F/A-22 IRST?

In a white paper from the Lexington Institute, it is claimed (most
likely by Loren Thompson, the Lexingtin Institute defense analyst and
resident Raptor cheerleader) that the F/A-22 has an Infrared Search
and Track capability. Specifically, on page 8 of the attachment
below, the following passage:

"The sensor usually described in open sources is the main radar — an
electronically steered array that can simultaneously provide
surveillance, fire control, jamming and other functions. However,
Raptor also carries other sensors such as an infrared surveillance and
tracking system that are seldom discussed."

I have never read this anywhere else. Does Dr. Thompson know
something the rest of the non-classified world doesn't? Does anyone
else have any info on this? Or is he just blowing smoke up our
collective keisters?

"Mike Zaharis" wrote in message
om...
In a white paper from the Lexington Institute, it is claimed (most
likely by Loren Thompson, the Lexingtin Institute defense analyst and
resident Raptor cheerleader) that the F/A-22 has an Infrared Search
and Track capability. Specifically, on page 8 of the attachment
below, the following passage:

"The sensor usually described in open sources is the main radar - an
electronically steered array that can simultaneously provide
surveillance, fire control, jamming and other functions. However,
Raptor also carries other sensors such as an infrared surveillance and
tracking system that are seldom discussed."

I have never read this anywhere else. Does Dr. Thompson know
something the rest of the non-classified world doesn't? Does anyone
else have any info on this? Or is he just blowing smoke up our
collective keisters?

The F-22 was to have an IRST, but it was subsequently deleted from the
program. There has been some amount of informed speculation that with the
name change to "F/A-22", a targeting FLIR will instead be mounted
internally. See: www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/
channel_awst_story.jsp?id=news/sb03_16.xml

Brooks

On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 22:11:54 -0400, Kevin Brooks wrote:

The F-22 was to have an IRST, but it was subsequently deleted from the
program.

Do you happen to know why?

--
"It's easier to find people online who openly support the KKK than
people who openly support the RIAA" -- comment on Wikipedia
(Email: zen19725 at zen dot co dot uk)

On Thu, 2 Sep 2004 02:00:02 +0100, (phil hunt)
wrote:

On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 22:11:54 -0400, Kevin Brooks wrote:

The F-22 was to have an IRST, but it was subsequently deleted from the
program.

Do you happen to know why?


$$$$$

"phil hunt" wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 22:11:54 -0400, Kevin Brooks
wrote:

The F-22 was to have an IRST, but it was subsequently deleted from the
program.

Do you happen to know why?

IIRC, it was mostly money and project timeline concerns; it was thought that
as the aircraft's primary weapons and other sensors adequately (or more than
adequately) support its BVR mission, and along with its stealthiness, that
it was not a "have to have" item in the initial operational version. It may
have also been influenced by sensor fusion concerns--it will already have
what is probably the most complex and ambitious sensor fusion capability
flying, and adding another sensor into the mix could have been more trouble
than it is worth at this time. I believe the IRST will likely be included in
future spirals, and a FLIR/target designation capability will undoubtedly be
added in the first spiral.

Brooks

phil hunt wrote:

On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 22:11:54 -0400, Kevin Brooks wrote:

The F-22 was to have an IRST, but it was subsequently deleted from the
program.

Do you happen to know why?

Probably because every IR search-and-track mechanism
ever made has failed to be worth its cost.
(Very short range, complicated electronics, sometimes-
dunious operation.)

"Dweezil Dwarftosser" wrote in message
...
phil hunt wrote:

On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 22:11:54 -0400, Kevin Brooks
wrote:

The F-22 was to have an IRST, but it was subsequently deleted from the
program.

Do you happen to know why?

Probably because every IR search-and-track mechanism
ever made has failed to be worth its cost.
(Very short range, complicated electronics, sometimes-
dunious operation.)

The LMCO AIRST destined (at one time) for the F-22 is based upon the IRST
used in the F-14, which from what I have read is not a very bad system. Cost
was the major reason AIRST was dumped.

Brooks

In article ,
(Mike Zaharis) wrote:

In a white paper from the Lexington Institute, it is claimed (most
likely by Loren Thompson, the Lexingtin Institute defense analyst and
resident Raptor cheerleader) that the F/A-22 has an Infrared Search
and Track capability. Specifically, on page 8 of the attachment
below, the following passage:

"The sensor usually described in open sources is the main radar — an
electronically steered array that can simultaneously provide
surveillance, fire control, jamming and other functions. However,
Raptor also carries other sensors such as an infrared surveillance and
tracking system that are seldom discussed."

I have never read this anywhere else. Does Dr. Thompson know
something the rest of the non-classified world doesn't? Does anyone
else have any info on this? Or is he just blowing smoke up our
collective keisters?

The term "infrared surveillance and tracking system" can cover a
lot of ground. For instance, a MAWS falls under that description.
IRST isn't the only thing that used IR.

--
Harry Andreas
Engineering raconteur

(Harry Andreas) wrote in message ...
In article ,
(Mike Zaharis) wrote:

"The sensor usually described in open sources is the main radar ? an
electronically steered array that can simultaneously provide
surveillance, fire control, jamming and other functions. However,
Raptor also carries other sensors such as an infrared surveillance and
tracking system that are seldom discussed."



The term "infrared surveillance and tracking system" can cover a
lot of ground. For instance, a MAWS falls under that description.
IRST isn't the only thing that used IR.

This is what has me confused by his terminology. I wasn't sure if, by
using the phrase "infrared surveillance and tracking system", he meant
to say "infrared search and tracking system".

I kind of wonder if this is a specific misinterpretation that the
author was hoping for.

(Mike Zaharis) wrote in message . com...
In a white paper from the Lexington Institute, it is claimed (most
likely by Loren Thompson, the Lexingtin Institute defense analyst and
resident Raptor cheerleader) that the F/A-22 has an Infrared Search
and Track capability. Specifically, on page 8 of the attachment
below, the following passage:

"The sensor usually described in open sources is the main radar ? an
electronically steered array that can simultaneously provide
surveillance, fire control, jamming and other functions. However,
Raptor also carries other sensors such as an infrared surveillance and
tracking system that are seldom discussed."

I have never read this anywhere else. Does Dr. Thompson know
something the rest of the non-classified world doesn't? Does anyone
else have any info on this? Or is he just blowing smoke up our
collective keisters?


BTW, here's the link I talked about:

http://www.lexingtoninstitute.org/de...f/LEX_FA22.pdf

Thanks for responses.