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Aviation History
1989
1989 - 0014.PDF
Marconi funds dogfight Foxhunter by Peter Middleton Marconi Defence Systems will fly a medium-pulse-rate version of its Foxhunter pulse-Doppler air-interception radar within 18 months, to demonstrate the possibility of fundamentally enhancing the Tornado ADV's close-combat capability. The company-funded pro gramme is intended to boost the long-term market potential of Foxhunter, which once threat ened to become a disaster of Nimrod AEW proportions. The radar is now meeting delivery dates and, in trials, is beating the "Stage 1" specification for RAF deliveries beyond April. The Stage 1 modifications, developed under a fixed-price contract with the UK Ministry of Defence, already include close-combat improvements such as visual target-acquisition modes and much better target- lock capability. Foxhunter's dogfight performance will be further enhanced by new tracking-system software, scheduled to be installed in a new computer as part of the mid-1991 "Stage 2" upgrade. Marconi's private-venture Foxhunter development could give Tornado ADVs true dogfight capability The fundamental problem will remain, however. Fox hunter will still be saddled with the close-range limitations inherent in the high pulse- repetition-frequency (PRF) signal generation needed to provide sufficient power for the primary task of bomber detection and tracking beyond visual range. Just as there was never a demand for close-combat radar optimisation in the original Foxhunter operational require ment, there is as yet no official requirement to optimise the Tornado F.3's dogfight and interception capability by adop ting a dual-mode radar. The addition of a medium- PRF mode would have two advantages. It would improve definition at short ranges (less than 20 miles), particularly against ground clutter. It would also increase detection range in tail-aspect attacks, when the speed difference between combattants is low and the Doppler shift detectable by the radar is small. The advantage would be particularly marked at low level, because the detection range of a high-PRF radar such as Foxhunter falls rapidly with decreasing altitude as the weak Doppler shift of a tail-chase target becomes swamped by ground clutter. Marconi is also developing "jet engine modulation" spectral-analysis techniques. These enable Foxhunter to identify targets from the modu lation imposed on their radar returns by the harmonics of the first- and second-stage compres sor blade passing frequencies. 11 million parts for anything that flies. We know where they are and who has them, world wide. When you need parts, Inventory Locator Service finds parts. Fast. Inexpensively. For details contact ILS. Inventory Locator Service, Inc. 3965 Mendenhall Road Memphis, TN 38115 (901)794-4784 (800)233-3414 Fax (901) 794-1760 Telex 882179 (WU) Intralink Service (Europe) Ltd. Crawley, West Sussex, UK (0293)-562011 Fax (0293)-562066 \s A RYDER SYSTEM C< Buyers of aerospace equipment, components and systems. Come to the only U.S. Air & Trade Show certified by the U.S. Department of Commerce. • Hundreds of displays featuring state-of-the-art technology • International Business Center • Interpreters • U.S. Department of Commerce Facilitators July 20-23,1989 =m^m AIR AND TRADE SHOW at the Dayton International Airport For complete details, please contact Don Houk, Trade Show Director __,„„ Dayton Air and Trade Show /5*TEJTJ\ Dayton International Airport Vandalia, Ohio 45377 USA Phone (513) 898-5901 Fax (513) 898-5121 For additional information you can also contact your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. 12 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 7 January 1989
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