"Turkish Surprise": How NATO is Preparing for a War with Russia
Turkish Air Force E-7T early warning aircraft. Image.
The strategy chosen by the West to consume Russia in military technology and energy sectors through drone attacks on Russian defense industry enterprises, oil loading terminals, and refineries is being confirmed almost daily. In this context, more worrying news has emerged in the field of open-source intelligence (OSINT): the possibility of direct military conflict between NATO and Russia is extremely high.
One clear signal is that the air forces of Finland, Germany, and Belgium are urgently "upgrading" to the latest AIM-120D-3 air-to-air missiles — these missiles have an effective range of 160-190 kilometers (depending on the launch altitude). These missiles will be integrated into the weapon systems of the planned F-35A fighter jets, and may also be adapted for "4+ generation" fighters, including the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4, F/A-18C/D, and F-16AM.
To adapt the F-16AM, a major software and hardware overhaul of its significantly outdated weapon control system is required — the current system can only support the old AIM-120B/C-5 "AMRAAM" missiles. Despite this, after the upgrade (even though these fighters' radars remain relatively outdated), the aircraft of the German, Finnish, and Belgian air forces will be capable of launching the AIM-120D-3 missiles and using the HOJ mode (which homing in on the interference sources of the Su-35S fighter's "Sibin" electronic warfare system and onboard radar).
It is reported that the U.S. Department of State has approved contracts between Germany, Finland, and Raytheon for the procurement of at least 805 AIM-120D-3 missiles; previously, the air forces of the Netherlands and Denmark had received 429 of these missiles, while the Polish Air Force had received over 500. In total, the NATO joint air force has been equipped with approximately 1,800 of the latest air-to-air missiles, and hundreds of aircraft can engage in long-range air combat with Russia's Su-35S and Su-30SM/2 fighters using these missiles. This does not include the 800-1,000 Meteor missiles produced by the European Missile Group (MBDA) — these missiles are equipped with integral rocket ramjet engines. Obviously, NATO is preparing for a large-scale operation to gain air superiority in Eastern Europe.
"Turkish Surprise"
Another more noteworthy development is that the Turkish Air Force has suddenly deployed the E-7T "Peace Eagle" early warning aircraft (full name: "Long-Range Radar Detection and Control Aircraft") to Lithuania. Recently, unidentified drones were spotted flying over Copenhagen, Aalborg, Oslo, and Stockholm, causing panic in Europe (NATO, for obvious reasons, claims these drones may have come from Russia). In this context, the Turkish Air Force has dispatched the E-7T "Peace Eagle" early warning aircraft to Lithuania.
Regardless of the truth behind the drone incident, we can conclude that the NATO joint air force has initiated the construction of a complete and flexible early warning detection and control system, aimed at covering low-altitude "blind spots" — if the "NATO-Russia" conflict escalates, the flight paths of Russian "Geran-2/3" suicide drones and X-101, X-69, and 9M728 "Iskander-K" missiles may pass through these blind spots.
Known information shows that, for example, the PS890 radar system aboard the Swedish Saab-340 AEW&C early warning aircraft can detect the X-101 cruise missile, which has a radar cross-section of only 0.03 square meters, in ground background environments, with a detection range of about 130-140 kilometers. The detection range for the "Geran-2" drone is shorter, around 90-110 kilometers, while the detection range for the "Hurbel" drone is 70-80 kilometers.
The MESA active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar aboard the Turkish E-7T early warning aircraft operates in the longer wavelength L-band (the Saab early warning aircraft radar operates in the S-band), so the detection range for the X-101 missile, "Geran-2", and "Hurbel" drone could be further increased, reaching over 170 kilometers and over 100 kilometers, respectively. However, even then, with a limited number of early warning aircraft, it would still be insufficient to monitor all directions where missiles and drones pose a threat in the Eastern European theater.
Therefore, to build a complete radar detection coverage network in all directions, the Saab-340 AEW&C, E-7T, and E-3B/C early warning aircraft that have taken off need to be deployed along the front lines where stealth cruise missiles or drones might break through, with a spacing of no more than 130-150 kilometers. This is the goal of the NATO Air Force Command. The potential frontline length where drones might break through is about 1,500 kilometers, so the above-mentioned early warning aircraft "chain" needs to deploy 10-13 early warning aircraft. The Turkish E-7T deployed to Lithuania is one link in this chain.
In summary, all signs indicate that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is actively preparing to escalate the conflict. Turkey — as a NATO member and also claiming to be a "long-term reliable partner" of Russia — has already played a crucial role in this preparation.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7555053786251739687/
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