesnt state anything about how the DL works, though it does specify the fact that the AWG-9 is limited by the antenna size rather than power but thats about it. The AWG-9 is bottlenecked by the antenna to a range of 230 nautical miles.
The only way an F-14 would see a target past that distance would be if another F-14 was closer to the target (within the radar range) and shared the information via DL with the other.
If two F-14s are flying formation and theres a target 300 miles out, neither one would be able to see it with or without Datalink.
I also cannot find any information of a similar capability to what you mentioned on things such as Link 4 (the F-14 Datalink).
I don’t know if you’re just refusing the listen or you simply arent trying to understand. This is not normal datalink.
Think of it like this. The AWG-9 has an untapped potential that it can’t reach due to its antenna, so its maximum range is 230 miles. The APG-71 has the same problem, but has upgrades to put its problem into the perspective of code. Using datalink, Hughes combined the antennas of both radars to tap into the full potential of the system. This is possible because the system was always capable of this performance. Nothing new is being added performance-wise. It’s not normal datalink because both radars are already capable. They’re not doing something they couldn’t do systemically before. It’s not like AWACS - Fighter Datalink where it plots stuff onto the displays and shows stuff out of reach to the receiving aircraft. It’s not showing stuff 800km out.
Honestly I don’t know why this is so hard to comprehend. It explains it perfectly fine in that one sentence alone if you take the time to process what it says.
How the hell did they combine the signals of the radars in the 80’s/90’s when it was designed? That’s stupidly complicated when you really think about it
And don’t you think other stuff would have this if it was seriously that effective?
data link between ships was already a thing with AEGIS combat systems by the time f14d came about one ship can monitor the radars of all the ships in the carrier strike group and guide munitions even if the ship that launched the missile is sunk
No I understand this, it’s just datalink, but what @MikeyPlayzonYT seems to be saying is that the radar antennas them selves combined their signals from 2 seperate aircraft to extend their range
no i see what u are saying now there are multiple things saying the f14 can extend radar range with 2 aircraft or more but nothing that says how its doing this
I guess the US thought there would be no need. I mean the F-22 already covers 3/4 of that range without another plane to connect to. It uses its system to the fullest. Plus, it was the last mechanical radar from the US. The focus was AESA magic.
i dont see why the same couldnt be used by AESA especially for F-35’s (assuming its even possible), since with their smaller antennas they could really benefit from something like it
It’s really just addition. 1 system with a potential range of 740km (limited to 370km) + another system with a potential range of 740km (limited to 370km) = maximum potential system usage and range of 740km.