Toward a network of common radar and EW sensors aboard a single or multiple cooperative platforms

Up to now, combat aircrafts are fitted with Fire Control Radar (FCR), Electronic Warfare System (EWS), and radio links. Each of these systems is dedicated to a particular task and the cooperation is reduced to a minimal exchange of information between them, so far. Major system performance enhancements are to be expected from close co-operations to each other sensors. The future co-operations can be ordered in four stages. The three first ones lead progressively to a common sensor including radar and EW functions. The last one is the deployment, on a given platform, of these common multi-functions sensors on a network basis. Another focus is the cooperation between platforms. Depending on the cooperative application, low, medium or high data rates will be needed. A typical example required by such co-operations is the implementation of “ad hoc” data links using the FCR or the EWS. This kind of co-operations does not need to add specific antennas or other R.F. devices.