A French military aircraft conducting reconnaissance flights over the Baltic Sea as part of a NATO operation was hit by a “jamming attempt” and “irradiation” by Russian fire control radar.
The Atlantic 2 aircraft of the French Navy was on a nearly five-hour reconnaissance flight over the Baltic Sea, monitoring maritime activity near three Baltic states, including Sweden.
During this mission, crews searched approximately 200 vessels (mostly civilian) but found no suspicious activity that could be related to recent damage to undersea communications and power cables in the area. Ta.
According to Le Figaro newspaper, citing the French military, an AFP reporter was on board the plane at the time of the incident.
The French military said the plane was subjected to “sabotage attempts” and “irradiation” by fire control radar during the mission. Fire control radar is a military term that refers to the use of radar to target objects.
French military spokesman Colonel Guillaume Vernet condemned the action as an “aggressive act”.
“Shoot down” MiG-21 French aircraft! Russian S-400 radar locks on Atlantic 2, bringing back memories of 1999 incident
“The use of radar to ‘illuminate’ our aircraft on the high seas is an offensive act,” Boerne said. Such actions are “not an anomaly in this field,” adding that “Russia is It means not being passive,” he added.
Colonel Vernet praised the professionalism of the French crew, noting their ability to de-escalate the situation and continue the mission without further incident.
“Russia revealed its hostility in a restrained manner,” Vernet said, “but the professional behavior of the (French) crew made it possible to avoid any escalation.”
Although Russia’s actions are seen as provocative, the French military has suggested that Russia likely refrained from further escalation due to the potential risk of attacking NATO aircraft. “An attack on NATO aircraft could trigger a sudden and serious escalation with NATO,” Boerne added.
Although this incident is serious, it is not believed to be isolated. General Christopher Cavoli, commander of NATO forces in Europe, said the incidents were widespread and extended “far beyond Europe’s borders.”
Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecorne said, “On Wednesday night, the French maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique 2 became the target of Russian threats.” “We were patrolling international airspace in the Baltic Sea as part of a NATO operation and were illuminated by the fire control radar of the S-400 ground-based air defense system.Such aggressive Russian actions are unacceptable. The military will continue to operate to protect freedom of navigation in international air and maritime space.”
What is fire control radar
Fire control radar, also known as tracking radar, is a system built to measure the coordinates of a target, track its movement, and provide data to predict its future location.
These radars provide continuous location data on a single target, allowing military and defense systems to respond accurately. Fire control radar and tracking radar are often used interchangeably, as both play an important role in target acquisition and tracking.
Fire control radar systems operate through three stages: designation, acquisition, and tracking. These phases are essential to the radar’s ability to locate, acquire, and continuously track targets.
Designation Phase: The radar must first be directed to the general location of the target. Fire control radars have narrow beams and require wide aiming during the designation phase to locate potential targets.
Acquisition Phase: After the radar reaches approximately the target, it switches to the acquisition phase. In this phase, the radar searches a small predefined space with a specific scanning pattern to find the target. This process helps narrow down the exact location of the target for further tracking.
Tracking Phase: Once the target is located, the radar enters the tracking phase. Here, the radar locks on to the target and continuously tracks its movements. The radar system automatically adjusts to track the target’s movement using one of several scanning techniques, aiding in accurate tracking and accurate data of the target system.
Meanwhile, the term “irradiation” used by the French military to describe this attack refers to the use of fire control radar to actively target a radar beam at an object. Once a radar system “illuminates” a target, it locks on to the target and provides continuous tracking data to guide missiles and other weapons.
Beyond its primary role in aiming, lighting can also serve as a form of electronic warfare, sending a signal to a target that it is being tracked, and can act as a psychological tactic or deterrent.
In modern military operations, lighting is often considered an offensive act, as it indicates an intention to target or engage the enemy.
