For two consecutive days in the eastern theater, the "United Sword 2024A" sea and air exercise was organized in the Taiwan Strait, with the goal of implementing a 360 degree blockade of Taiwan Island without dead corners. Under the cover of the rocket army Dongfeng series missiles and the army's long-range rockets, the Navy's close combat patrol patrol over several areas of Taiwan Island is only 30 kilometers away from Hualien. The air force also launched a strong attack, carrying anti-ship and cruise missiles into the air with H-6K, and implemented strategic deterrence under the escort of J-16.
Although there is a big gap in Taiwan's military strength, various counter measures have also been taken in the past two days. In particular, the Air Force F-16 has been upgraded by the United States, and the current equipment version is the F-16V. It can carry the AIM-120 medium range air-to-air missile and the "Sniper" electronic pod. Unexpectedly, this equipment is really used. The Taiwan military disclosed that the F-16V uses electronic pods to lock the H-6K, and the video images of the escort J-16 fighter. The tracking and stability images are also very clear. If the distance is close enough, it seems impossible to launch the missile at this time.
"Sniper" electronic pod includes forward looking infrared, CCD camera, laser ranging/irradiation/tracking/indicator, etc. Optical zoom or electronic zoom can be selected to detect and identify, track and aim targets within 160km. The air space of Taiwan Strait is not very large. From the small F-16V tracking video of Taiwan Army, it is very stable. Considering that both sides of the normal cruise have accompanied the flight in the past, the distance between the aircraft should not be too far, so the risk coefficient is still somewhat.
The "Sniper" electronic pod adopts infrared tracking and locking mode, which is basically aimed at the aircraft heat source. It can be seen from the video screen that the locking place is concentrated at the engine nozzle. Unlike the locking place of the fire control radar, the radar alarm device of the other side will not sense, and certainly will not generate alarm action. So in some cases, infrared tracking can be used without radar. It can be used as a fire control radar after the target is found. As long as the target is locked, the missile can be launched at any time. It is a bit like a stealth fighter. The effect must be good as long as you make sure that you are not found.
It was with the help of new equipment provided by the United States that the Taiwan Air Force dared to be so arrogant and lock the PLA aircraft in the exercise. For example, the upgraded F-16V is equipped with an AN/APG-83 radar, with a maximum detection range of 370 km, which can provide a stronger battlefield mode perception capability, as well as electronic countermeasures capability, and even can find targets with low detectability. In addition, it is also equipped with JHMCS head aiming system, which can be used together with infrared search/aiming pod to find fighters with infrared characteristics within a certain distance. If the AIM-120 medium range air-to-air missile and the AIM-9X short-range combat air-to-air missile do have some advantages compared with the same level fighter, Taiwan once believed that the F-16V could fight the J-20.
However, Taiwan seems to forget that the electronic pod infrared detection is not exclusive to the F-16V, and its detection range for stealth fighters is limited. Even if it is a one-on-one fight in the air, the detection range of the F-16V will decline straightly when it encounters the J-20, and the infrared characteristics of the engine nozzle that is directly exposed are more obvious. Only one end of the fight is that the J-20 is shot down before it is found. Of course, based on the strong radar system of AWACS, unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and J-16 aircraft, if the F-16V enters the actual combat, under the care of Dongfeng Express and Far Fire, it will not even have the opportunity to lift off.
In fact, the reason why we can lock stable tracking in the air this time is the same as the usual air companion flight. This is not a direct combat exercise for the PLA. Even if we find the F-16V doing small movements nearby, it will not be shot down. It is precisely by taking advantage of this convenience that the F-16V first records a paragraph when it is closer, and then publicly demonstrates that it is strong. It's just self deception. I have no chance to do so in a real combat environment.
More obvious infrared characteristics
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