The end of dedicated SEAD aircraft?

[DrainBamage]

5th generation US fighter aircraft (F-22, F-35) are built with the sensors/capabilities to dominate the RF spectrum. They both have antennas embedded around the aircraft that can detect and geolocate enemy radar transmissions, along with extremely powerful radars that are capable of electronic attack. Both APG-77 (F-22) and APG-81 (F-35) have strong air to ground capabilities with high resolution synthetic aperture radar that can locate and identify targets through the weather. F-35 also has 360 degree electro-optical and IR awareness so can instantly triangulate source of missile launches from anywhere on the battlefield.

Does this spell the end for dedicated wild weasel aircraft like F-16J? A 4th gen wild weasel carries a distinct loadout to function effectively. HARM missiles, and HTS pod for the HARMs, a regular targeting pod, and maybe an ECM jammer pod. They can also have PGMs and cluster munitions, AIr Force favors CBU-105 while Navy has taken a liking to JSOW for their F-18s.

A 5th gen aircraft doesn't need HARM as much. HARM can detect radiation and follow it back to source, but with a 5th gen the aircraft itself can quickly geolocate a radiation source and put general munitions on that location. The aircraft's sensors are the guidance, not the seeker on the missile. They don't need an ECM pod because their radar already has strong electronic attack capabilities built in. This has the advantage of allowing an aircraft that is part of a strike package switch to SEAD role and attack pop-up threats without having a dedicated SEAD/DEAD loadout.

An F-22 flying high cover can be configured to be an excellent wild weasel aircraft while still performing air superiority. F-22 has been qualified for dropping SDBs at supersonic speeds and can carry four SDBs and an AMRAAM in each weapons bay, in addition to the popout Sidewinders. SDBs are (supposedly) even more accurate than JDAMs, can be tossed 50 miles by an F-22, and their fuze is selectable by pilot including airburst which is optimal for soft skin targets like SAM launchers and radars. F-35s can also carry eight SDBs internally, or two JSOWs that use cluster munitions for wider area effects vs. IADs.

I don't think wild weasels are necessarily going away completely, but the planning around assembling a strike package could be a lot more flexible going forward.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

If they eliminate the aircraft they lose the launcher for dedicated missiles, an aircraft can only carry so many missiles and if you remove attack aircraft missiles for defensive ones you lose your punch.

 

[Manonthestreet]

Only if ya get a bigger weapons bay or have a missile truck drone following you to do the work you cant,,,,,,

 

[DrainBamage]

That is where a weapon like SDB that can be do the job more efficiently while being carried in greater numbers comes into play. An F-22 or F-35 can carry eight SDBs internally, compare that to a F-16J that if flying with external tanks will only have two HARM missiles to engage air defense elements. One plane can hit eight targets instead of two, and while SDB is no substitute for a 2,000 lb JDAM it has a surprising punch, they have been using them a lot more in Syria.

The other factor here is MALD and MALD-J. Gone are the days when part of a wild weasel aircraft's role is to play target in order to get IADS elements to light up and reveal themselves, now you're launching MALDs to identify the fixed elements to be taken out with standoff weapons before any aircraft need to fly over.