6. Im not sure the wing planform could have met Navy KPP for bring back and trap.

Actually, the aircraft didn’t meet any of the requirements. The F-32, if it had gone forward, would have been an almost complete redesign… a totally different aerodynamic layout.

X-32/proposed F-32 comparison:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]237945[/ATTACH]

I always find it amusing when people seem to want to be taken seriously, then throw in stuff like :

Whether the JSF, as a subsonic, <550nm, strike fighter that is more F-117 than F-16/18 is what this country needs is another question.

Why bother writing in the first place if you can’t be bothered to perform the most basic of research beforehand?

By all accounts the YF-22/YF-23 competition was close with both aircraft viewed as very strong performers against the established requirements. The same can’t be said for the JSF program. Boeing’s design was an absolute mess on multiple levels and they knew it.

But he said explicitly that Tu-160 production would supposedly happen alongside the PAK-DA program…that’s what makes it sound so nutty.

At first glance it certainly doesn’t make a great deal of sense does it? What would people conclude if the US announced that it was re-opening the B-1 or B-2 production lines?

Nothing good…

Imagine how much trouble could’ve been saved by simply posting the full date at the outset…

The “I’m smarter than you” games on this forum are tiring.

You get that a lot huh?

Cue the star wars soundtrack, laser tested on fighter sized aircraft by 2022:

http://breakingdefense.com/2015/05/lasers-on-a-plane-air-force-wants-fighter-firing-100-kilowatts-by-2022/

Ok, so a real life laser weapon may enter testing in well less than 10 years and people here have nothing to say…

Meanwhile the troll wars fill several pages a day.

With all the talk on this thread about lagging upgrades to the Typhoon, it seems that US companies view the Eurofighter’s Pirate IRST is cutting edge (at least compared to the upgrades of the AN/AAS-42 the US is still trying to field).

http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/air-space/isr/2015/05/11/northrop-grumman-selex-radar-eurofighter-infrared-irst/26508459/

From the article :

The Skyward system, which weighs 40 kilograms and consumes about 380 kilowatts of power, projects images onto the plane’s head up display.

Must be a nice bright picture…

May 15 The U.S. Air Force is considering opening to competition future upgrades of the Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jet in the Pentagon’s costliest arms project, the Air Force’s top acquisition official said Friday.

William LaPlante said the service was assessing costs to transform the airplane’s software into a so-called “open architecture” system that would make it easier to plug in future equipment upgrades.

“It’s not been decided that we will do it, or won’t do it, but it has been decided that we’re going to try,” LaPlante told reporters after a breakfast hosted by the Air Force Association.

The Pentagon’s F-35 program office is looking at how to structure Block 4, the first software upgrades scheduled after the F-35 completes developmental testing in 2017.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/15/lockheed-fighter-upgrades-idUSL1N0Y61QD20150515

This would certainly be a good move if they could make it happen. Always nice to have some competition.

Cross-posting from the PAK FA thread since it seems worthy. (and goes well beyond the PAK FA)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]237464[/ATTACH]

Russia developing Shtorm supercarrier

Russia’s Krylovsky State Research Center (KRSC) has developed a new multipurpose heavy aircraft carrier design called Project 23000E or Shtorm (Storm).

A scale model of the ship is going to be demonstrated for the first time at the International Maritime Defence Show 2015 in St Petersburg from 1-5 July, Valery Polyakov, the deputy director of KSC, told IHS Jane’s .

“The Project 23000E multipurpose aircraft carrier is designed to conduct operations in remote and oceanic areas, engage land-based and sea-borne enemy targets, ensure the operational stability of naval forces, protect landing troops, and provide the anti-aircraft defence,” Polyakov said.

The design has a displacement of 90-100,000 tons, is 330 m in length, 40 m wide, and has a draft of 11 m. It has a top speed of 30 kt, cruising speed of 20 kt, a 120-day endurance, a crew of 4-5,000, and designed to withstand sea state 6-7. Currently it has been designed with a conventional power plant, although this could be replaced by a nuclear one, according to potential customers’ requirements.

The ship carries a powerful air group of 80-90 deck-based aircraft for various combat missions. The model features a split air wing comprising navalised T-50 PAKFAs and MiG-29Ks, as well as jet-powered naval early warning aircraft, and Ka-27 naval helicopters.

http://www.janes.com/article/51452/russia-developing-shtorm-supercarrier

There are some more details at the link. I am quite skeptical of this becoming a reality. It would be a simply immense undertaking…

Still, interesting to see it even being discussed.