Super Hornets For RAAF
While we're at it, we should include the new B-1R. A mach 2.5 version of the B-1 Lancer. Able to deliver 25,000 kg of ordinance out to 2,500nm without refuling.
Now thats some big stick.
Now thats some big stick.
NGC Taps Long Is Company to Begin Production of First F/A-18F Super Hornet for RAAF
(Amityville, N.Y., February 5, 2008) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has begun production of major structural components for the first F/A-18F Super Hornet strike fighter aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
On Feb. 5, GKN Aerospace-Monitor, a premier supplier to Northrop Grumman, began machining the first wing bulkhead, one of three titanium bulkheads that hold the F/A-18 wings in place. The government of Australia is purchasing 24 F/A-18Fs from the United States in the first international procurement of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
Northrop Grumman is principal subcontractor to The Boeing Company on the F/A-18 program. The wing bulkheads will be shipped to Northrop Grumman's state-of-the-art production facility in El Segundo, Calif., where the company produces the F/A-18E/F's center/aft fuselage section and twin vertical tails and integrates all associated subsystems. Northrop Grumman expects to begin assembling the first Super Hornet fuselage shipset for Australia in late March.
"This marks the beginning of a production process that will deliver unquestionable quality in a frontline aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force," said George Vardoulakis, vice president of F/A-18 Programs for Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector. "Our suppliers have always been an essential part of the Super Hornet industry team, and their outstanding performance is a key element of our success."
Bob Gower, vice president of F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, said starting structural component construction was the beginning of a process that would meet the requirements of the RAAF while delivering proven value and combat capability. "As production begins on the RAAF Super Hornets, Boeing and the entire Hornet Industry Team will continue our proven track record of delivering Super Hornets on schedule and within budget, while continuing to outdistance the threat," he said.
The F/A-18E/F is the U.S. Navy's combat-proven strike fighter with built-in versatility. Its suite of integrated and networked systems provides enhanced interoperability, total force support for the combatant commander and for the troops on the ground. The F/A-18E/F entered service with the U.S. Navy in 1999, and the Navy is expected to acquire a minimum of 460 Super Hornets through 2012.
"GKN Aerospace is proud to be a member of the Australian F/A-18F production team," said Jim Gibson, vice president of sales and marketing for GKN Aerospace-Aerostructures North America. "We are fully committed to meeting our customer's requirements and providing the highest quality assemblies."
Source : Northrop Grumman Corporation
& to hang off them!
Raytheon Completes Second Successful Engine Test of Joint Standoff Weapon Extended Range
JSOW-ER to provide warfighters with easily integrated, affordable, viable weapon
(San Diego, February 5, 2008) -- The Joint Standoff Weapon Extended Range missile moved one step closer to powered flight testing when Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) successfully conducted a second ground test of the JSOW-ER engine at the facility of Hamilton Sundstrand, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company, late last year.
The Raytheon- and Hamilton Sundstrand-funded test evaluated a flush inlet, engine and exhaust design. This test keeps the JSOW-ER on track for further functional ground tests, a captive carry flight test in 2008, and a free- flight demonstration in 2009.
JSOW-ER, which comprises a portion of Raytheon's response to the Air Force's request for information for alternative solutions to the Joint Air-to- Surface Standoff Missile, is a proposed variant of the combat-proven JSOW, with a price goal of $350,000 per unit.
"JSOW-ER provides the warfighter an affordable extended-range missile that is essentially a spiral of Raytheon's combat-proven glide JSOW," said Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems Strike product line. "It can be easily integrated onto any aircraft that can carry JSOW and will give the warfighter a 300-nautical mile missile with the same netted weapon capability and maritime interdiction capability currently in development for the JSOW C-1."
JSOW-ER's affordability and longer range can, in large part, be attributed to the weapon's 150-pound thrust class Hamilton Sundstrand engine. The engine, which is the same one used in Raytheon's Miniature Air Launched Decoy, will help keep the JSOW-ER affordable while reducing the MALD's(tm) cost per unit, thanks to economies of scale. JSOW-ER will also incorporate the same cost initiatives that reduced the unit cost of JSOW Block II by more than 25 percent.
Source : Raytheon
Plus
(St. Louis, February 13, 2008) -- LaBarge, Inc. (AMEX: LB) has been awarded a $2.2 million contract from Raytheon Missile Systems to continue to provide complex cable harnesses for the JSOW (Joint Standoff Weapon) system.
Currently launched by Navy strike aircraft, JSOW is a revolutionary glide weapon that uses global positioning satellite information to find its target. Designed to ensure a fighter's survival in combat, JSOW operates outside the range of an enemy's line of air defense. JSOW has been combat proven, most recently in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Source : LaBarge Inc.
On Feb. 5, GKN Aerospace-Monitor, a premier supplier to Northrop Grumman, began machining the first wing bulkhead, one of three titanium bulkheads that hold the F/A-18 wings in place. The government of Australia is purchasing 24 F/A-18Fs from the United States in the first international procurement of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
Northrop Grumman is principal subcontractor to The Boeing Company on the F/A-18 program. The wing bulkheads will be shipped to Northrop Grumman's state-of-the-art production facility in El Segundo, Calif., where the company produces the F/A-18E/F's center/aft fuselage section and twin vertical tails and integrates all associated subsystems. Northrop Grumman expects to begin assembling the first Super Hornet fuselage shipset for Australia in late March.
"This marks the beginning of a production process that will deliver unquestionable quality in a frontline aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force," said George Vardoulakis, vice president of F/A-18 Programs for Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector. "Our suppliers have always been an essential part of the Super Hornet industry team, and their outstanding performance is a key element of our success."
Bob Gower, vice president of F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, said starting structural component construction was the beginning of a process that would meet the requirements of the RAAF while delivering proven value and combat capability. "As production begins on the RAAF Super Hornets, Boeing and the entire Hornet Industry Team will continue our proven track record of delivering Super Hornets on schedule and within budget, while continuing to outdistance the threat," he said.
The F/A-18E/F is the U.S. Navy's combat-proven strike fighter with built-in versatility. Its suite of integrated and networked systems provides enhanced interoperability, total force support for the combatant commander and for the troops on the ground. The F/A-18E/F entered service with the U.S. Navy in 1999, and the Navy is expected to acquire a minimum of 460 Super Hornets through 2012.
"GKN Aerospace is proud to be a member of the Australian F/A-18F production team," said Jim Gibson, vice president of sales and marketing for GKN Aerospace-Aerostructures North America. "We are fully committed to meeting our customer's requirements and providing the highest quality assemblies."
Source : Northrop Grumman Corporation
& to hang off them!
Raytheon Completes Second Successful Engine Test of Joint Standoff Weapon Extended Range
JSOW-ER to provide warfighters with easily integrated, affordable, viable weapon
(San Diego, February 5, 2008) -- The Joint Standoff Weapon Extended Range missile moved one step closer to powered flight testing when Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) successfully conducted a second ground test of the JSOW-ER engine at the facility of Hamilton Sundstrand, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company, late last year.
The Raytheon- and Hamilton Sundstrand-funded test evaluated a flush inlet, engine and exhaust design. This test keeps the JSOW-ER on track for further functional ground tests, a captive carry flight test in 2008, and a free- flight demonstration in 2009.
JSOW-ER, which comprises a portion of Raytheon's response to the Air Force's request for information for alternative solutions to the Joint Air-to- Surface Standoff Missile, is a proposed variant of the combat-proven JSOW, with a price goal of $350,000 per unit.
"JSOW-ER provides the warfighter an affordable extended-range missile that is essentially a spiral of Raytheon's combat-proven glide JSOW," said Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems Strike product line. "It can be easily integrated onto any aircraft that can carry JSOW and will give the warfighter a 300-nautical mile missile with the same netted weapon capability and maritime interdiction capability currently in development for the JSOW C-1."
JSOW-ER's affordability and longer range can, in large part, be attributed to the weapon's 150-pound thrust class Hamilton Sundstrand engine. The engine, which is the same one used in Raytheon's Miniature Air Launched Decoy, will help keep the JSOW-ER affordable while reducing the MALD's(tm) cost per unit, thanks to economies of scale. JSOW-ER will also incorporate the same cost initiatives that reduced the unit cost of JSOW Block II by more than 25 percent.
Source : Raytheon
Plus
(St. Louis, February 13, 2008) -- LaBarge, Inc. (AMEX: LB) has been awarded a $2.2 million contract from Raytheon Missile Systems to continue to provide complex cable harnesses for the JSOW (Joint Standoff Weapon) system.
Currently launched by Navy strike aircraft, JSOW is a revolutionary glide weapon that uses global positioning satellite information to find its target. Designed to ensure a fighter's survival in combat, JSOW operates outside the range of an enemy's line of air defense. JSOW has been combat proven, most recently in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Source : LaBarge Inc.
Last edited by Going Boeing; 16th Feb 2008 at 07:11.
I agree with Guptar... bring on the Bone!
I'm just confused as to how the F18E/F is going to replace the F111. The F111 is a strike bomber, the F18 is a multi role fighter. Surely a newer strike bomber would be a better purchase?
(Forgive me, I'm not too much into military)
Arrr
I'm just confused as to how the F18E/F is going to replace the F111. The F111 is a strike bomber, the F18 is a multi role fighter. Surely a newer strike bomber would be a better purchase?
(Forgive me, I'm not too much into military)
Arrr
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Reading that article i'd say that time might just be up to cancel the SuperBug, all depends on the contractual obligations i guess. Either that or Min Def is holding out for 'some other goodie' from Boeing if we dont cancel.
Would hate to see the pay out if we cancel downstream.
Would hate to see the pay out if we cancel downstream.
True.. but then they're pushing for the F22, that would worry them more I would think. The B1 could go well past S Asia, but the F22 would be just the right range...
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........bit of a fast, very fast in fact diversion here. Heard today on the radio whilst enroute in sth e vic someone saying that they will be flying supersonic back from tassie over bass straight. Q is seeing as us meer mortals fly 'sub' everything do they need to ask permission to fly greater than the speed of sound or is it at pilots discression??
CW
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Originally Posted by Capt Wally
...bit of a fast, very fast in fact diversion here. Heard today on the radio whilst enroute in sth e vic someone saying that they will be flying supersonic back from tassie over bass straight. Q is seeing as us meer mortals fly 'sub' everything do they need to ask permission to fly greater than the speed of sound or is it at pilots discression??
Originally Posted by Guptar
While we're at it, we should include the new B-1R. A mach 2.5 version of the B-1 Lancer. Able to deliver 25,000 kg of ordinance out to 2,500nm without refuling.
Now thats some big stick.
Now thats some big stick.
Last edited by FoxtrotAlpha18; 11th Feb 2008 at 21:09. Reason: typos
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Tnxs 'tub', just that you don't hear such things too often. Would love to see the LRN showing above a 1000 kts ! But I guess you only need to go about 750 to 'break' something !
CW
CW
Just how good is the Raptor?
NGC Completes Successful Demonstration of New Synthetic Aperture Radar Capability for F-22 Fighter
(Baltimore, February 14, 2008) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has successfully demonstrated the capability to generate high-resolution, in-flight synthetic aperture radar (SAR) maps using the AESA (active electronically scanned array) radar being produced for the U.S. Air Force's F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft.
"The flight tests, on board a company BAC 1-11 test bed aircraft, have proved that the F-22 fighter's mission capabilities have expanded to include directly identifying and targeting enemy ground defenses and mobile forces," said Teri Marconi, vice president of Combat Avionics Systems at Northrop Grumman. "This is a hugely significant event for the F-22 program because it ensures that Raptor pilots will have access to critical detailed information about both air and ground threats before the enemy's radar ever detects the F-22."
Source : Northrop Grumman Corporation
And progress on the JSF
GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team Completes Successful Design Milestone
(Evendale, Ohio, February 13, 2008) -- The GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team has successfully completed its Critical Design Review, a major milestone in the F136 engine development program.
The F136 engine is a 40,000+ lb. thrust combat engine that will be available to power all variants of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft for the US military and eight partner nations.
During Critical Design Review (CDR), the US Government's Joint Program Office for the F-35 Lightning II validates and approves the design of the engine. During that review, every aspect of the engine design is analyzed and evaluated in order to proceed with the building of the first full development engines. The process involved 80 detailed component and module design reviews, involving technical experts from the JPO, General Electric and Rolls-Royce.
Completion of CDR is an important step that signifies the F136 program is moving from early design phases toward production.
"The CDR, held at the GE Evendale facility, was the culmination of over four months of detailed component, module and system reviews between the Fighter Engine Team and JPO propulsion teams. The F136 met the milestone requirements and this serves as an important step on the path towards a competitive engine for the F-35, which is on course to power their first F-35 flight by 2010. Challenges exist, but the F136 is well positioned to meet them," said John White, Director of Engineering for the Joint Program Office.
"This milestone demonstrates that two global leaders in propulsion can combine their experience and their best technologies, resulting in an innovative design and one of the most advanced combat engines ever created. The GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team has reached that goal while staying within its budget and staying on schedule," said Jean Lydon-Rodgers, President of the Fighter Engine Team.
"This represents a major achievement for one of the greatest engine design teams ever assembled, striving to provide the best engine to the warfighter. Now, we move on to delivering the first production configuration engine within a year, with first flight in the F-35 Lightning II scheduled for 2010," said Mark Rhodes, Senior Vice President of the Fighter Engine Team.
Source : GE Aviation
(Baltimore, February 14, 2008) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has successfully demonstrated the capability to generate high-resolution, in-flight synthetic aperture radar (SAR) maps using the AESA (active electronically scanned array) radar being produced for the U.S. Air Force's F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft.
"The flight tests, on board a company BAC 1-11 test bed aircraft, have proved that the F-22 fighter's mission capabilities have expanded to include directly identifying and targeting enemy ground defenses and mobile forces," said Teri Marconi, vice president of Combat Avionics Systems at Northrop Grumman. "This is a hugely significant event for the F-22 program because it ensures that Raptor pilots will have access to critical detailed information about both air and ground threats before the enemy's radar ever detects the F-22."
Source : Northrop Grumman Corporation
And progress on the JSF
GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team Completes Successful Design Milestone
(Evendale, Ohio, February 13, 2008) -- The GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team has successfully completed its Critical Design Review, a major milestone in the F136 engine development program.
The F136 engine is a 40,000+ lb. thrust combat engine that will be available to power all variants of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft for the US military and eight partner nations.
During Critical Design Review (CDR), the US Government's Joint Program Office for the F-35 Lightning II validates and approves the design of the engine. During that review, every aspect of the engine design is analyzed and evaluated in order to proceed with the building of the first full development engines. The process involved 80 detailed component and module design reviews, involving technical experts from the JPO, General Electric and Rolls-Royce.
Completion of CDR is an important step that signifies the F136 program is moving from early design phases toward production.
"The CDR, held at the GE Evendale facility, was the culmination of over four months of detailed component, module and system reviews between the Fighter Engine Team and JPO propulsion teams. The F136 met the milestone requirements and this serves as an important step on the path towards a competitive engine for the F-35, which is on course to power their first F-35 flight by 2010. Challenges exist, but the F136 is well positioned to meet them," said John White, Director of Engineering for the Joint Program Office.
"This milestone demonstrates that two global leaders in propulsion can combine their experience and their best technologies, resulting in an innovative design and one of the most advanced combat engines ever created. The GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team has reached that goal while staying within its budget and staying on schedule," said Jean Lydon-Rodgers, President of the Fighter Engine Team.
"This represents a major achievement for one of the greatest engine design teams ever assembled, striving to provide the best engine to the warfighter. Now, we move on to delivering the first production configuration engine within a year, with first flight in the F-35 Lightning II scheduled for 2010," said Mark Rhodes, Senior Vice President of the Fighter Engine Team.
Source : GE Aviation
Successful Fuel Testing Of F-35 Lightning II Stovl
(Fort Worth, Texas, US, February 19, 2008) -- BAE Systems has completed critical fuel testing on the first F-35 Lightning II short take off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant five days ahead of its schedule proving the maturity of both the aircraft and programme.
The important fuel checks of the design and build of the aircraft was led by BAE Systems and involved constant testing, 24 hours a day for 13 days, which checked the calibration of the aircraft's fuel gauging systems. Testing took place at Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth plant in Texas where the first STOVL aircraft, BF-1, is currently undergoing a series of tests in preparation of first flight later this year.
Tom Fillingham, F-35 Lightning II Managing Director at BAE Systems said: "It was a milestone moment in the programme. This is the first STOVL we've tested, and we wanted to make sure the designs worked and check that the fuel systems had been put together properly."
The BAE Systems team of engineers are based at Warton, Lancashire, and travelled out to Fort Worth to undertake the programme of testing.
Following the fuel testing the aircraft is undergoing structural coupling and ground vibration testing, as well as completing hydraulic testing of the doors and landing gear.
BAE Systems is responsible for the design and delivery of the aft fuselage and empennage for each of the three F-35 variants, as well as key areas of the vehicle and mission systems, in particular the fuel system, crew escape, life support system and prognostics health management integration. The Company also has significant work share in autonomic logistics, primarily on the support system side, and is involved in the Integrated Test Force, including the systems flight test and mission systems.
Source : BAE Systems
The important fuel checks of the design and build of the aircraft was led by BAE Systems and involved constant testing, 24 hours a day for 13 days, which checked the calibration of the aircraft's fuel gauging systems. Testing took place at Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth plant in Texas where the first STOVL aircraft, BF-1, is currently undergoing a series of tests in preparation of first flight later this year.
Tom Fillingham, F-35 Lightning II Managing Director at BAE Systems said: "It was a milestone moment in the programme. This is the first STOVL we've tested, and we wanted to make sure the designs worked and check that the fuel systems had been put together properly."
The BAE Systems team of engineers are based at Warton, Lancashire, and travelled out to Fort Worth to undertake the programme of testing.
Following the fuel testing the aircraft is undergoing structural coupling and ground vibration testing, as well as completing hydraulic testing of the doors and landing gear.
BAE Systems is responsible for the design and delivery of the aft fuselage and empennage for each of the three F-35 variants, as well as key areas of the vehicle and mission systems, in particular the fuel system, crew escape, life support system and prognostics health management integration. The Company also has significant work share in autonomic logistics, primarily on the support system side, and is involved in the Integrated Test Force, including the systems flight test and mission systems.
Source : BAE Systems
NGC Unveils New AESA for F-16 and Other Platforms, Missions
(Linthicum, Md., February 19, 2008) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) unveiled a new company funded program to develop an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) at the Singapore Air Show. The Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) will be a full performance fire control AESA derived from proven AESA technology for light tactical aircraft. SABR is being designed for retrofit to existing F-16 aircraft and can be scaled to fit other platforms and mission areas.
"SABR is the most recent development in a long line of Northrop Grumman AESA airborne fire control radars," said Chris Sheppard, F-16 Sensor Systems Program Development manager. "SABR will offer all the advantages of an active electronically scanned multi-function array, more than just a radar, but at a lower price than AESA fire control radars now available."
"We look forward to supporting the F-16 aircraft worldwide for at least 30 more years, and SABR is our investment towards maintaining the F-16's combat capability. SABR leverages investment in technologies derived from AESAs produced for the U.S. Air Force and our international partners," said Sheppard.
Source : Northrop Grumman Corporation
"SABR is the most recent development in a long line of Northrop Grumman AESA airborne fire control radars," said Chris Sheppard, F-16 Sensor Systems Program Development manager. "SABR will offer all the advantages of an active electronically scanned multi-function array, more than just a radar, but at a lower price than AESA fire control radars now available."
"We look forward to supporting the F-16 aircraft worldwide for at least 30 more years, and SABR is our investment towards maintaining the F-16's combat capability. SABR leverages investment in technologies derived from AESAs produced for the U.S. Air Force and our international partners," said Sheppard.
Source : Northrop Grumman Corporation
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As hard as I try, I can't see the Australian Government passing the acquisition of a capability which gives the 'bang for buck' of the F-22.....ie, a lot of bang for a much larger buck. Although you can't really continue to call the F-22 a 'niche air to air' capability, it is somewhat air to ground limited.
BUT.......I do hope we get it for one reason.........IT'S FREAKIN' FAST!!!!!!
The kinetics of the F-22 are often understated, but they remain the one area in which it's streets ahead of JSF.
An F-22 at M2.0+ at 80,000' won't need stealth to deny most tactical and some strategic SAMs - it's too freakin' quick to be in danger. Intercepting a fighter at these sorts of speeds and heights is also near impossible in practice, although theoretically armchair knuckleheads will disagree.
And this is not to mention the air to ground standoff capability achieved if supersonic release of guided weapons is capitilised on........you don't need to have fins and rocket motors on your bomb if you throw it fast enough from up in the menopause!
Anyways, I don't reckon it'll happen for the RAAF, but man, it'd be nice.
lmh
BUT.......I do hope we get it for one reason.........IT'S FREAKIN' FAST!!!!!!
The kinetics of the F-22 are often understated, but they remain the one area in which it's streets ahead of JSF.
An F-22 at M2.0+ at 80,000' won't need stealth to deny most tactical and some strategic SAMs - it's too freakin' quick to be in danger. Intercepting a fighter at these sorts of speeds and heights is also near impossible in practice, although theoretically armchair knuckleheads will disagree.
And this is not to mention the air to ground standoff capability achieved if supersonic release of guided weapons is capitilised on........you don't need to have fins and rocket motors on your bomb if you throw it fast enough from up in the menopause!
Anyways, I don't reckon it'll happen for the RAAF, but man, it'd be nice.
lmh
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I agree LMH,
What an awesome jet to have in our arsenal. Just having it is a deterrent to those who might want to have a go at us. even if it's A/G capability is limited.
I'm sure with Aussie ingenuitydown at ARDU (i believe it's called something else now?), we could have a decent A/G capability in the jet within a short time. Remember when we first got Pave Tack working so well that the yanks offered us 24 brand new F-111's as a swap for our ARDU one cos their targeting wasn't as accurate as ours??? We declined of course.
It has supercruise and i'm sure it would have the range of the F-111 and with the ability to fly to and from targets without detection would be a plus. I'm sure our adversaries would be able to detect any tankers that might be loitering and correctly guess that they might soon be under attack from JSF's. No need for that tanker (well not in a detectable range anyway) with the F22.
get's a big thumbs up from me
ps it's also a better looking plane
What an awesome jet to have in our arsenal. Just having it is a deterrent to those who might want to have a go at us. even if it's A/G capability is limited.
I'm sure with Aussie ingenuitydown at ARDU (i believe it's called something else now?), we could have a decent A/G capability in the jet within a short time. Remember when we first got Pave Tack working so well that the yanks offered us 24 brand new F-111's as a swap for our ARDU one cos their targeting wasn't as accurate as ours??? We declined of course.
It has supercruise and i'm sure it would have the range of the F-111 and with the ability to fly to and from targets without detection would be a plus. I'm sure our adversaries would be able to detect any tankers that might be loitering and correctly guess that they might soon be under attack from JSF's. No need for that tanker (well not in a detectable range anyway) with the F22.
get's a big thumbs up from me
ps it's also a better looking plane
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Remember when we first got Pave Tack working so well that the yanks offered us 24 brand new F-111's as a swap for our ARDU one cos their targeting wasn't as accurate as ours???
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Quote:
Remember when we first got Pave Tack working so well that the yanks offered us 24 brand new F-111's as a swap for our ARDU one cos their targeting wasn't as accurate as ours???
Errr...no. (And they might have had trouble finding 24 new ones in the mid 80's, seeing as the last F model was manufactured in about 1976.)
Remember when we first got Pave Tack working so well that the yanks offered us 24 brand new F-111's as a swap for our ARDU one cos their targeting wasn't as accurate as ours???
Errr...no. (And they might have had trouble finding 24 new ones in the mid 80's, seeing as the last F model was manufactured in about 1976.)
Originally Posted by luvmuhud
And this is not to mention the air to ground standoff capability achieved if supersonic release of guided weapons is capitilised on........you don't need to have fins and rocket motors on your bomb if you throw it fast enough from up in the menopause!
It's a freaking beast of a jet. Had a crack on the display sim in DC...the avionics, radar, EW gear and performance are second to none....its' one mean MOFO I wouldn't want to pick a fight with.
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As hard as I try, I can't see the Australian Government passing the acquisition of a capability which gives the 'bang for buck' of the F-22.....ie, a lot of bang for a much larger buck. Although you can't really continue to call the F-22 a 'niche air to air' capability, it is somewhat air to ground limited.
BUT.......I do hope we get it for one reason.........IT'S FREAKIN' FAST!!!!!!
The kinetics of the F-22 are often understated, but they remain the one area in which it's streets ahead of JSF.
An F-22 at M2.0+ at 80,000' won't need stealth to deny most tactical and some strategic SAMs - it's too freakin' quick to be in danger. Intercepting a fighter at these sorts of speeds and heights is also near impossible in practice, although theoretically armchair knuckleheads will disagree.
And this is not to mention the air to ground standoff capability achieved if supersonic release of guided weapons is capitilised on........you don't need to have fins and rocket motors on your bomb if you throw it fast enough from up in the menopause!
Anyways, I don't reckon it'll happen for the RAAF, but man, it'd be nice.
BUT.......I do hope we get it for one reason.........IT'S FREAKIN' FAST!!!!!!
The kinetics of the F-22 are often understated, but they remain the one area in which it's streets ahead of JSF.
An F-22 at M2.0+ at 80,000' won't need stealth to deny most tactical and some strategic SAMs - it's too freakin' quick to be in danger. Intercepting a fighter at these sorts of speeds and heights is also near impossible in practice, although theoretically armchair knuckleheads will disagree.
And this is not to mention the air to ground standoff capability achieved if supersonic release of guided weapons is capitilised on........you don't need to have fins and rocket motors on your bomb if you throw it fast enough from up in the menopause!
Anyways, I don't reckon it'll happen for the RAAF, but man, it'd be nice.
Try 55-60 max! There's only a couple of birds that can hold 80K, and they're both black!Sure, the F-22 is fast and yes, I'd love to strap one on and fly downtown anywhere! But, the F-22 runs on 386 processor chips and with only 190-odd to be built, I'd hate to have to fund a large percentage of any future hardware upgrades in order to stay compatible with the US fleet.
The F-22 will be far less relevant in the 2020s than the F-35 which, although not as fast or high flying, will offer far greater SA and ISR capability, and better A2A, A2G lethality in the years ahead.
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TruBlu351..........yes, it is the Black Falcon of the fighter world!!!
FoxtrotAlphaBallOnTheDeck.......386 chips maybe........but when JSF is suddenly unstealthed by the enemies big 'unstealthing' weapon, it's nothing but a fat ugly loafing Hornet........at least in the F-22 you can go fast!!!
FoxtrotAlphaBallOnTheDeck.......386 chips maybe........but when JSF is suddenly unstealthed by the enemies big 'unstealthing' weapon, it's nothing but a fat ugly loafing Hornet........at least in the F-22 you can go fast!!!