Large Model Association Forum

Hi Keith, you may have hit the jackpot there.

Quote... You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the Tornado had automatically locked on to your 'hostile radar equipment' and sent a jamming signal back to it.

Surely we have someone out there who can make one of these.
I would volunteer to drive all round the country with one of these installed.

Pity it wasn't an American pilot, there would now be two vacancies for patrol police.

Priceless Barry, those Yanks are so good at doing that, i thought in the past that it might come into their training somewhere.
Nice to know we still have the best trained forces in the world still.
Mike.

Sorry to be the proverbial "wet blanket", but this is one of those lovley urban myths. This story has been around for a while in several countries over several years.
There are some very simple technical reasons why this couldnt happen, do a bit of surfing and find out why.
However, it does make you laugh!!

Nick, if it makes you laugh, why cover it with a wet blanket?

Nick

Back in the 80's a similar event did occur at RAF Lakenheath involving a traffic police officer, handheld radar (not lazer detection ) and a USAF aircraft on approach. Not a myth but fact in this case, onboard detection equipment on the fullsize detected the handheld radar being pointed at it by a curious officer wondering how fast the plane was going. An innocent enough action by someone who didnt know any better.
That said, the hand held radar used in the example above must have had a good range/power output to have been detected by a Tornado that the officer probably couldnt even see, I stand to be corrected though.

Pat

Hi Pat,
As ex RNZAF, id like to point out a very simple error in the story. It is said that the "Sidewinder air to ground missiles....." Factually, a Sidewinder is a heat seeking air to air missile (AAM) As such it would never be used against a ground target. An air launched anti radar missile (ALARM) or an air to surface missile (ASM) would be the weapon of choice.

In your last para you question the range/power output of the hand held radar unit used. I believe the range of these units to be below 2 miles (could be wrong though) and if the officer couldnt see a Tornado at that distance or less, then he needs his eyes testing.
However, i do agree with the fact that in your quoted story of an officer clocking a USAF aircraft on approach is quite feasable if the officer was at the runway threshold doing a bit of spotting!

My initial reply was not meant to poo poo the story, just to make people aware that there are several big discrepancies within it.
After all, the press never lies.....honest

nickhenderson wrote:Factually, a Sidewinder is a heat seeking air to air missile (AAM) As such it would never be used against a ground target.

You missed out the word "intentionally" between 'never' and 'be'

For example, a Jag pilot during the Gulf War


Mark