This is not necessarily true, for example the AH-64 / AH-66’s ESM have a Self-Protect mode which uses the contact’s line of bearing to cue the Radar to Spotlight a target, and then automatically cue up a Hellfire so it can return fire in one button press.
See para 5.4
For balance at best then probably (side eyeing the JAS39A with the never even tested Sky flashes (RB71) that the plane IRL didn’t even have the radar to be able to guide).
Yeah… We’ll have to wait and see what they do. It could easily go either way
There are photos of it fitted with ALARM, MOD documents showing the proposed ALARM loadouts, and brochures advertising it with ALARM / other ARMs. But ALARM was retired from service before it was integrated into Eurofighter, so it will be up to Gaijin whether they want to add it.
HARM has also been advertised for, and displayed next to, Eurofighter; but as far as I know it is not integrated yet. So likewise it’s up to Gaijin what they do.
Hey, There
These can actually be specialized radar variants, but I shared them under the general term ESM to avoid making the topic too long and complicated. ESM systems are extremely complex and many details about them are classified.
In general, they operate by detecting microwave-band electromagnetic emissions from other systems. In many modern fighter aircraft, ESM and AESA radars work together. A good example is the Sukhoi Su-57, which has additional antenna arrays on the sides of the fuselage and wings for passive detection.
For example, sensors operating in L-band can sometimes detect stealth aircraft at longer ranges because of the longer wavelength. This means a system might detect something like a Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II at around ~200 km. However, at that stage the system usually cannot identify exactly what the object is.
In simple terms, the warning to the pilot might be something like:
“Pilot, there is an unusual electromagnetic source here. I can detect it, but I cannot identify what it is yet.”
Once the target enters the low-RCS detection range of the main AESA radar, identification becomes much clearer.
In short, ESM is a broad and highly diverse military technology with many different subsystems used in modern electronic warfare.
ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
│
▼
Enemy radar emissions
Communication signals
Missile seekers
│
▼
┌─────────────────┐
│ ESM SYSTEM │
│ (Electronic │
│ Support Measures)│
└─────────────────┘
│
┌─────────────┼─────────────┐
▼ ▼
RWR (Radar Warning) ELINT
Real-time pilot Intelligence analysis
situational awareness and signal study
"Radar detected" "What radar type?"
"Direction?" "Frequency?"
"Threat level?" "Country/system?"
│ │
▼ ▼
Immediate tactical use Strategic intelligence
(during combat) (databases & analysis)
ESM (Electronic Support Measures)
Passive systems that detect electromagnetic emissions.
Used for situational awareness in combat.
Example functions:
ELINT (Electronic Intelligence)
A subset of ESM focused on analyzing radar signals in detail.
Used mostly for intelligence gathering.
Measures things like:
This information is used to build radar databases so aircraft can later automatically recognize enemy systems.
Seems odd since Italy was partnered with to produce the -88E, but might have been for the Tornado ECR / F-35B, not Typhoon. I don’t know if it’s service lines up with that development though.
Is it specified which variants, since there is a fairly big difference in capability between an A/B/C (assorted warhead and seeker improvements), D(add GPS & HOJ), E(AARGM), -F (HCSM; refit to -88B to bring up to modern threats for FMS clients, without kinematic improvements ) ,-G(AARGM-ER) & -J(SiAW)