Arthuristan Dynamics Horus
| Arthuristan Dynamics Horus | |
|---|---|
| File:Horus.gif | |
| Role | AEW/ELINT drone |
| Manufacturer | Arthuristan Dynamics |
| First flight | 2009 |
| Introduction | 2011 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | Commonwealth Navy, Commonwealth Air Force, Royal Nijdeland Air Force |
| Number built | 72 |
The Horus is an Arthuristan AEW drone design, entering service with the Commonwealth Navy, Commonwealth Air Force and Royal Nijdeland Air Force in 2011.
Concept
When it comes to early warning aircrafts, most great powers of Pardes are content to use large, slow platforms such as the E-3 Sentry or A-50 Mainstay. While they are perfectly fine in benign, permissive air environments, such as that may be found in peacekeeping or counter-insurgency operations, their survivability in contested air space was deemed to be 'problematic' by Arthuristan tacticians, for the following reasons:
(1) They are, in the main, based on large, lumbering airframes, which are very vulnerable against very long range air-to-air weapons such as the Vymple R-37, as well as what Arthuristan tacticians classify as 'offensive surface-to-air systems' such as the S-450 family. This is even the case where these AWAC planes are heavily escorted by air superiority fighters and jamming platforms and operating deep behind the front in ostensibly protected airspace.
(2) Traditional AWAC planes are dependent on large airfields with long runways. In a major theatre war against a peer opponent, it is expected that many of these airfields may be put out of action by deploying large numbers of surface-to-surface missiles used in saturation bombardment, overwhelming the receiving party's air defences. This would force bluefor AWAC aircrafts to be based in airfields beyond the reach of enemy missiles, decreasing their endurance over the battle zone.
(3) Each conventional AWAC platform represents a major investment, not only in terms of high tech equipment, but also the highly trained personnel placed aboard to operate them. The loss of even a few would lead to a significant reduction in bluefor's capabilities in theatre.
(4) All of the above can be partially resolved using Arthurista's traditional approach, that of deploying Westland Sea King AEW-mod helicopters in dispersed locations throughout the theatre of operation to provide backup early warning capability in case the CAF's Sentries have been neutralised. While far more 'attrition friendly' than Sentries, their measurably lower operational ceiling and endurance render them less effective than the former.
The Horus was conceived to complement traditional AWAC platforms, though not outright replace them. Although not as effective in absolute terms than the Sentry or the Hawkeye due to its smaller size, the Horus is an unmanned platform which offers a relatively cost-effective, 'attrition-friendly' asset to the theatre commander. Being unmanned, it is smaller, lighter, but capable of longer mission endurance and similar operational altitude. Furthermore, they are capable of short-field and rough-field take-off and landing, allowing them to be dispersed and operated from large motorways.
Sensors packages
The main sensor of the Horus is the BRIGHTSIGHT X-band AESA radar, mounted in a roughly triangular radome atop the airframe. It utilises low-probability of intercept technology to minimise chances of detection when radiating. Complementing it is the DARKSIGHT L-Band system, mounted on the wingtips of the aircraft, optimised for detecting low-RCS aircrafts and cruise missiles.
Aside from its active sensors, the Horus features an extensive array of passive sensors, allowing it to provide early warning even in a heavily-EMCON environment. The Silver Bow system features six imaging IR sensors located around the body of the aircraft, enabling all-round, spherical coverage. The Hydra Receiver Array is composed of a network of radar-warning receivers and placed around the airframe, allowing the Horus to detect and locate emitting radar systems. Finally, the BLACKSOUND SIGINT suite is capable of intercepting enemy radio communications, helping friendly forces to triangulate their points of origin.
Observability-reduction measures and tactics
Although it is not a dedicated stealth design, the Horus's airframe is predominantly constructed with carbon fibre composites with very little metal and, as such, reflects little radar energy to begin with. Nevertheless, a layer of RAM-coating may be included in the next upgrade package. The observability of the Horus design can be further reduced through appropriate doctrine, for instance, to use its passive sensors suite as its primary method of monitoring the enemy, only switching on active sensors for brief periods in unpredictable intervals.
Electronic warfare and cyber warfare countermeasures
In order to minimise the chances of being hacked or jammed, the Horus features a rapid frequency hopping satellite datalink, allowing it to rapidly switch between channels or even communications satellites when necessary to maintain linkage with the control centre. Each Horus platform is also linked into the Commonwealth Air Force's HERMES Battlenet or the Commonwealth Navy's POSEIDON Fleet Battlenet, allowing for the instant transmission of information and rapid reaction by those acting on the intelligence it gathers.
Characteristics
- Length: 13m
- Wingspan: 35m
- Height: 5.5m
- Powerplant: 1 x Apollo Engineering AVE-17 turbofan, 32kn
- Gross weight: 12,000kg
- Cruise speed: 550 km/h
- Range: 12,000km
- Endurance: 12 hours