Supersonic also leads to heating, which leads to other problems, especially having a very detectable IR signature.
Stealth and persistence requirements pretty much result in a LO, subsonic design. A supersonic, stealthy platform would be much more expensive.
Fuel consumption rate is the main drawback of supersonic designs.
For example SR-71 was designed around speed not around concealing IR signature, low observability or fuel efficiency and even if those things were weighted they were traded in favor of even greater speed.
In the past there were suggestions that the budget for the B2 was too big for one aircraft and that it was actually funding 2 programmes.
If you apply that logic here, then one aircraft is the deterrent (with top quality LO and endurance but more overt when it comes to readying it for battle). But the business of getting the job done suddenly and without warning could be done by something else.
That sounds like taxpayer comfort, Cold War era money pits like B-2 contributed to Aurora’s legend but in today’s world it’s quite hard to justify a project of that magnitude to fight an imaginary enemy. Obviously budget nonsense is going to continue until the last turn of printing merry-go-round.
The fastest and cleanest way of getting the job done are conventional ICBMs but unless one advocates for their proliferation they’re not an option.
Supersonic flight is also useful while escaping and evading threats.
We can also measure it using rotor blades as measurement unit after identifying those helos :p.
Didn’t Myasishchev worked in a subsonic flying wing during the ’80s?
That report sounds like it considers development funds as improper subsidies. Do you have any details about specific payments to Boeing?
Not all details but a summary of key findings can be found at WTO webpage.
Boeing has plenty of commercial work to keep them afloat and do not need this kind of handout (nor do they deserve it).
Nothing stops Boeing to return at least $5 billion in improper subsidies from the U.S. government to develop the 787 Dreamliner and other aircraf to US taxpayers.
It’s not the government’s (read the people’s) job to keep certain companies in business. If they want to stay in business, then they need to produce a good product at the right price.
Corporate welfare is not exactly something unheard of for Boeing and Lockheed.
Their population, too, is decreasing. What did you expect? 🙂
This mindset that not only every year your economy has to grow but it also has to grow at larger pace than the previous year is one of the reason why the world is so f*ed up with the alleged “crisis”.
Constant growth is definitely not sustainable. Not today, when except parts of Africa and Latin America almost the whole world seeks just growth and prosperity.
The times of massive orders of L-29s and L-39s are long gone and it’s not related to economic or populatin growth but to political decisions.
“Declining economy” is a bit harsh term but it’s true that the production of Czech Republic continues slowing.
All four T-X candidates are of foreign origin. The USAF specifically banned an all new domestic airframe by Boeing due to cost/timing reasons.
Based on the USAF requirements, M-346 and Hawk are unlikely; not only they need redesigned airframe, they are too small to carry all the electronics gear, chaff/flair dispensers, etc. It is basically a F/A-50 vs Gripen fight now.
T-X is a politically rigged competition similar to Indian MMRCA.
T-50 has as much US made components as any other localy designed aircraft, badly foreign origin.
Owlcat- I’m not clear, it looks like you are pulling me up on a point I have made, but I can’t see where we disagree?
Sorry, my computer is giving me a lot of trouble lately and again I’ve ended posting just one part of a longer text :confused:.
Misuse is the most common cause of failure in high tech systems, with a limited number of engagements the problem can be as simple as inflight wear and tear of the missiles or lack of proper storage.
” The USAF refuses to officially comment on the LRS-B, with the developmental effort being run as a “black programme”. The service is so concerned with security it will not confirm if a programme office has been set up, or even if there will be a competition to build the new aircraft. ”
I suppose that this aircraft is being defined with a view to it being able to get those cruise missiles into the battle at will over a very large area of contested airspace.
Its not about flying up to a launch point and then turning away, but more about flying where ever it wants and dropping whatever it wants.
The article describes a big, slow moving, stealthy airframe with a spacious weapons bay filled with state of the art communications equipment and designed to operate under support of the other mayor assets of both US Navy and USAF.
That description doesn’t correspond to a stand-alone/stand-off platform that can overcome the limitations that current bombers could face in a conflict against a capable enemy.
No one has sent B-52s to the vicinity of a working IADS for decades and there’s noting that indicates that this is going to change with the introduction of a new bomber.
A cruise missile with loitering capability would be cheaper and less troublesome, and lobbing smart munitions has proven politically kosher.
Consider this:
August 2012: 22 Hawks for about $800 million is about $36.4 per aircraft…. and this is as part of a larger package to a country that already operates legacy Hawks and that is not having to rebuild its Air Force from scratch.
And also consider that Saudi Arabia is know to buy expensive toys at a premium price on behalf of their benefactors.