Not long ago celebrating its 10th anniversary on September 25, the name of China's first aircraft carrier, Liaoning (16) Type 001, suddenly became global attention, especially when there was news that the Shenyang J-15 fighter jet, which took off from Liaoning, dared to show off. gear by flying (flypas) aboard a destroyer suspected to be the US Navy's Arleigh Burke Class.
And still related to the Liaoning, it was revealed that the aircraft carrier from the former Cold War was in fact equipped with an infrared search and track (IRST) type target detection device, which in fact is often installed on Sukhoi Su-27/Su-30 series fighter jets.
The identification of the presence of an IRST device in Liaoning was certainly not officially released by the Chinese Navy. Quoting from Eurasiantimes.com (1/10/2022), it is stated that the "X Factor" has been revealed indirectly on the aircraft carrier Liaoning. In a recent video of the aircraft carrier Liaoning from Chinese state TV broadcasters have revealed a rotating optical device mounted on the island structure of the carrier.
The exact identification of this device is not clear, but it is reported that the device is here to improve the ability of operators to detect and track potential threats targeting aircraft carriers. Based on its appearance and continuous rotation characteristics, the optical device in question is presumably an IRST.
Henri Kenhmann, a defense analyst with the independent French news portal East Pendulum, shows a Chinese product card for the IRST system dubbed IR-17, which resembles the rotating optical device seen in the video. From the product brochure information, it is stated that the IR-17 is produced by China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC).
From the specifications, the IR-17 plays a role in searching for potential threats at low and very low altitudes, and provides information to the command and control system (C2) in the form of target information, and inputs real-time target information to the air attack repelling weapon system, especially for responded by canon close in weapon systems (CIWS).
The IR-17 has an operational detection range of about eight kilometers for anti-ship missiles flying in sea-skimming mode. While about 19 kilometers to detect other cruise missiles, and about 29 kilometers to detect fighter jets. The advantage of the IR-17 system is that it can track and identify at least 30 targets.
It should be noted that IRST devices are completely passive, unlike radar which emits radio waves when used in active mode. This means a target that is detected and then tracked by the IRST will not know when it is being detected, which means it offers an advantage to the users of this system.
In addition, as an optical device, the IRST sensor is immune to electronic warfare systems that can interfere with radar and other radio frequency emissions.
However, the IRST system cannot provide precise target range information because it is a passive device, unlike radar which calculates the target's range using radio waves reflected from the target's surface.
To that end, the IR-17 can transmit the signal data it acquires directly to the ship's combat system in the near future, and then other systems, such as reconnaissance radar, can be used to determine the attack range of the target.
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| IRST on Rafale |
The continuous 360-degree rotating motion of the device offers a 360-degree 'panorama' or 'image' of the operational environment in real-time, which can be combined with artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) algorithms to detect, classify automatically. , and alerting operators of sightings of objects of interest and entering their data into the ship's larger combat systems.
In general, the presence of IRST will enable the close-range defense systems, telescopic and infrared electro-optical sensors abundant on many warships, to quickly investigate targets of interest detected by the IRST system.
Most importantly, this device will be more relevant to anti-ship missile threats that Chinese carriers will face during wartime, such as stealth missile threats such as the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) and Naval Strike Missile, as well as Block V Tactical Tomahawk.
Therefore, a 360-degree IRST device such as the one aboard the Liaoning can become indispensable for detecting stealth missiles, as the missile will inevitably emit thermal radiation, resulting in a temperature difference against the backdrop of the cold air, which would be easy for detectives to detect. IRST device.
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