The F-35, the AESA radar, and the ability to beam down a computer virus from the sky

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Phoenix
A radar system on the other hand is built entirely around the radar, and the computer system is designed solely for the radar.

But you can, in some cases, definitely futz with the radar.

And, if you have big new shiny sensor fusion suites where the radar passes info on to other systems, well, draw your own conclusions. I'm not connecting dots. Pinky swear.

a reply to: Bedlam

There are systems you can get into, but getting all the way into the FBW or some of the deeper, more vital systems is going to be incredibly difficult at best.

a reply to: Bedlam

Certainly not knowledgeable at all here but yeah seems everything is so integrated that there has to be a pathway to do some serious jacking with other aircraft.

a reply to: Phoenix

The sensors are integrated, but systems like the fly by wire, stores system, engine computer aren't tied to sensors.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Bedlam

There are systems you can get into...

Getting at the pilot is probably the goal there.

a reply to: Bedlam

The best you'd probably be able to do is screw up sensors and a few other systems.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Bedlam

The best you'd probably be able to do is screw up sensors and a few other systems.

Only takes a few moments of confusion and distraction.

a reply to: Bedlam

Sure, but you're not going to knock out the entire flight at once, so while one is confused his wingmen aren't.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Bedlam

Sure, but you're not going to knock out the entire flight at once, so while one is confused his wingmen aren't.

Probably not. It would be a lot more effective if you were using one of those totally virtual sensor fusion rigs, too, where you don't actually look out at all.

Those are supposed to be the future, but I think I'd have a cow.

a reply to: Phoenix

Some think this can be done with a simple cell phone. The FMS has week points for sure.

a reply to: aholic

Except the FMS doesn't allow access to other systems, even if you could get into it.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Sorry source here. Yeah it states the the pilots would simply have to turn the autopilot off to stop the attack.

But makes you wonder what a well funded military might do similarly.

a reply to: aholic

All the pilots have to do is pull a breaker and they're good.

Military systems are set up different. That's one problem the F-35 ran into. Their system has an open and a classified side to the same system. The two talk to the system, but are locked out of each other, so you can't access the classified side from the open side.

That's how it's supposed to work. But during testing they found a way to access both sides. So they had to split them with a software patch. Now they're on the same system, but are two different systems.

originally posted by: SgtHamsandwich
Here is a little F-35 porn for you guys. A little off topic but awesome none the less.

It's a very nice visual of the different weapon systems for the F-35.

Love the porn but where is the JASSM?

I love these photos, watched a test fit of mock up Brimstone on the Development Typhoons, that would be an end to any massive tank movement.

How many targets can an Apache lase? 98? That's 6 typhoons destroying 98 tanks in one minute.

originally posted by: Bedlam

originally posted by: mbkennel
a reply to: Bedlam

I don't think that is a robust capability and military radars are likely to be inspected and updated against this threat vs civilian models (no business justification there).

No, but it was a reason for many high fives and chortles around someone's water cooler when it DID work the first few times. A lot of these things are not robust, cyber exploits tend to be one shot. Maybe two or three, then you have to move on.

At some point, the target systems will have to start adopting malware technology, in particular robust polymorphism so that just like the viruses, the target code is never exactly the same, and buffer exploits developed against one target won't continue to work.

a reply to: Zaphod58

You wouldn't need access to those "classified" sides to down a Lightening with EW.

a reply to: aholic

The classified side is where the important things are kept. If you look at the stores panel, one side accesses the health monitoring systems, and computers, while the other only gives you inventory and other minor systems.

Regardless you're not going to bring it down with a malware attack anyway.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: aholic

The classified side is where the important things are kept. If you look at the stores panel, one side accesses the health monitoring systems, and computers, while the other only gives you inventory and other minor systems.

Regardless you're not going to bring it down with a malware attack anyway.

Now we are talking about Red/Black seperation. Not going to say more about it, but google "Tempest", and you will get some idea about it

a reply to: aholic
The "black" side are EMI-hardened.... Meaning that that side is designed to withstand EMI pulses and also not to leak any radiation from it, that might give you some intelligence. It is not like the movies you see...

If these radar systems are open to attack then one would imagine the US and other countries would be working to fix that situation. That would remove it from the game unless someone can keep an active search for new exploits as the systems evolve through time.