SOURCE: AFI
The Tejas Mk1A, India’s indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA), is set to redefine air combat with its advanced suite of electronic warfare (EW) systems, including the Scorpius-SP electronic warfare pod. The Scorpius-SP, developed by the Indian company Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), is designed to enhance the Tejas Mk1A’s capabilities in electronic warfare by providing state-of-the-art jamming features.
Given the rise in advanced radar technologies used by modern combat aircraft and surface-to-air missile systems, it’s essential to assess whether the Tejas Mk1A, equipped with the Scorpius-SP pod, can effectively neutralize or disrupt the radars of adversaries such as the Chinese J-10C, J-20, J-16, the Pakistani JF-17, and sophisticated missile systems like the HQ-9B and the Russian-made S-400.
The Scorpius-SP is an advanced electronic warfare (EW) pod designed for self-protection and offensive jamming capabilities. It is equipped with technologies such as directional jamming and anti-radiation missile protection, making it capable of targeting various radar frequencies used by airborne and ground-based radar systems. The system leverages an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar jammer, which allows it to adapt and counter radar emissions in real-time.
With the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) focus on countering increasingly sophisticated radar systems, the Scorpius-SP provides a crucial edge by potentially disrupting the AESA radars of various platforms, which are becoming standard on modern fighter jets and surface-to-air missile systems. To understand its effectiveness, we need to evaluate how the Scorpius-SP interacts with the radar systems found on some of the most advanced Chinese and Pakistani combat aircraft and missile systems.
Modern aircraft like the Chinese J-10C, J-20, J-16, and Pakistani JF-17 are equipped with AESA radar systems that offer significant operational advantages, including low probability of intercept (LPI) and high resistance to jamming. AESA radars use multiple small transmitters and receivers that make it harder for traditional jammers to detect or block the radar emissions.
JF-17 AESA Radar: The JF-17, jointly developed by Pakistan and China, has the KLJ-7 AESA radar. This radar has relatively lower sophistication compared to the more advanced Chinese systems. The Scorpius-SP could potentially be highly effective against the JF-17’s radar, given the pod’s ability to disrupt signals in the radar’s frequency range and the radar’s relative lack of advanced counter-jamming features.
J-10C AESA Radar: The J-10C, China’s fourth-generation multi-role fighter, is equipped with an advanced AESA radar, known for its high resolution and the ability to track multiple targets simultaneously. The Scorpius-SP’s directional jamming could potentially disrupt the J-10C radar’s ability to track targets by overwhelming the radar with false signals or causing interference, but its effectiveness would depend on the frequency band and jamming techniques used by the Scorpius-SP.
J-20 AESA Radar: The J-20, China’s fifth-generation stealth fighter, boasts a cutting-edge AESA radar with a low RCS (Radar Cross Section) and a long detection range. While the J-20’s radar is advanced, its reliance on AESA technology still leaves it vulnerable to advanced jamming systems like the Scorpius-SP. The pod’s frequency hopping capabilities could help in overcoming the radar’s advanced processing power, potentially neutralizing it in combat scenarios.
J-16 AESA Radar: The J-16, a Chinese multi-role fighter based on the Su-30 platform, is equipped with AESA radar that is designed to operate in the X-band. The jamming capabilities of Scorpius-SP could theoretically interfere with this radar by exploiting the limitations in its electronic warfare countermeasures, especially if the radar is not specifically tuned to avoid the type of jamming signals emitted by the pod.
The HQ-9B (China’s long-range surface-to-air missile system) and the S-400 (Russian-made system) both rely on sophisticated fire control radars (FCR) to track targets and guide missiles toward their targets. These systems use AESA radar technology to detect, identify, and lock onto airborne threats, including aircraft and missiles. Given the increasing threat posed by such missile systems, effective jamming becomes crucial in ensuring that adversary forces cannot accurately track or target Indian assets.
HQ-9B Fire Control Radar: The HQ-9B, an advanced surface-to-air missile system in service with the Chinese military, uses an AESA radar for target acquisition and missile guidance. The Scorpius-SP’s active jamming could potentially disrupt the HQ-9B’s radar, making it difficult for the missile to lock onto its target. The Scorpius-SP’s capabilities could render the HQ-9B’s radar ineffective, depending on the altitude, distance, and operational conditions.
The Tejas Mk1A with the Scorpius-SP EW pod shows great potential in disrupting or neutralizing the advanced AESA radars of modern combat aircraft, including the Chinese J-10C, J-20, J-16, and the Pakistani JF-17. Furthermore, the pod could also play a critical role in countering surface-to-air missile systems such as the HQ-9B and S-400, which rely on sophisticated fire control radar for tracking and missile guidance. However, the success of the Scorpius-SP in these tasks would depend on several factors, including the technical sophistication of enemy countermeasures, the operational range, and the specific tactics employed in the battlefield.