How about USAF source (page 5)? Good enough? If you can’t calculate knots to Mach, just ask. 😀

The question is has any F-15 with this load out, ever managed to reach that speed anywhere other than on paper? I’ve seen plenty of other sources saying that with a full A2A load(8 AAMs), the max speed was ~M1.8.

Blablabla…a full squadron of F15s with additional tanker (you get ~1.7 tankers for one F22 :D) is still way more cheaper than a half a squadron of F22s and how much SDBs is that on target, by comparison??…So much for tactical usefulness…

How many of these F-15s and Tankers do you suppose will survive against a target protected by S-300/400s? You missed the point entirely, so I’ll try to explain it more clearly. Assuming the F-15 could reach M2.2 with that load, it would be on full A/B and would be out of fuel very quickly. What does this mean? It means that the F-15 couldn’t take advantage of that speed in a tactically useful manner. It also means that the tanker would have to also be within range of the target. So in summary, perhaps an F-15 could reach the speed you’re claiming, but for 10 minutes or less before reaching Bingo fuel. The F-15s would also need F-16CJs, EA-6Bs, etc…. in support along with the tankers. Or, you could use F-22s without any other assets, get in fast, get out fast, get home safe.

The problem is not so much the size, as the fact that the ship can move.

GBU-40 can attack moving targets.

That was a persuasive explanation, indeed… Now I have no more doubts.. 😉

Hmm, target the size of a truck/missile launcher vs. a target 40ft tall and 500ft long. I wonder what is more challenging to hit.:rolleyes:

I think the ultimate fanboy belief is that whatever F-22 does, it must excel in that and be better than even specialized aircraft optimized for this role. I wonder why there isn’t only one type in use worldwide, the F-22. I mean, who needs the rest when everything else is so desperately inferior??

I haven’t seen anyone claim that the F-22 is best at every possible mission. What it is best at though is missions where other aircraft likely wouldn’t survive, or that would require a huge number of support assets to accomplish the same task, and with greater risk. It’s doubtful that the F-22 would be utilized in the anti-shipping role, but for DEAD missions, or other time critical tasks against high value targets, where its speed and low observability would increase the likelihood of success, it would prove useful. Obviously due to the limited number of A2G munitions it can carry, there are many missions it wouldn’t be suitable for though.

I’ve always been wondering why any country would relinquish control of some equipment, especially the RWR.

I’m no expert, but what’s keeping the US from inserting a trigger that on specific radar impulses will cause the receiving aircraft like a British F-35 to shut down, switch off arms, take a dive, eject the pilot, etc., with those radar impulses being sent by a radar function in the US F-35? Or employ the radar and closed-source RWR to issue any other command?

Hmm,

I’m guessing the fact that we’re not interested in harming our allies would be a major reason. That’d be a sure way to lose out on a huge arms market, if such a thing were done, as all credibility would be lost.

Good.. Wake me up when they have actually hit a moving ship with SBD at >> 100km.

BTW, how much is >> 100km? The official specs say 110km max. range and I’d say there are faster aircraft than F-22 is USAF inventory. Therefore, if F-22 would make >> 100 km, then F-15E should slowly approach 200 km. Any evidence regarding that?

F-22s have hit targets at 80nm(or greater with SDBs), if that gives some indication of how much >>100km is. The F-15E won’t be releasing SDBs at >M1.5 from 60k feet.

How is this newsworthy? It’s been known for several years that the source codes would not be made available, to protect intellectual property rights.

Are you saing that 4.5 gen fighter cannot have DIRCM and LOAL missiles with HOBS?

I’m not saying that they can’t, but which aircraft will have the most capabilities funded the soonest though? Also, you have to factor in the F-35’s greater ability to avoid the merge altogether, and the greater difficulty in targetting the F-35 if it is detected.