The B-1 doesn’t even come close to having the level of stealthiness the AF is looking for in the 2018 bomber. No matter how much RAM they slap onto it.

RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) has two canards and a rifled launch tube which spins the missile. The two canards are used as rudder or elevators as required.

RAM Block 2 has 4 fins and the plan is to remove the helical lands (rifling from the launcher).

So will RAM Block 2 still roll? If not, then they’ll have to give it a new name, right?:D

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/graham-warwick/

The truth about that “supercruising” F-16 for India

Indian newspapers are full of stories (like this one) that Lockheed will offer India an advanced version of the F-16 with supercruise capability. That’s the ability to cruise supersonically without reheat and it is a key feature of the stealthy F-22. Well the stories are not quite correct.

Here’s what happened. Lockheed was briefing a group on Indian journalists on the F-16 and one of them asked about supercruise. A helpful test pilot volunteered that he has flown the F-16 supersonically without reheat. The story was born, but can the F-16 supercruise? Not really.

Lockheed says a clean F-16, with only wingtip missiles, can reach Mach 1.1 without reheat. But the company says supercruise is defined as the ability to fly faster than Mach 1.5, in combat configuration. The USAF’s F-22 factsheet suggests it can supercruise at Mach 1.75.

So what will India be offered for its 126-aircraft MMRCA requirement? Lockheed says it will propose “the most advanced F-16 version yet”, although is a lot of “similar to the Block 60” in its description of the F-16IN. It’s not providing details yet, as the bids are not in, but the F-16IN will have advanced displays, conformal tanks, the latest engine and, assuming export approval, active electronically scanned array radar.

The F-16IN will likely be a very capable fighter – just not a supercruiser.

The B2 will carry a pair of these, right. I wonder how it would do against something built like the NORAD complex under Cheyenne Mountain? Would it even make a dent?:confused:

It’s never been mentioned as having any cruise missile capability and it would be a waste anyway when they’ve got C7s and eventually C8s (-120Ds).

yeah, just some speculation on another site. What is the expected IOC date for the 120D?

RIP

Le capitaine Emmanuel MORIUSER

My condolences to his family. The pictures help put a human face on this tragedy.

How sensitive are today’s spy satellites that they can suck up all the different radar and other electronic emissions from orbit? They can supposedly pickup cellphone transmissions, why shouldn’t they be able to pick up radar and other signals? If this is the case, then the US should have tons of useful stuff already in their databases.