Latest news with #AESA
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Saab GlobalEye Set To Challenge Boeing E-7 As Canada's New Radar Plane
Saab of Sweden is pitching its GlobalEye multi-sensor surveillance plane to Canada, which is searching for a new airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) capability, the first in its history. While the GlobalEye will face stiff competition from the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail, which had been selected by the U.S. Air Force and NATO, among others, the Swedish solution will be combined with a Canadian-made Bombardier Global 6000/6500 airframe. Ahead of the CANSEC 2025 defense and security exhibition, Saab announced today that it's ready to offer the GlobalEye to Canada, the manufacturer saying that this 'combines the best of Swedish and Canadian expertise and quality to match the requirements of Canada's acquisition program.' The manufacturer also announced today that it plans to ramp up Global Eye production, if required, to four aircraft annually. 'GlobalEye is a truly strategic asset — a multi-domain solution that delivers increased situational awareness and rapid response capability across air, maritime, and land domains,' said Anders Carp, Deputy CEO of Saab. 'With Bombardier's world-class aircraft made right here in Canada, and Saab's proven expertise in radar development and advanced surveillance technologies, we believe GlobalEye represents a unique opportunity to deliver unmatched capability while growing Canada's aerospace and defense sectors.' The GlobalEye is already in operational service on a Global 6000 platform with the United Arab Emirates, which acquired five examples. Sweden is also set to receive three GlobalEye jets, locally known as the S 106, which will replace its last two older Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft, which are being transferred to Ukraine, as you can read about here. The Saab 340 AEW&C is equipped with the Saab Erieye radar system, the progenitor of the GlobalEye, which is also currently in service with Brazil, Greece, Mexico, Pakistan, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand, on a variety of different aircraft platforms. As we've discussed in the past, the GlobalEye, which is sometimes marketed under the Swing Role Surveillance System (SRSS) name, combines Saab's Erieye Extended Range (ER) active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar with a number of additional sensors. The Erieye S-Band gallium-nitride radar is installed in the 'ski-box' mounted on top of GlobalEye's fuselage. But as a multi-sensor surveillance aircraft, the GlobalEye is able to provide long-range detection and identification of objects at sea and over land, as well as in the air. For maritime surveillance, the GlobalEye can call upon the Erieye radar, as well as a dedicated maritime surveillance radar, a Leonardo Seaspray with an AESA antenna. Between them, they can detect objects as small as jet skis or submarine periscopes at long distances. Meanwhile, an automatic identification system (AIS), a FLIR Systems Star Safire 380HD electro-optical sensor turret, and inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) can be used for identifying objects. Notably, while the rival E-7 can also perform surface surveillance with its radar, this is not its primary capability set, and it does not have a second dedicated array for it. The GlobalEye's maritime surveillance role could be of particular interest to Canada, as the country seeks to increase its overall presence in the Arctic. In the past, the demands of a steadily more contested Arctic region have seen Canada look at long-range surveillance drones. Clearly, there is a growing requirement for maritime surveillance assets that can cover the vast swaths of the Arctic, protecting Canadian and allied strategic and economic interests and keeping tabs on the increasing Russian and Chinese military and civilian maritime activity in the region. The GlobalEye can also conduct ground surveillance, employing its radar to detect moving objects at long ranges using wide-area ground moving target indication (GMTI). All these sensors are combined with a multi-domain command and control (C2) system and a powerful electronic support measures (ESM) suite. While there is little doubt about the potential of the GlobalEye mission package, Saab is hoping that the chosen airframe could also help clinch the Canadian deal. By offering the Global 6000/6500 aircraft, Canada would be getting a locally built platform, bringing various industrial advantages, in terms of jobs, domestic content, and involvement of Canadian companies within a global supply chain. Canada's requirement for an AEW&C capability is a relatively new one, and the country has never previously operated an aircraft in this class. Ottawa's plans to buy an AEW&C platform were formally unveiled in April 2024, when the government released its defense policy. This called for a new platform to 'detect aircraft and missiles at long ranges in real time and from much further away than ground-based radars and then manage the battle space in response to a threat.' Such a capability will 'will vastly improve the [Royal Canadian Air Force's] ability to detect, track and prioritize airborne threats sooner, respond faster, and better coordinate our response with the United States when required.' As such, the future AEW&C aircraft will be an important part of the U.S.-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), an area in which Ottawa is increasingly investing resources, faced by a resurgent Russian threat. As well as planned purchases of stealthy F-35A Joint Strike Fighters to replace aging CF-18 Hornet fighters, Canada is showing increasing interest in participating in Golden Dome defense efforts, which extend into space, as you can read about here. According to reports, Ottawa has allocated around $5.463 billion for the project over a 20-year period, which includes buying the aircraft as well as operating and supporting them. The first of these aircraft is planned to enter service in the late 2030s. It seems almost certain that Canada's search for an AEW&C aircraft will see the GlobalEye face off against the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail. This will be something of a repeat of the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA) project, which ended up with Canada selecting the Boeing P-8 Poseidon to replace its old CP-140 Aurora (a version of the P-3 Orion) maritime patrol aircraft. As we reported at the time, Boeing secured a sole-source deal valued at around $5.9 billion for 14 P-8s, plus associated equipment and initial maintenance. There is also an option to buy two more P-8s at a later date. Ultimately, the whole deal could be worth around $7.7 billion. Today, we announced that Canada selected the P-8A Poseidon as its new Multi-Mission Aircraft. Canada is acquiring up to 16 Poseidon aircraft, a proven capability operated by our Allies. @RCAF_ARC #WellEquippedhttps:// — National Defence (@NationalDefence) November 30, 2023 The P-8 defeated a rival offering from Bombardier and General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada, based on the Global 6500 airframe. Unlike the Global 6500-based CMMA proposal, however, the GlobalEye is already in production and in service on the same Canadian-made platform. On the other hand, with Canada already having bought Boeing's P-8, the E-7, which is also based on an adapted 737 airliner, would offer a significant degree of commonality, not to mention a higher level of interoperability with future U.S. Air Force and NATO Wedgetail fleets. Among the FIVE EYES allies — the intelligence alliance that comprises Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States — all will eventually operate the P-8. Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States all will operate the E-7. In April 2022, the U.S. Air Force announced plans to replace a portion of its fleet of E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning And Control System, or AWACS, aircraft with E-7s, a decision that was widely expected. NATO then followed the U.S. Air Force's lead, announcing in November 2023 that the E-7 would be its next AEW&C platform, also replacing aging E-3s. NEW – #NATO has selected its next generation command & control aircraft as the Alliance's @NATOAWACS fleet nears retirement. Production of 6 new Boeing's E-7A Wedgetail aircraft is set to begin in the coming years. — NATO Spokesperson (@NATOpress) November 15, 2023 On the political side, the P-8's victory in the CMMA project marked a turning point for Boeing, after the U.S. manufacturer had been criticized by Canada as an untrustworthy partner back in 2017. This had extinguished any chances of Canada buying the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as its next fighter. As part of its protracted search for a replacement for its aging CF-18s, Canada had lined up a purchase of F/A-18E/Fs from Boeing as 'interim fighters'. Boeing then complained to the U.S. government that Bombardier was receiving subsidies, allowing it to sell its C-Series commercial passenger aircraft at prices that undercut the market and threatened the U.S. company's own sales. There followed an economic spat between the United States and its neighbor, and Canada walked away from the planned Super Hornet buy. By the time of the P-8 deal, the issue had been forgotten, to all intents and purposes, although Boeing will have to ensure 'meaningful business activities and make targeted investments in Canadian industry to support the growth of our aerospace and defense sector,' in delivering the P-8s. The same would very likely also apply to any sale of E-7s to Canada. Since the Poseidon deal, however, relations between Canada and the United States have taken a dramatic turn for the worse. A new global trade war under U.S. President Donald Trump has seen Canada become one of the first countries to be targeted with tariffs. Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly talked about making Canada the '51st state.' The tariff wars could still play a role in Canada's decision on its new airborne early warning and control aircraft. In particular, independence of operation is now a much bigger issue for Canada and one area in which the Saab offering has a clear advantage. Whatever the relationship with the United States, the GlobalEye would be free from U.S.-controlled maintenance and logistics chains, as well as computer networks. However, as we've seen in the past with the P-8 Poseidon, it would seem very unwise to rule out Boeing from the competition, whatever happens next in the relationship between Ottawa and Washington. Contact the author: thomas@
India.com
a day ago
- Business
- India.com
India Gives Nod To AMCA: Know The Nation's First Stealth Fighter Jet That Is Likely Redifine Air Combat
New Delhi: With an aim to bolster national security and strengthen indigenous defence manufacturing, the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday approved the development of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) – a fifth generation stealth fighter jet. The programme will be implemented by the Aeronautical Development Agency in collaboration with industry partners. The decision has enabled India enter the elite club of countries that develop the medium-weight and multi-role aircraft – which will be capable of carrying out deep-strike missions. The AMCA will be equipped with low observable technologies to lessen its radar signature. It will help the aircraft evade infrared tracking system and enemy's radar. The technology will allow it to operate with least chances of detection and high degree of survivability in a contested environment. The jet will use radar-absorbent material and have a stealth-optimised airframe and internal weapons bay to further reduce the chances of radar detection. Apart from its stealth capabilities, the AMCA will feature advanced avionics – including electronic warfare systems and sensor fusion. It will also have artificial intelligence-supported flight systems, infrared search and track (IRST) system and active electronically scanned array (AESA). It is expected that the fighter will offer supercruise capability that will enable it to fly at supersonic speeds even without using afterburners. The jet will be capable of carrying air-to-ground and air-to-air weaponry. It can be upgraded in future – with provisions of directed energy weapons and for integration of unmanned systems. The AMCA project is strategically seen as a response to evolving regional security challenges – especially in the context of reports about stealth air cooperation between Pakistan and China. The project is aimed at enhancing India's ability to maintain air dominance and carry out precision operations across a wide range of threat environments. It also reflects India's commitment to self-reliance in defence manufacturing sector. Both public and private sectors will take part in the project under a competitive bidding model that will support the growth of domestic aerospace ecosystem. The estimated expenditure on the initial development phase has been calculated at around Rs 15,000 crore. The AMCA is a long desired requirement of the Indian Air Force.
Indian Express
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Operation Sindoor: The weapons that gave India the edge
Written by Arindam Goswami and Vikrant Shinde Operations Sindoor and Bunyan Marsoos constituted a sharp and intense three-day engagement and yielded significant lessons on the infusion of technology into warfighting. The contest played out across multiple domains: diplomacy, economy, military, and information. The military aspect spanned non-kinetic, kinetic, contact, and non-contact engagements. India and Pakistan appear to have drawn lessons from the Balakot strikes (India) and Operation Swift Retort (Pakistan), as well as from ongoing wars in West Asia and Eastern Europe. Both armed forces, equipped with inventories from opposing blocs — India with Russian, French, US, and indigenous platforms, and Pakistan with Chinese, US, and Turkish systems — have grappled with the challenges of restricted cross-platform integration going into this engagement. Both air forces were acutely aware of the challenges of employing air power in a contested air defence (AD) environment. The nature of the conflict did not allow the luxury of time to shape the air situation through dedicated Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) or Destruction of Enemy Air Defences (DEAD). Consequently, both air forces sought to operate outside each other's AD bubbles using a variety of beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missiles (AAMs), such as the US-made AMRAAM and Chinese PL-15 (by the PAF), and the Meteor (by the IAF), alongside air-to-ground munitions such as air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) including SCALP and HAMMER employed by the IAF. The employment of kinetic strikes deep into Pakistan, dominated by air power from the outset, had the potential to escalate rapidly and uncontrollably. India's reliance on precision targeting facilitated escalation control by minimising collateral damage, thereby providing Pakistan with an off-ramp. Active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar technology was another important factor in modern air combat capability. Unlike older passive electronically scanned array (PESA) systems, AESA radars offer superior target detection and tracking, as well as enhanced resistance to jamming. The ability to simultaneously track multiple targets while maintaining a low probability of interception provides a significant combat advantage. This combination affords aircraft equipped with AESA systems a decisive edge in air-to-air engagements. India currently faces a modest capability gap in this domain. It possesses only around 30–40 AESA-equipped aircraft, primarily Rafales and a limited number of Su-30MKIs with upgraded AESA radars. In contrast, Pakistan fields over 70 AESA-equipped aircraft, including approximately 20 J-10CEs and around 45–50 JF-17 Block III jets fitted with the KLJ-7A AESA radar. These JF-17 Block III fighters are integrated with advanced PL-15 air-to-air missiles, significantly enhancing their BVR combat effectiveness. Similarly, the J-10C aircraft are also equipped with PL-15 missiles. This technological disparity creates a potential vulnerability in India's air defence posture. However, India has made notable strides in addressing this imbalance. The acquisition of Rafale fighters has been particularly impactful. These aircraft can track over 40 targets and engage multiple threats simultaneously — a capability that far exceeds that of the Su-30MKI's PESA N011M Bars radar, which can track approximately 15 targets and engage up to four. Thus, the Rafale jets, equipped with the RBE2 AESA radar and Meteor missiles (with ranges exceeding 150 km), provide a distinct advantage in radar capability, missile range, and electronic warfare over Pakistan's JF-17s and J-10CEs. The most significant enhancement to India's air defence capability, however, came through the 'Akashteer' AD management system and the IAF's Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS). The legacy systems included IGLA Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS), and Bofors L-70 guns — both of which have been significantly upgraded with radar, electro-optical sensors, and auto-tracking systems, including the Soviet-origin Schilka. The advanced AD systems fielded included the indigenous Akash (SRSAM), the Barak (MRSAM) developed jointly with Israel, and the S-400 (LRSAM), one of the most advanced AD systems in the world. India also deployed indigenous Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS), developed by BEL and private industry, capable of both soft-kill electronic warfare techniques (such as jamming and spoofing) and hard-kill options using directed energy weapons like lasers. These systems were extensively used to counter incursions by surveillance and combat drones. Drones were deployed extensively by both sides to saturate the airspace and test air defence systems. The use of HAROP loitering munitions to target radars created potential gaps in AD coverage during the early stages. These munitions combine the features of UAVs and missiles, equipped with electro-optical (EO), infrared (IR), forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensors, colour CCD cameras, and anti-radiation homing capabilities. HAROPs can loiter in a designated area for up to nine hours. Due to their immunity to GNSS jamming, they are largely resistant to electronic warfare attacks. Their relatively low cost and expendability make them likely candidates as weapons of choice in future 'no-war, no-peace' scenarios. The writers are research analysts at the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru
India.com
17-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
India has big Chinese 'secret' that US, UK, France, and others want; it is..., future warfare...
(Representational image: New Delhi: After the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, the international intelligence community has turned its attention towards Delhi. The reason for the world's interest in India is the PL-15 air-to-air missile developed in China. This missile was used by Pakistan to attack India. The Indian Army intercepted the attack and shot down the missile and its debris is sought after by the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance comprising the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as France and Japan. These countries want to research this debris to gather information about China's modern military technology. Hunt for Chinese 'secret' During the conflict between India and Pakistan that lasted from May 6 to May 10, pieces of the PL-15 missile were found in Hoshiyarpur, Punjab. Reports suggest that Pakistan launched PL-15E missiles at India using the J-10C and JF-17 fighter jets received from China. This modern weapon was used in warfare for the first time. In such a scenario, rival countries of China which are leaders in weapon manufacturing see this missile as a treasure and are requesting it from India. Why is Five Eyes interested? The PL-15 missile is a critical part of China's aerial combat capability. It has been developed to counter the US's AIM-120D and Europe's MBDA Meteor missiles. Its AESA radar seeker, two-way data link, and dual-pulse motor are examples of cutting-edge technology. Analyzing the debris will provide insights into its guidance system, propulsion, electronic warfare, and China's military capabilities. This will help the Five Eyes, especially the USA, in any future conflicts with China. Japan and France The Five Eyes and Japan see China's growing influence in South Asia as a strategic challenge. China poses a particular challenge for them in the Indo-Pacific region. Meanwhile, France sells weapons to India. France is interested in ensuring that its Rafale jets remain competitive against adversaries equipped with Chinese weapons. Thus, the analysis of the PL-15 could provide insights for future arms deals and military cooperation with India. Might of Chinese weapons The PL-15 missile is developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and it is an extremely powerful missile. It is a long-range air-to-air missile. This missile is equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar seeker and a dual-pulse rocket motor. Its domestic version has a range of 200-300 kilometers. However, Pakistan has used the PL-15E, which has a range of up to 145 kilometers. This missile is designed to target critical assets such as fighter jets and airborne early warning systems.
Express Tribune
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Chinese PL-15 vs French Rafale: Proxy clash hints at deeper China-West military rivalry
Pakistan Air Force J-10C fighter jets perform at a rehearsal ahead of Pakistan's national day parade in Islamabad on March 21, 2024. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP via Getty Images) AAMIR QURESHI Listen to article The recent escalation between Pakistan and India, which brought both nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink of full-scale war, marked a significant shift in the nature of warfare between the two countries. For the first time, French-made 4.5 gen Rafale fighter jets operated by India were downed in combat. Unlike previous conflicts, Pakistan did not rely on US-supplied weaponry, while India has increasingly shifted from Russian arms to equipment sourced from Western countries. The development is viewed not just as a Pakistan-India engagement, but as a real-world proxy test of Chinese versus Western military technology—potentially fuelling new competition in the global arms market and drawing diplomatic attention from Paris, Washington, and NATO-aligned states. Several analysts have highlighted the air force engagements, with some pointing to the possible role of Chinese-supplied PL-15 air-to-air missiles perhaps being the difference-maker. Images shared on social media show a section of the missile's fuselage with visible serial markings and a seeker test port. Another image appears to show the missile's seeker head, equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, known for improved tracking and resistance to jamming. So 1st Use of PL-15 Very Long Range Air to Air Missile by PAF. — International Defence Analysis (@Defence_IDA) May 7, 2025 Confirmed Indian Air Force 🇫🇷-made Dassault Rafale lost. Was it shot down using 🇨🇳-made PL-15 air-to-air missile ? Or 🇨🇳-made HQ-9BE air defense system ? — MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) May 7, 2025 Air-to-air PL-15 missile The PL-15, developed by China's Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC), is a long-range, radar-guided missile designed to engage high-value airborne targets at ranges exceeding 200 kilometres. PL-15 is China's standard active-radar-guided AAM, and it was intended to at least match the performance of the US-made AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). Screen grab Its export version, the PL-15E, is reported to have a maximum range of 145 kilometres and is integrated with Pakistan's JF-17 Block III and J-10CE fighters. The domestic version in use of the Chinese military has a reported range of between 300-500 kilometers. South Asian combat theatre The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) released visuals on April 26 showing JF-17s armed with PL-15E and PL-10 missiles. Pakistan's fleet includes an estimated 45–50 JF-17 Block IIIs and 20 J-10CEs—approximately 70 aircraft capable of deploying the PL-15E. The missile's guidance system includes inertial navigation, Beidou satellite updates, a two-way datalink, and AESA radar terminal homing. It features a dual-pulse solid rocket motor and can reach speeds exceeding Mach 5. The warhead, typically high-explosive fragmentation, weighs between 20 to 25 kilograms. The weapon may have been sourced directly from China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), a claim not independently verified. India's air force, meanwhile, relies on Rafales equipped with Meteor missiles, Su-30MKIs with R-77s, and S-400 SAM systems. PL-15's range may allow Pakistani fighters to launch from beyond India's engagement envelopes. While Pakistan officially confirmed the use of Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets from Chengdu in the downing of Indian Rafales, it has not specified the munitions used. However, fragments of a PL-15 missile were reportedly recovered from a field near Hoshiarpur in India's Punjab state, potentially marking the first known use of the Chinese missile in active combat. The development comes after two US officials told Reuters that a Chinese-made Pakistani fighter aircraft was responsible for shooting down at least two Indian military jets, underscoring a major operational milestone for Beijing's advanced fighter systems. A senior French intelligence official also confirmed to CNN that at least one IAF Dassault Rafale jet had been downed during the skirmish with the Pakistan Air Force. The debris discovery adds pressure to regional air defence planning and underscores shifting dynamics in South Asia's arms landscape. India's diversified procurement contrasts with Pakistan's increasingly centralised reliance on Chinese systems. Chinese state media have highlighted the PL-15E's export readiness and advanced production lines. The system's presence in an active conflict may provide China with operational feedback and expand its influence in the global arms market. Neither China nor Pakistan has commented on the missile's appearance. The deployment of the Chinese-made PL-15 missile in South Asia presents a direct technological counter to Western systems like the US AIM-120D AMRAAM and France's Meteor missile. While the Meteor is widely regarded as superior in terms of no-escape zones and sustained propulsion via ramjet, the PL-15's longer range and advanced AESA guidance give it a strategic edge in first-launch scenarios—particularly when fired from standoff ranges.
