In long-range detection mode, within a 100 sq. degree zone (±60° of aircraft centerline), Irbis-E shall detect 3 m² RCS air targets and measure their range:
• Head-on: ≥ 350–400 km (with target altitude > 5,000 m, sky background: ≥ 400 km);
• Tail-chase: ≥ 150 km (with target altitude ≥ 10,000 m, sky background).
Detection of “very low observable” targets (0.01 m² RCS) shall be up to 90 km (roughly equal to the max fighter-class detection range of 4th-gen radars on Su-27 and F-15C). Group-target resolution at 50 km: 50–100 m in range, 5 m/s in velocity, 2.5° in angle.
With the customer-specified weapons set in A/A mode, Irbis-E should enable simultaneous engagement of up to 4 air targets with long-range (300+ km) missiles, or up to 8 targets with medium-range RVV-AE.
You’d be able to launch of a datalink track as well, such as if an AWACS or ground radar was tracking the target and relaying targetting info.
Its possible the Irbis-E cant fully employ the R-37M vs fighter sized targets, and requires datalink assist at those ranges, its not like the R-37M is actually designed for extreme range fighter interception (though its capable of doing so), AWACS and tankers are much larger targets the Irbis-E could definitly track at much longer ranges than fighter sized things.
Either way, its just a point of interest from the video imo, like I said, it would not matter in WT with our tiny maps.
Radar being on doesnt mean its not a datalink track, datalink targets should be in the radar screen along with ones your own radar is picking up, otherwise itd be a hassle for the pilot
there isnt any symbology in the HUD suggesting that he is using some sort of DL
and even then the given conditions it seems unlikely that he could recive DL from anything, as russia dosent really operates AWACS and given the target distance and them seeming to fly relatively low compared to the lauching aircraft
the onlything that might have been able to do it might be a Mig-31 but then again they would probably stay somewhat far behind the Su-35’s
How do you know there is no DL symbology if you dont know what the DL symbology is in the first place?
Russia most DEFINITLY operates AWACS, theyre the only nation to have ever lost AWACS in combat, and they’ve lost like 3 now in Ukraine iirc. AWACS also arent the only source of datalink, any other aircraft witb a radar and datalink capability, or any ground based radar for SAM’s with datalink capabilities could be providing datalink info if thats whats happening. The war is saturated with how power radars for GBAD so its not exactly surprising if thats whats providing the track info.
Ground based Radars, S-400 systems can and have provided DL
One of the reasons why the other sides SAMs were so effective they could use older S-300 Radars to provide DL to Patriot systems. Keeping the Patriots location hidden
The issue with low flying far away targets is the earth’s curveture
It is rather the other way around apparently the DL of a Su-35 was used before to guide a S-400 before
As they can look over the horizon by flying high
I never said that they dont
I said that they don’t REALLY use AWACS as they simply aren’t known for wide spread use of AWACS
And where would those aircraft be?
In front of the su35 in even more contested airspace the the su35 is already in?
Or rather behind it even further away?
Probably the latter.
No because the targets seem to be flying low and a ground radar will struggle with picking up a target behind the earth’s curveture.
At that point they could have just used a S400 missile to fire at the target as it would probably less risky than sending a pilot and a jet which could be shot down
Especially since the cost of a S-400 missile is estimated to cost 0.5 to 1 million dollars
Turkey and India deals
Turkey purchased S-400 batteries from Russia for $2.5 billion, which included approximately 144 missiles. On average, this makes the cost of one missile around $17.36 million, but this also includes launchers, radar, and other equipment. Experts believe that the actual cost per missile is between $0.5 million and 1 million
Ever heard of Occam’s razor?
Most of the time the simpler awnser is the correct one
