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"Why is this a major advance? It turns out that continuous scanning across the full 360 degrees limits power applied in any one direction. To keep the scan revisit rate relevant, the radar can only spend a brief instant on each degree of arc before sweeping around again. That is usually more than enough to pick up a target and establish its track. But what if the target is especially hard to see – i.e., stealthy? Or what if it is flying low in ground clutter? In that case, what’s needed is a focused beam that dwells longer, sending more energy in a specific direction. Increased energy transmitted out produces more energy received back and a sharper radar return.the issue is not about an AWACs focusing "all available tracking energy" onto a single target, and considering the processing and sensor power on an E2D, that would be a spectacular and ignorant misuse of a system
The E-2D for the first time combines both modes in a naval platform. Electronic scanning enables the radar to function both as a rotating beam generating 360-degree coverage, and as a staring beam that can pour radar energy into tracking even the smallest, stealthiest targets. As a result, the E-2D radar is so flexible that its crew can rapidly switch between three main modes of operation. First is the classic rotating beam, ensuring the strike group has no blind spot. Second is a mode which continues the rotation but carves out a 45-degree slice, for example, where power is enhanced. The crew can focus the beam at the direction of a known or cued threat and boost the power while the beam is pointing that direction. It’s the equivalent of scanning the horizon but pausing briefly to stare especially hard at the area of interest. Finally, the E-2D can temporarily turn off the rotating function and funnel all its considerable radar energy at a target."
From what I'm reading, it says that the E-2D has the ability to temporarily funnel its entire energy onto a single target, in order to "see" it better. The (vastly) increased energy being projected onto a single location seems like it should be able to generate a strong enough return to form a track.
Of course, the AN/APY-9 on an E-2D cannot be used this way in a general search. Like you said, it would be a spectacular and ignorant misuse of the system -- you would be able to focus on one single area, but leaving the other 359 degrees of the circle unobserved. Because of this, it appears that the E-2D would use its radar in the normal method while searching. As a LO target entered range of the E-2D, it would show up as a weak/intermittent target. Just like you said, although the target would be detected, it would be too weak to generate a return or guide a weapon. In order to generate a track, the E-2D would use its electronically scanned array to focus all of its energy on a single target, improving the strength of the return enough to generate a track.
Also, I realize that the RCS figures of the J-20 and PAK FA are not known. However, since there is no other information about their RCSs, the various estimations give us some sort of idea what their RCSs may be. Obviously, no one knows the actual RCSs.
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