Radar Warning System
Radars that are installed on aircraft, ships and ground vehicles are used for acquisition and weapons
guidance to various types of targets. Most modern aircraft are equipped with radar warning systems
(RWS) that detect the illumination of enemy radar. Although companies and bureaus have their
unique approaches to the designing of such systems, all RWS have common operational principles.
RWS is a passive system, i.e. it does not emit any energy into the environment. It detects radar
emitters and classifies them according to a database of the known radar types. RWS can also
determine the direction to the emitter and its operational mode. For example, the establishing a
single target track file. However, RWS cannot define the distance to the emitting radar.
For better situational awareness, it is recommended to use the RWS mode selection. Mode selection
enables the RWS to identify only radars operating in the target track mode, or radars that are
transmitting command guidance signals for a SARH missile launch or Active Radar Homing (ARH)
missile seeker track.
Note that the RWS does not have Identify Friend-or-Foe (IFF) capabilities.
The RWS can use priority logic to determine a primary threat and a list of secondary threats in
descending order:
1. The threat is either an ARH missile or if the missile command guidance signal is detected
(missile launch);
2. The threat radar is transmitting in Single Target Track (STT) mode (or any other lock
mode);
3. The threat has a priority based on a ‘common type’ of the threat. Here is the list of the
types:
• The threat is airborne radar;
• The threat is a long-range radar;
• The threat is a mid-range radar;
• The threat is a short-range radar;
• The threat is an early warning (EW) system;
• The threat is an AWACS.
4. The threat is at maximum signal strength.
RWS DOES NOT DEFINE THE DISTANCE TO THE EMITTER
SPO-15 Radar Warning System
The RWS indicates radars illuminating the aircraft. Information is presented as symbols of the types
and directions of the radars. Six indicator lights in the lower portion inform the pilot of the types of
radars illuminating the aircraft. The system warns of every radar; both adversarial and friendly.
The SPO-15 model implemented in game is very close to the actual system installed in the Su-27.
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