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.
i know, but its just kind of funny how you think AESA is magic compared to what you are saying the tomcats could do. im no radar engineer but im usually able to grasp this kind of stuff, how they actually get APG-71 signal combination to work is beyond me