Incident Ukrainian War Display Gets Int'l Attention | 45 comments (45 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

F-16s Need to Operate in Battle Networks (none / 0)

Or else the fighter jets are quite useless in the proxy war of America v. Russia.

Battle Networks and the Future Force | CSIS |
It is the root cause of many interoperability limitations present in the force today, such as the inability of the U.S. Air Force's two fifth-generation fighters (the F-22 and F-35) to communicate directly with one another.
To address some interoperability issues, DoD is using workarounds, such as U-2s equipped with a communications payload that connects F-22s and F-35s with each other and with units on the ground. Similarly, the Battlefield Airborne Communication Node (BACN) can be flown on platforms such as the RQ-4 and E-11A to act as a communications gateway to connect aircraft and users on the ground using various tactical data links, such as Link 16 and the Situational Awareness Data Link (SADL).

Global Engagement: A Vision for the 21st Century Air Force | 2000 |

Don't be surprised as the Ukrainian F-16s take to the air, the supporting network of NATO AWACSand RQ-4 Global Hawk drones are taken out.

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Sun May 28th, 2023 at 11:12:42 AM EST

Re: F-16s Need to Operate in Battle Networks (none / 0)

F-16s Supported By NATO Airborne Radar!
The Su-35's advantage in BVR combat would diminish if the F-16s supplied to Ukraine come with NATO's Link 16 tactical data link network that enables all the assets on the battlefield to share the same picture.
In that case, NATO could employ its AWACS airborne radar near Ukrainian air space to provide tracking information to F-16s and guide the AMRAAMs fired by them mid-flight toward their targets.
Experts have warned that NATO AWACS platforms supporting the Ukrainian F-16s could make them active participants in the conflict in the eyes of the Russian leadership.
Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council and Former President Dmitry Medvedev warned last year that NATO personnel actively participating in the conflict will become a legitimate target" for the Russian armed forces.

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Sun May 28th, 2023 at 11:13:45 AM EST
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Incident Ukrainian War Display Gets Int'l Attention | 45 comments (45 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)