Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-37 Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (EODAS)

saintkatanalegacy

saintkatanalegacy

Little Miss Whiffologist
Joined
31 March 2009
Messages
718
Reaction score
17
just a curious question though, what's the maximum elevation of EODAS?

i'm a bit wondering on how it'll be able to make radar locks on a turning maneuver, assuming ofc the F-35 is chasing and the target is almost above(relative to the pilot's perspective of "up")
 
The Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-37 is the Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (EODAS) and is made up of six integrated digital cameras providing full spherical tracking. So its maximum “elevation” is zenith.

http://www.es.northropgrumman.com/solutions/f35targeting/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9pGtIirn6g
 
Does anyone know where I can find photographs of the F-35 where the EO DAS sensors are easily visible? I'm curious to know what they look like from the outside when they are installed.

Apologies if this topic has been done already (didn't find one like it using the search function).
 
Are you referring to the outside windows for the apertures? You can find them on most photos of recent F-35's - they're located below the cockpit, either side of the lower fuselage, forward and aft of a little bulge between the intakes, and forward and aft of the cockpit.


Here's a quick little collage - each letter simply refers to a single aperture:
 

Attachments

  • eodas.jpg
    eodas.jpg
    1,000 KB · Views: 408
Keeping in mind thought that the EOTS =/= DAS, even if they are integrated into the same system.
 
As Dragon029 implied, that is an EOTS picture. EOTS is the long ranged IRST/FLIR on the F-35 and there is only one.

Here is the EODAS sensor and there are 6.
 

Attachments

  • das[1].jpg
    das[1].jpg
    15 KB · Views: 121
Ainen said:
That's basically the point.
While I personally don't like presence of this ball on t-75 and consider it redundant .......since we're speculating and whistling, I'd rather see F-35/J-20 like eodas solution in the nose as well, using Megapolis 101KS-U replacement (that huge optical window).
Click to expand...
On T-75 foward looking IRST probably operates in LWIR while the the bottom one probably in MWIR due to having to filter ground emission. Both have their own advantages.

The DAS on f-35 operates in both LWIR and MWIR while its EOTS (new version) in MWIR, SWIR, and visual light spectrum.

I'm speculating the reason why the ball is there is because the embedded apertures on the su-57/75 either operate in SWIR or ultra violet which are limited to very hot emission. The ball with mechanical movement in LWIR would allow wider field of coverage as it cannot rely on other apertures for reliable aircraft search and track as with DAS.
 
donnage99 said:
On T-75 foward looking IRST probably operates in LWIR while the the bottom one probably in MWIR due to having to filter ground emission. Both have their own advantages.

The DAS on f-35 operates in both LWIR and MWIR while its EOTS (new version) in MWIR, SWIR, and visual light spectrum.

I'm speculating the reason why the ball is there is because the embedded apertures on the su-57/75 either operate in SWIR or ultra violet which are limited to very hot emission. The ball with mechanical movement in LWIR would allow wider field of coverage as it cannot rely on other apertures for reliable aircraft search and track as with DAS.
Click to expand...

Afaik, DAS only makes use of MWIR.
 
Joint Soviet Fighter said:
Right, except that that graphic is from 2006 & BAE was never awarded the production contract for DAS Boat, with that task being given to Northrop Grumman until relatively recently, when Raytheon took over.
Click to expand...
It literally said in first sentence of the same paragraph: "developed by Northrop Grumman."
 
Joint Soviet Fighter said:
Sorry - I was half-asleep when I read it over, lol, smh. DAS still only makes use of MWIR, though. #Timestamped

View: https://youtu.be/YBR4E-bRcck?t=228
Click to expand...
No problem. Though I'm not convinced LWIR got dropped per a passing statement from pilot that does not explicitly state so.

Recently blackDiamond BD6 chalcogenide material was used to replace germanium for the f-35 DAS system to address geopolitics vulnerability of germanium market. From what I understand Germanium is suited for LWIR while sapphire is better for MWIR thus why the EOTS uses sapphire housing. If all the DAS apertures are strictly MWIR why germanium to begin with?
 
donnage99 said:
No problem. Though I'm not convinced LWIR got dropped per a passing statement from pilot that does not explicitly state so.

Recently blackDiamond BD6 chalcogenide material was used to replace germanium for the f-35 DAS system to address geopolitics vulnerability of germanium market. From what I understand Germanium is suited for LWIR while sapphire is better for MWIR thus why the EOTS uses sapphire housing. If all the DAS apertures are strictly MWIR why germanium to begin with?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I realize that that video isn't the best source, but I couldn't find the stuff that I've read that states that DAS is only MWIR, which is kind of annoying. Honestly, though, the best evidence arguably comes from various clips/videos of DAS in testing &/or promotional material that I've seen over the years, as long as people are familiar with the differences between MWIR & LWIR, if that helps, so it's not just blind belief on my part. Plus, while expensive, Sapphire is also much more durable than Germanium, which is important in this context.

As for the rest, I hadn't seen that story, which is interesting, it's just that I've never actually come across anything about the material that is used in The DAS windows, themselves, now that I think about it, so said footage from The F-35, etc., is all that I have left, I guess, lol, smh.

Oops, almost forgot - the company that makes that new material apparently specializes in the production of both MWIR & LWIR technology, so...I got nothing, lol.
 

Similar threads

Please donate to support the forum.

Back
Top Bottom