Mitsubishi F-2

I don’t think it would be too hard to either make dedicated keys for switching targets or allow players to create a key that continuously cycles available targets. IIRC there is a simmilar system already in WT.

The reason Apaches can pick up the Pantsir’s tracking radar isn’t because of the PESA radar technology but due to the specific frequencies/bands their RWRs can detect. Most RWR systems in WT currently can’t even detect the K band; that’s how dated they are.

AESA is fundamentally more dangerous compared to PESA because of its ability to change frequencies and the capability to use multiple “sub-beams”. This makes it significantly harder for RWR systems, not only because they need to cover a wide range of frequencies/bands but also because they must recognize when they are being locked onto by a changing frequency or getting painted by many different sub-beams that are extremely close to background emission levels, likely too close to effectively filter out and detect that they are being targeted. AESA systems are designed to outsmart modern RWR; it wouldn’t be a stretch to assume they would demolish older systems.

It’s not a question of being able to make the keybinds but like, making it simple for the average WT player. One of the reasons, IIRC, that they simplified the current radar (where it auto selects modes when it loses lock) was so players didn’t have to fiddle with the modes because it was too complicated for them.

In that same vein, having to lock multiple targets would be annoying and very niche. It’s another reason why again the F-14 (and possibly others) don’t have this modeled already.

I’m aware of the bands, but my point being that Gaijin will update RWR to all aircraft to the most up to date modern standards to detect AESA.

Gameplay takes priority and it’s highly likely they will have an entire top tier full of AESA aircraft that cannot detect each other. They will make whatever changes are needed to suit gameplay. Just like how they add missile diamonds to smokeless missiles. At least as far as arcade and realistic is concerned. SIM might have some niche quirks.

I just think people are over-exaggerating AESA. Expecting it to be anything other than a fast sweeping PD radar is asking for disappointment (see lack of CVT for years for the Type 10 and others).

The big difference between AESA and the Type 10s CVT are that it will one will actually effect more that one vehicle. It’s not like gaijian refuse to add features, within the past 2 years they have completely reworked RWR, added VWS, HMD, IRCCM, thrust vectoring and realistic (Ish) PESA. If you think it’s just going to be a fast PD radar sure, but that’s already what PESA is.

If AESA is added it might not get all its irl features immediately but just like VHS and optical tracking it will get added eventually and the more planes with AESA the more realistic and accurate it will get (especially if they add something like the mig35).

(Also I wouldn’t say its fair to compare ground with air as separate people work on ground and air)

It’s because IRL isn’t balanced. They can add features all they want as long as it doesn’t create huge imbalances.

They still won’t add it like IRL. The optical tracking is kinda wonky itself in that it won’t work even with clear background if the target is low enough. Basically it only activates if the target is higher than the ground to the point that multipath doesn’t take effect which is just wrong. This is what I mean about compromising for gameplay.

What will happen is they’ll add them like fast PD and then later on when everyone has AESA, update them. Just like how radars got reworked to have their PD and RWRs got reworked later, etc. AESA won’t be no different.

I’m not sure the comparison is valid.

This is true, but the point is still valid, things are done for gameplay reasons, not to be a full 1 to 1 simulation.

It’s possible but from a gameplay perspective that would suck, wouldn’t you agree? Especially if top tier is full of AESA fighters. No RWR pings, all silent, randomly exploding because someone launched a AESA ARH that you couldn’t detect. No different than getting swatted by an invisible missile. It’s not just an F-2 problem but a full on top tier gameplay problem.

I would accept it because it’s a Type 10 and it looks cool, but that’s just me. I get your point, however I can’t expect it to come with 2A5/6/7 levels of turret armor and round penetration with CVT on a 3 second reload either.

Ultimately I’m of the opinion that Gaijin will take the path of least resistance and that also is a path that gets the F-2 sooner rather than later. Or we’ll get the F-2 when USA is using the F-22 and then AESA will be least of our worries.

I haven’t heard about any RWR that is able to distinguish AESA radar signal from background noise. You can see PESA signal, but with AESA I believe it’s impossible. If you know anything otherwise I would like to know.
And no, gameplay wouldn’t suck, at least I don’t see gameplay that requires brain as a bad gameplay - you see enemy jet on a radar>you know there is a high chance missile is launched. It’s just change from dumb rush gameplay into more strategical one(kinda similar happened in real life history btw). Also it’s not completely silent, you can still see missile on both RWR(In case of sparrows, probably) and radar.
If it still will be 16v16 then yes it will be bad and I even dare to say trash gameplay. Even without properly imlemented AESA.
Also if gameplay first then why JP tree can’t get guided air to ground weapons unless we provide classified documents signed by japan ministry of defence and emperor of japan himself?

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I wouldn’t say its impossible, but its incredibly difficult, most AESA radars are either designed to fully work in “Low probability of interception” or have a mode to use it. I doubt there is any public information about RWR’s that can reliably detect the sub-beams / frequency changes of AESA.

I can imagine such thing exist, but I highly doubt it’s available for jets because of weight or other issues.

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While it isn’t top tier, this already exists in mid tier jets. Many Russian jets have j band radar, and lots of mid tier American jets only have e g i rwr. It’s mildly funny to randomly explode, but also annoying, but it is funny to be the one to make planes randomly explode

I don’t know honestly. I’m just assuming that top of the line military hardware has an answer to this (which they probably do but I only just remembered).

We’ll see with the ARH update if they change the 16 vs 16 format but if not, it would still be painful to get randomly swatted out of the sky.

There is one thing I forgot and it might balance out the invisible RWR ping issue, that being missile approach warning systems. MAWS might be the new information tool to use to detect incoming missiles to at least alleviate the surprise jump scares.

To be fair, they bent the rules and added the F-16AJ specifically to give Japan guided CAS capabilities, even if it’s mediocre compared to other nations.

Right, there is precedence for this, though it’s only limited to a select few aircraft, so I’d imagine it’d be different compared to every aircraft having that ability. Of course, MAWS might be the answer but I’m unsure if every late 4.5 gen has one. I know F-2 early does not IIRC.

From what I’ve read there are none. Some experimental ones may exist but they are not known to public. I haven’t heard even rumors.
Maybe we will see some kind of AI later that will work with all the noise to find signals of interest in real time, kinda similar how they work in space industry to find signals that are unreal for human to notice.

Doesn’t it work on radar signal too? Missile signal tho. Because if so it won’t work against AAM-4 which is stealthy thanks to some kind of programming done that requires J/ARG-1 command and guidance device.

To be really fair this variant of maverick sucks.

i mean all MAWS function is detecting missile approaching you. i guess it’s depend on what type of MAWS is used on the vehicle itself, the pulse-doppler maws works just like the radar one so it probably gonna detect any missile coming IR or S/ARH.

Yea, I’m referring to MAWS that detect missiles approaching it with their own sensors, as opposed to relying on radar waves or something. So not only radar missiles, but also detecting IR missiles.

It does, but it’s something and goes to show that Gaijin will break reality just to make gameplay work.

But what about ARH missiles that already used all propelant? They are still should be hot but is MAWS able to see them?

AFAIK it’s scanning the area around you and detecting any fast moving projectiles coming your way, just like APS on tanks.

the PD maws basically mini radar that detect any incoming object. but instead of showing in display it’s either warn the pilot and/or deploying counter measure.

i think all the heli maws currently in the game is PD maws

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I didn’t know about radar MAWS
It sounds like a pretty modern tech tho, what jet’s can get it?

not really sure what jet having it. but i think the F-15J reportedly having maws at the rear of the jet

this is from wikipedia of missile approaching warning system (maws)
the J/APQ-1 was listed there from Mitsubishi.

All I could find about J/APQ-1 is it’s active, that means it actually search for missiles and not just react on incoming radio waves? Maybe it might see ARH missiles. No idea about range tho - if it’s only a few km it won’t be enough to react.

yeah it similar to PD radar that it is transmitting radar wave, the return signal probably what makes the maws warn the pilot and activate the counter measure.
like all the helicopter maws ingame, it’s most likely a PD maws since it activate when any missile coming for them