wrt #3….

Built in FSU

Currently used by some English-speaking country (hence the ‘sticky tape’ markings here and there)??

Not a fighter.

Single engine prop of some kind….

What is it…. Beats me

Last one is single engine, U.S. manufacture, military helo; circa 1960’s, 70’s

Mark

Can some one explain how zoom climb for “snap-up” tactic works?

This has been around since the early air defense days…

Basically, you’d get the interceptor (F-15 in this case) up to it’s maximum “energy” point (kinetic plus potential). This is typically at/near 37,000 ft where aircraft is accelerated to maximum Mach No.

Now the ‘tricky’ bit… You need to time your snap (smooth transition to climb attitude) so that you reach the firing position at the right time/place/range wrt the target. Too soon and you run out of airspeed before getting in range. Too late and the target get’s inside your minimum range. With a very high speed target at high altitudes the margin for error is minimal (at least with older air-to-air weapons)

If the target turns at all (and at very high speeds it doesn’t take much of a turn), then the geometry is ‘blown’ and a firing solution may be lost.

All of this is typically done with a head-on aspect (Can be done in a stern attack, but target needs to be fairly slow).

Mark

the point is you don’t know what the pilot knows or don’t know and the fact that all emissions were recorded with sigint….notice i said “you”.

I think you’re giving a little bit ‘too’ much credit to the SIGINT collection capabilities of those participating.

SIGINT is kind of one of those things that “you don’t know what you don’t know” (same goes for me/we on this particular topic).

It’s not a 100% kind of thing even with multiple platforms participating. Too many variables in terms of frequency spectrum covered (and how fast/slow); duration of emission; orientation of collector to signal source (terrain masking, collector in a turn, etc).

One of your better sources can be HUMINT (i.e. ask the guys that did it).

fwiw

Mark

No, the US military knows exactly what happened. It is some of us that don’t know what happened. Remember, the pilot was rescued….

Kind of depends on what pilot recalls…. If his debrief was along the lines of… “Well, I was just flying along and then BLAM!!”, it wouldn’t tell you much on how it was done (sensor[s] used, type/model ordnance, firing mode[s], tactics, etc etc).

Would need some pretty good insight/intel to square away ‘exactly’ what happened. Wonder if any Serbian ‘debriefs’ were enticed to determine what happened??

Mark

I know that it’s Russian in origin, the pain on the inside gives it away. I can see something through the window just were the first of the three carts are. It looks like a Tu-22M3 or something. Maybe I need new glasses!

Wachenroder’s ID is right on…. The “or something” is a B-52 🙂

Mark

One could make a case for more of a missile load out if F/A-22 was operating in a Defensive Counter Air mission. Minimal/no surface threat and RCS impact wrt adversary may not be operationally significant (depending on threat of course).

If your defending a base against alot of air-to-ground fighters and/or low-RCS cruise missiles, more of a missile load (and loiter capability) can make sense. One could argue that JSF could do that mission, but think radar on F/A-22 will be superior vs lower RCS threats (opinion; not based on factual knowledge) and JSF wasn’t on the horizon when operational requirements for Raptor were laid down.

Gives you some mission flexibility albeit with associated penalities in slightly higher maintenance requirements and financial cost.

fwiw

Mark

In May 1992 two Bear were down in Barksdale.

And apparently again in Aug 94….

Here are some pics from this guy’s site

http://www.airforcebase.net/

Mark