PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - F-35 Cancelled, then what ?
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Old 14th Jul 2015, 11:55
  #6783 (permalink)  
LowObservable
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Far West Wessex
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HOBS and LOAL are both valid technical solutions (BVRAAMs are all LOAL) but it's the combination of the two that gets tricky, particularly at close range where the angle rates are highest. While in theory the datalinked IR AAMs (AIM-9X Block II and ASRAAM MLU) can do it, CM has outlined the limitations of launching from a ventral bay where LOS is interrupted.

So far, the F-35 has retreated from its initial position on HOBS weapons, which involved ASRAAM and a trapeze. This would still have been limited, compared to the F-22/J-20/T-50 solution, because of seeker FOV from the rail. Now, as we know, F-35 has no HOBS solution in stealth mode.

"Over-the-shoulder" can be LOBL if the target is near 9-3 when the missile is fired - I believe that's the main selling point for Python 5.
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