The Ukrainian Air Force is pulling off a surprising feat – integrating modern Western weapons with their old Soviet-era fighter jets using tablets. This unexpected solution allows Ukrainian pilots to quickly deploy powerful air-to-ground weapons like AGM-88 HARMs and JDAM-ER bombs, giving them a significant advantage in the ongoing conflict.
The news of this ingenious use of tablets came from a US defense official. This method bypasses the need for complex modifications to the jets’ outdated systems, a process that would be both time-consuming and expensive. The tablets themselves likely display navigational maps, and crucial weapon data, and might even receive targeting information directly. Videos released by Ukraine’s military showcase Su-27s and MiG-29s utilizing these tablets during actual combat missions.
However, there were hurdles to overcome. Soviet-era jets lack the data interfaces needed for these modern weapons. The answer might lie in the special pylons that carry the weapons themselves. These pylons could be providing vital GPS data to the weapons before launch, and might even incorporate some kind of electronic detection gear that can identify and locate enemy radar signals. This would significantly enhance targeting capabilities, especially for weapons like JDAM-ERs which rely heavily on precise targeting information.
While the exact details remain under wraps, it’s evident that these tablets are a game-changer. They allow Ukrainian pilots to effectively use modern weapons on their older jets, significantly boosting their airpower. This innovative approach demonstrates how even simple solutions, implemented with ingenuity, can have a dramatic impact on the battlefield. In the future, it’s possible that such a setup, with a pylon adapted for the specific weapons and paired with a tablet, could eliminate the need for complex data bus wiring altogether. The pylons could potentially contain a hardware module that handles communication with the tablet wirelessly, perhaps using a system like Bluetooth. This might be far from a traditional military-grade solution, but it achieves seamless integration without extensive modifications to the aircraft itself.
