For what purpose F-100s are used? For CAS or combined day light air defense/CAS?

I think the main problem is usage of AWACS plane. AWACS plane may be used to support air defense planes in order to give them situational awereness but in this scenario offenders probably will use high and densed jamming, which may collapse data-links. So my point is if there are humans in AWACS plane at least they try to send information in alternative ways (like secured voice radio etc). If you got air dominance in a region unmanned AWACS is OK but you have technologically advanced opponents I think unmanned AWACS is a big question mark.

Can anyone give examples of aircrafts’ ranges in hi-lo-hi or lo-lo-lo or lo-lo-hi?

I remember that Americans claimed their digital-RWR technology is good enough to detect and locate LPI radars. Even analog-RWR carring fighters that also carry JTIDS is succesful against locating radars (which is promted by BAE Systems), there is no information how it is good at intercepting LPI radars.

Su-35 will carry “new” RWR system, but we don’t know the “new” system is digital-RWR or analog-RWR. But if it is digital one, Flanker’s offansive and defansive capabilities will increase dramatically.

What kind of airplane is suitable for terrain following? As stated above low wingloading affects the plane in bad weather condition such that it is hard to control the plane in very low level flight. Powerful engines is also a must.

Whether an aircraft has LO features or not flying in 30m high and plus a supersonic speed makes an aircraft hard to detect and also hard to shoot. And as a dipnote low level flying may increase EW system effectiveness (bounce effect), which is good for self-defence. I think for low level flying aircraft it is good to have chaff/flare dispenser on top of the plane.

Hermes is a modular missile system, now it uses INS and SAL, but in land based form of the Hermes it is interesting to see that there is a pretty big radar antenna on the vehicle, I couldn’t figure out purpose od the radar but I think radar is to scan a wide area than may be it can also send command signal to Hermes missile. Probably there will be evolution from basic Hermes to more complicated IIR/active MMW RADAR.

Beside Qatar’s purchase, there is an additional news about C-17B, jdw states that Boeing may develope C-17B for in-theatre (tactical) roles. C-17B will have updateded engines that give extra %13 power, and its max. take-off weight will be 30000lb more (615.000lb). C-17B will be available about 2013-2014.