Hypersonic MIRV Air-to-Air Missile : 6th Gen. Fighter Killer?

* Related my previous articles for 6th Gen. Fighters (Also for Hypersonic MIRV Air-to-Air Missile)

   -> History of Air-warfare Part 2 (2017.04.21)
   -> French-German's proposal for replacement of Tornado jet (2018.01.28)
   -> USAF-2030 Commercial (2018.03.27)
   -> High AoA capability become useless in future air-warfare? (laser, stealth, hypersonic, etc) (2018.05.04)
   -> Current Technical Difficulties in Hypersonic MIRV Air to Air Missile (2018.05.10)
   -> Small-note-for-SRAAM and Their Futures (2018.05.23)
   -> French-German's proposal for replacement of Tornado jet (2) (2018.07.06)
   -> New-fighter-jet-for-UK:Tempest (2018.07.16)
   -> Example-of-booster-with-SRAAM : New Solution of Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile? (2018.07.20)
   -> More Information for UK's Tempest (2018.08.04)
   -> Small Note for Concept of 6th Generation Fighters : And Future Aerial-Warfare (2018.09.02)

  * Related my previous articles for Stealth Tankers (USN's MQ-25 and USAF's Stealth Tanker project)
   -> Boeing's-mq-25-candidate is revealed (2018.03.08)
   -> Lockheed's-mq-25-candidate is-revealed (2018.03.26)
   -> General Atomics'-mq-25-candidate is-revealed (2018.04.02)
   -> Additional-image-is-revealed-for MQ-25 of Boeing (2018.04.07)
   -> Additional-image-is-released-for MQ-25 of Lockheed (2018.04.09)
   -> Stealth-tanker-model-from-AFRL and Lockheed (2018.06.30)
   -> Boeing's design is Now MQ-25 (2018.08.31)
   -> Boeing MQ-25 - Additional Images (2018.08.31) 

1. Structure of Air-warfare prepared by Major powers
1.1. Basics of Tactics: Stealth / Network / Layering of Multiple Asset
 As described in my previous articles (links of foreword), concept of 6th generation fighter is hot issue recent days because it could be solution of countering J-20 and Pak-Fa, most dangerous threats for air superiority of western-world. Numerous concepts and their videos presented more-advanced-stealth, network capability, and usage of multiple platforms. 

First of all, the advanced stealth technology means broader range of stealth performance to consider counter-stealth technology, detecting old-stealth aircraft using L-band radar. More careful geometry design and RAM technology are adopted to make lower RCS of aircraft in broader range of radar frequency. In that aspect, aircraft become unavoidably larger because of size of radar wavelength. 

At last, network capability and usage of multiple asset are core of the 6th generation jet fighters; 6th generation fighters use not only their payload, information, reach, but also friendly asset’s. Gripen is regarded as one of the first aircraft to use that kind of concept in real-world; friendly aircraft guided launched missiles of others while launching aircraft could achieve higher probability of survival. Concept from Gripen gave impact on NATO-allies during training between Swedish force and other forces, and LINK 16 and other similar data-link system were developed to fight effectively. Network capability of 6th generation fighters will over the limit of the traditional capability; real-time data of all friendly air-space assets are integrated into 6th generation fighters. 

This kinds of integrated information make multi-layer tactics possible for 6th generation fighters, like air-fleet. Front line, relatively nearer to the enemy AD line, consists of relatively cheap and stealthy UCAV which could launch several type of ammunition or be eye of the fleet. In a second row, conventional 4.5th and 5th generation fighters are positioned to protect other high value assets or prepare close combat in a pinch; they also could command some part of UCAV fleet to accomplish the part of mission acting like small detachment from mother fleet. In the third row, final line of the air fleet, there are 6th generation fighters, some mother ship dispensing small UCAV or silver bullet type weapons, and stealth tanker for some cases. 


1.2. Perfect Picture of an Air-Strike Group : Combination of Tactics
Described components of forces in the previous paragraph consists air-strike group or air-fleet in the middle of the enemy air-space. It seems like concept of strike package of USAF, combination of attacker, fighter, bomber, SEAD, tanker aircraft, however, the new air-strike group targeted more flexible task than its predecessor. All of the components are well-stealthy to hide presence of their own, and well-connected to react quickly for un-expected situation change. Precise proportional ratio of the components could be changed by pre-determined mission plan. 

The air-strike group spread their ‘eye-asset’ to gather specific information for mission while rough area is already scanned by high performance sensors of the satellite, ISR aircraft, 5th and 6th generation fighters. The cheaper eye-asset is sometimes disposable and has lower performance sensors than that of high value platforms however, commander could deploy this cheaper one in relatively closer distance with some risks. 

Gathered information is collected and organized in real-time and re-spread to all friendly assets. Commander could choose optimized path for suppressing enemy air-defense system. In order to destroy or suppress high value air-defense system asset, like radar, command center, AWACS, or high end jet fighters, silver-bullet type weapons, high stealth cruise missile, long-range air-to-air missile, and hypersonic strike missile, are used because enemy air-defense system is still alive. Some conventional weapons could be deployed for distraction purpose hiding true purpose of hunting high value asset or giving additional burden for the system. 

After, the success of destroying back-bone of the enemy air-defense system, the separated enemy stealth jet and SAMs should be out of the game to degrade entire defense capability. Due to the effort of previous work, air-fleet has advantage in situation-awareness, and enemy stealth jet fighter just avoid the missile lock to be destroyed. However, as time left, friendly asset detour dead zone of enemy jet and finally locked on. At the final stage of the fight, enemy jet realized that they are under attack and try to counter attack. Enemy missiles for counter attack is intercepted by MDSM or DEW to block any possibility of loss of friendly asset. 6th generation fighter takes large part in the role of information integration, commanding, deploying silver-bullet weapon, and defense of other friendly assets via soft-kill and hard-kill of enemy projectile. 

While 6th generation fighters act like Aegis ship of the naval fleet, small UCAVs start their role as punch of the fleet, carrier borne aircraft. After, high-end air-defense system is collapsed, every miscellaneous asset is targeted by fleet components. At this stage, conventional ammunition could be used by every platform in the fleet, and loitering time of the fleet is extended by stealth tanker in the area without taking risk. Actually, previous (hard) stage of war is only shown in day 1 or 2 for most of the country except few major countries of air-warfare. Indeed, in some perspective of view, most components of the air-fleet are very expensive, however, problem is that it is the cheapest way for suppressing advanced air-force armed with 5th generation fighters. 

If air-force try to overwhelm other well-armed air-force in day 1 mission, air-force requires a lot of overwhelmingly well-armed fighter which could beat enemy air-force’s top jet fighter. However, this fleet strategy mechanism minimize number of required expensive jet fighters in their inventory. Due to the effort of network capability, 6th generation fighters and their fleet do not have to massive number of aircraft; part of fleet, stealth tankers compensate small number problem of 6th generation fighter. 

Fig. 1.1. Concept of 6th generation fighters with their friendly assets; they consist of UCAV, 5th and 6th generation fighters, mother ship of UAV while AWACS or satellite can be used to give better situation awareness. 


 
2. New Counter for Major powers
The air-fleet tactics described above seems to be hard to resist without having similar fleet, however we always have to find answers to counter the new armada of 21st century. Basic idea of countering any concepts could be shown in Fig. 2.1. Most dangerous aspect of the fleet tactics is their superiority in information; they hide their presence and attacking direction. Based on this superiority, they could focus on their asset and defense easily. In the following paragraph, I attempt to idea for countering air-fleet strategy. 

Fig. 2.1. Brain-Storming of counter-air-fleet; problem of sensing stealth fleet, giving massive burden on their defense line, separating fleet are major task to encounter the fleet. 


2.1. Sensing Presence of Air-Strike Group
Probably it is the most difficult work among countering task; most of the fleet components will have good stealth performance and try to search and destroy any counter-stealth sensors. Some kinds of IR sensors, L-band, optical-path radars are proposed. However, performance of these are limited, and platform of these cannot guarantee survival from the fleet. 

The best way to sense the presence of the fleet could be image from optical, radar, and multi-spectral payload of satellite. For radar, velocity components of the aircraft in the atmosphere is almost vertical to the line of sight of the satellite, and aircraft is not easy target by using Doppler method. In most case, high speed image integration for multi-spectral range is required to sense the presence of the fleet. Fortunately, size of some sort of fleet is relatively large like 6th generation fighters and stealth tankers; their size help sensors to find their position from the space. 

Sensing the jet fighter from the space altitude means it requires several satellite with expensive payloads to monitor their air-space in anytime. Indeed, in cost perspective, it could not be ideal solution, however, notification method in air-space for air-fleet become almost impossible. Sensor from diagonal or side direction could another option however, knowing exact angle for the air-fleet itself is also not easy. 


2.2. Sudden Strike of Hypersonic EMP/MIRV Air-to-Air missiles
After the sensing the air-fleet via sensor payload in the space, counter force should move quickly before their system is under attack. As shown in Fig. 2.2, multiple shot of hypersonic MIRV and EMP missile should be used; it is the core of this tactics which can break defense system. Hypersonic air-to-ground missiles are recently introduced; there is no hypersonic MIRV type air-to-air missile yet. However, break of multi-layered air-defense system could be only done by a brand new hypersonic MIRV air-to-air missiles. 

Usage of the new missiles concept is shown in Fig. 2.2; ballistic trajectory of the missile allows multi-directional attack from the top altitude which cannot be covered easily by current technology of the air-fleet. It means re-action time of the defense system is significantly reduced while re-action time of the hypersonic projectile is already much shorter than that of conventional supersonic missiles. 

1st group of the missile is EMP warhead which neutralize electromagnetic devices back-bone of the air-fleet system and UCAVs. 2nd wave of the missile should be hypersonic MIRV air-to-air missiles targeting separated assets. MIRV type warhead save the cost per kill and reduce the chance of interception via DEW and MDSMs. It is definitely similar to implementation of supersonic anti-ship against Aegis ship in the 80’s; reducing re-action time using speed and multiple shot of missile are adopted in this concept. Difference between the concept of the 80’s and the hypersonic MIRV is separated warhead from one unitary missile for saving. 

Fig. 2.2. Usage of Hypersonic MIRV missiles; as the first stage of sudden attack, multiple shot of hypersonic MIRV missiles are required to distract attacking direction and give maximum burden for defense system of the fleet. 



2.3. Hunt of Separated Assets
After downing some important assets like 6th generation fighters, AWACS, or stealth tankers capable of commanding other air-asset and giving DEW/MDSM umbrella, the air-fleet is degraded as individual sum of the jet fighters from 5th generation to remained UCAV. Counter-force should care about the fact that the sum of individual is still stronger than most average air-force fighters. 

It is the time to dispose cheap UCAV from the counter-force to treat the air-fleet; fortunately, in that stage, out-numbering of cheap weapon could be effective. Some 5th generation fighter still fight effectively against the counter-force, however, amount of ammunition in 5th generation fighter is limited. In order to save the cost, low-speed stealth UCAV cruiser launches missiles, and this cannot be profitable game for air-fleet. 

Fig. 2.3. Summary of counter for air-fleet concept driven by 6th generation fighters. 

Fig. 2.4. Hunting of separated fighters are relatively easier than that of entire air-fleet, but still, it is not easy. 


 
3. Consideration of Technologies and Logic
3.1. Technical Difficulties and Requirement for Hypersonic Air-To-Air MIRV Missiles
Contents of this part is basically same as the previous articles as shown in below. 
Link for [http://jaesan-aero.blogspot.com/2018/05/small-note-for-1-131-current-technical.html]


3.2. Decision Logics and Required Data Base for New Generations 
Contrary to the idea described above, we could assume that 6th generation fighter integrates the hypersonic MIRV missiles as their new silver bullet. Maybe this is the most fearful advantage of the 6th generation fighter because it can integrate almost anything using its massive payload capability. At that stage, now no one argues the aerodynamic performance of the platform itself; for example, after WWII, no one argues hydrodynamic performance of the ship. Only concern is what and how many weapon they load for ship with reasonable range and sensor capability. As shown in the air-fleet concept, focus for performance of the fleet is now gone from aerodynamic to payload, sensor, and self-defense capability. 

More importantly, un-seen capability, decision logic of the behavior of asset become crucial factor of the air-force. As air-warfare become complex and time-shortening environment, decision speed of the human cannot track all of the situation change. Even full-integrated 6th generation fighters with one additional crew is hard to analyze whole battle field picture. Major countries will not make mistake of Vietnam war that how complex electric equipment became ineffective in unexpected situation. Indeed, careful design will focus on reduction of decision burden for human pilots. Then, most part of the air-combat will be automatic like recent weapon system of the ship or submarines. Pilots will only command the rough direction of the asset like command RTS games. 



4. Conclusion and Further Development of Air-warfare
 In the article, I showed concept of the 6th generation fighter as an air-fleet and possible counter concept using hypersonic MIRV air-to-air missiles. Current situation seems like end time of the warship at the end of WWII; focus is changed from platform to its payload including weapon and sensor. Air-warfare become more complex and fast in temporal aspects; automation of specific air-combat action should be important in near future. 

 In further future, boundary between space and air is blurred. As already described in the counter tactics, integrated sensing from the space is essential in the near future. Furthermore, projectile from space could affect outcome of the atmosphere. Big mothership like jet provide almost unlimited energy for their asset via wave energy transfer and ammunition via DEW. All of these expectation is possible to be realized.