| From: | Danyel N Woods <9604801@********.AC.NZ> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Threat warning systems (kinda long) [was re: Sniping in SR] |
| Date: | Fri, 5 Jun 1998 12:15:42 +1200 |
write a novel which I have had to suspend due to an over-abundance of
school-work :-( , and now consider myself fairly knowledgeable. You
jokers might disagree, of course, but here it is, all FYI...
<professor>
Electronic Support Measures (ESM) is a semi-meaningless term which
encompasses all the threat-warning systems on an aircraft (and more
recently, tanks and AFVs). These systems register and analyse any and
all radar emissions which come into contact with their parent craft.
Based on the system's transmission frequency, waveform, pulse-width,
pulse-repetition-frequency, power, and a host of other factors, an ESM
system can classify a radar down to a particular system and operating
mode - search, tracking, 'illumination' (missile-guidance),
what-have-you. (For example, a ground-based F-band monopulse radar
might be identified as the locked-on 'Fire Dome' fire-control radar of a
Russian-made SA-11 'Gadfly' surface-to-air missile system - *very* bad
news to a 199X fighter pilot.) Some systems on specialised aircraft can
even tell the ESM operator when the radar was last serviced, and what
parts it had replaced, based on the transmission data.
Laser rangefinders and designators are not commonly used in air-to-air
combat, for a number of reasons, primarily range limitations, the
relative youth of sufficiently small LDs, the proven reliability of
radar and infra-red systems, and the fact that LD systems are
'semi-active'. This last (for those who don't know) means that the
pilot has to hold a steady course, to keep the designator painting the
target, for his weapon to guide properly. Such a straight-line practice
is not conducive to long life in aerial combat.
This having been said, some missiles use lasers for their proximity
fuses, and there is the semi-humourous Gulf War example of an Iraqi
'Hind' gunship being shot down by a laser-guided bomb(!) from an A-10
(though this was an isolated occurrence; the gunship was in a relatively
stationary hover, and the A-10 didn't have to worry much about getting
shot down).
</professor>
In Shadowrun, I would expect that most aircraft and combat vehicles
would have a full threat-warning suite, including radar-receivers with
incredibly extensive detection capabilities and threat libraries,
passive infra-red sensors (to detect the heat-flare of a missile's
rocket motor), and passive optical (to detect lasers - maybe even
Erik's(?) ruthenium detector/defeater, though it seems a little
expensive). (I assume this is covered in R2's ECM/ECCM section. In how
much detail?)
Anyone with more detailed (or even first-hand) knowledge of this -
especially any ex- or current military types - please feel free to
correct me or fill in any gaps.
Danyel Woods
9604801@********.ac.nz
'Are you deliberately trying to drive me insane?'
'The universe is already mad. Anything else would be
redundant.'
