PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - RAF Start Talks on E-3D Replacement
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Old 29th Dec 2018, 21:00
  #153 (permalink)  
Wensleydale
 
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The RAAF E-7's are combat proven in theatre and generally have tanking from RAAF KC-30 or USAF tankers. One stayed on task with a mission time of 19 hours. They work all coalition aircraft and are twice as reliable as the E-3's that are there.
I am sure that they can work coalition aircraft in theatre. How is their data-link compatibility with NATO ground sites and data-link structures? Do they use the same ID systems as NATO? The problem with datalinks in "coalition" (or at least it was 10 years ago) is that different platforms require different ID sets, and unfortunately, each "object" for transmission over the link can only have one ID. Therefore, Fighters which used to run on a "Bogie; Bandit; Hostile" system are incompatible with the standard NATO ID sets required for the SRAP, leading to workrounds and potential confusion. Even the RN used different ID categories for the same object. Hopefully, this has been sorted, but much will depend upon the ID set used in the Wedgetail software if the aircraft is to be fully compatible within the NATO air defence network. Operations out of the NATO orbit can be tailored to the individual platforms' needs but when operating within an existing Air Defence structure then any major C3 platform has to be compatible with not too many work-arounds needed.
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