Russia shot down one of its Su-35S fighter-bombers.
Human error, or somebody who might jam the jet fighter's IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) system, can cause this kind of episode. So if we talk about human errors, we should ask what caused those errors. Or maybe someone forgot to drive the IFF codes to the computers that control the AA systems.
The jammer systems that deny the IFF system to transmit their codes to AA radars can cause situations where their air defense shoots aircraft down. Modern jet fighters and attack aircraft have only a couple of minutes or seconds to react when they see unknown, maybe hostile aircraft. If the aircraft comes closer to the headquarters would be an enemy attack aircraft, like the Ukrainian MiG-29 armed with "Storm Shadow" missiles, that aircraft could destroy the headquarters.
One version of how to break the stealth technology is to use the IFF systems as the target. AA crew can aim antiradiation missiles at the IFF system. Those radio transmitters are one vulnerability in stealth aircraft.
The IFF system is a problematic part of the aircraft. The radio signal, that the IFF system sends makes aircraft vulnerable against the radar-homing missiles. Jammer systems that send radio signals to deny radar- or radio communication are vulnerable against antiradiation missiles. This means there are always new systems under development.
Electronic warfare is becoming more important in modern battlefields. The drone systems require communication. And if the system can jam GPS and data communication. That makes it harder to use drones and communicate with troops. Also, jammers can deny the drone swarms internal communication. The jammer systems can be the target for HARM-type missiles created to destroy ECM systems and other radio transmitters.
The stealth is the ultimate tool. But the next generation of radars and surveillance systems are hacking the stealth. The CCD cameras and lidar systems are making old-fashioned stealth useless. Same way next-generation AA radars might use pressure waves and other non-direct observation methods to uncover the stealth. The pressure waves around the aircraft are possible to detect by using AI-controlled systems that connect the data from multiple sources.
And the weapon development is the race between the ultimate attacker and ultimate defender. The next-generation IFF systems might also use AI-based radar systems. The radar sends the identification request to the IFF system that answers that request. Then the AI starts to follow the aircraft that closes the IFF. And if it loses the target it can ask for identification again. That thing minimizes the need to send radio signals all the time. That helps stealth planes to complete their mission and makes them harder targets for enemy missiles.
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2023/10/dont-tell-putin-russia-shot-down-one-of-its-own-su-35s-flanker-fighter-jets/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-shot-down-its-most-advanced-fighter-jet-over-tokmak-uk-mod-says/ar-AA1hFMaT
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