Russian stealth bomber?

[dead_pan]

Russia begins building first stealth bomber (https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/russia-begins-building-first-stealth-bomber/)

[ORAC]

Seems a large crew for the modern day. The B-2 manages 30 hour flights with a crew of 2.

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2019/04/29/heres-how-b-2-bomber-pilots-pull-off-grueling-33-hour-flights/

https://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/the-stealth-bomber-elite-315558/

[MPN11]

Thanks, ORAC ... both good reads.

[NumptyAussie]

Seems a large crew for the modern day. The B-2 manages 30 hour flights with a crew of 2
and some drugs...

"For especially long missions, James said doctors will prescribe medication “in the event that those members need that little bit of extra push to help them stay focused on the mission.”

[Martin the Martian]

The big question is how long will it take to get it into service, how many will they buy and will they be able to fund it enough to be a useful asset rather than just another extension to Putin's member? Yes, I know those are three questions, but I guess it will all be wrapped up in the same answer.

And who at Sukhoi has been looking at photos of the Armstrong Whitworth A.W. 52?

[oxenos]

how long will it take to get it into service

I didn't see one today, so perhaps it is already in service.

[scifi]

They have promised to sqwalk 6666 once they are west of Norway..
.

[Una Due Tfc]

Those winglets don’t look very stealthy.

[Compass Call]

The large crew is due to the requirement of a Political Commissar and his deputy to ensure the flight crew carry out their orders and don't defect! :ok:

[57mm]

Full circle. Russian scientist's paper on absorption and reflectivity of radar energy, written in the 50s, I believe, was the source of embryonic stealth work in the USA.......

[ATSA1]

Just curious...why continue with stealth? Especially after a F117 was shot down over the Balkans in1999, and the USAF has retired it?

[ORAC]

Just curious...why continue with stealth? Especially after a F117 was shot down over the Balkans in1999, and the USAF has retired it?
First generation stealth. Flat surfaces effective at deflecting radar beams but not absorption and with limitations. In particular from directly underneath - which is where the Serbs placed their radar after the F-117s used the same route several days running. A lesson, as they say, was learnt from that.

Better computers for modelling means later aircraft have compound curve profiles and surfaces with inbuilt radar absorbent features.

As the science is one of measures, counter-measures, counter-counter-measures and diminishing returns.

[London Eye]

First generation stealth. Flat surfaces effective at deflecting radar beams but not absorption and with limitations. In particular from directly underneath - which is where the Serbs placed their radar after the F-117s used the same route several days running. A lesson, as they say, was learnt from that.

Better computers for modelling means later aircraft have compound curve profiles and surfaces with inbuilt radar absorbent features.

As the science is one of measures, counter-measures, counter-counter-measures and diminishing returns.

Well played Sir, well played.

[Surplus]

and the USAF has retired it?
Still flying March 2020.

https://www.key.aero/article/f-117a-nighthawk-spotted-march-2020-keyaero

[ATSA1]

Thanks for the info...yes I had heard that some F117s were still flying, but in a training capacity?

[Green Flash]

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/33593/f-117s-flew-directly-over-los-angeles-on-another-mission-off-the-southern-california-coast