Defcon4Strange How Things can happen when dealing with High End Military Procurements…
Defcon4Threats to 2010 Air Supremacy
Very Interesting Video Analysis
http://shock.military.com/Shock/player.html?vid=389e1b016bad4e629ba865947ed8772b
Defcon4Few things..
Obligatory –
I’d agree there’s likely some fancy marketing included in the 800mile EODAS BM launch tracking story.. but true, it’s a different analysis when compared to an incoming A2A missile vs various MAWS/DAS systems and a missile which might be on a glide approach (or multi-pulse, etc).
Defcon4 – thanks for that EMALS + F-18E update… very interesting.
Spud – maybe you’re right on that last point, but we truly can’t assume anything these days, I’m sorry… until it’s actually in print and made public for detailed analysis/verification.
US Navy says electric jet-flinger tech looking good
Just in time to save the Royal Navy – or just too late?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/09/27/emals_looking_good_as_sdsr_looms/
Defcon4EMALS Readies for Launch with Super Hornet
The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) has completed its catapult commissioning testing and is on target to launch a F/A-18E this Fall.
The F/A-18E is currently being instrumented and test data is being analyzed in order to obtain flight clearances and launch approval for later this year.
Defcon4Food For Thought
B61 nuclear bomb
The B61 nuclear bomb is the primary thermonuclear weapon in the U.S. Enduring Stockpile following the end of the Cold War.
Development
The B61, originally known (prior to 1968) as the Mk 61, was designed in 1963. Testing began in 1966, with full production beginning in 1968. Total production of all versions was approximately 3,155, of which approximately 1,925 remain in service as of 2002. The warhead has changed little over the years, although early versions have been upgraded to improve their safety features.
The basic physics package of the B61 is shared with the W80 warhead used by several U.S. cruise missiles.
The B61 has been deployed by a very wide variety of U.S. military aircraft. Aircraft cleared for its use have included the B-1, B-2, B-52, and FB-111 strategic bomber aircraft; the F-100 Super Sabre, F-104 Starfighter, F-105 Thunderchief, F-111 and F-4 Phantom II fighter bombers; the A-4 Skyhawk, A-6 Intruder, and A-7 Corsair II attack aircraft; the F-15 Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16, F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet; and the F-117. German and Italian Panavia Tornado IDS aircraft can also carry the B61. It is likely (although currently unconfirmed) that the F/A-22 Raptor and F-35 will be capable of employing the B61.
Approximately 150 are deployed with USAF units in Great Britain, Germany, and Turkey, and held in U.S. custody for use by NATO squadrons in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey.
The B61 gravity bomb should not be confused with the MGM-1 Matador cruise missile, which originally was developed under the bomber designation B-61.
Design
The B61 is a variable-yield bomb designed for carriage by high-speed aircraft. It has a streamlined casing capable of withstanding supersonic flight speeds. The weapon is 11 ft 8 in (3.58 m) long, with a diameter of about 13 in (33 cm). Basic weight is about 700 lb (317.5 kg), although the weights of individual weapons may vary depending on version and fuse/retardation configuration.
The newest variant is the B61 Mod 11, a hardened penetration bomb with a reinforced casing (according to some sources, containing depleted uranium) and a delayed-action fuse, allowing it to penetrate fortified structures such as command posts before detonating. The Mod 11 is intended to replace the older, megaton-yield B53 bomb, a limited number of which have been retained for anti-fortification use.
Most versions of the B61 are equipped with a parachute retarder (currently a 24-ft (7.32 m) diameter nylon/Kevlar chute) to slow the weapon in its descent, giving the aircraft a chance to escape the blast (or to allow the weapon to survive impact with the ground in laydown mode). The B61 can be set for airburst, ground burst, or laydown detonation, and can be released at speeds up to Mach 2 and altitudes as low as 50 feet (15.24 m). Fusing for most versions is by radar.
The B61 is a variable-yield, kiloton-range weapon. Tactical versions (Mods 3, 4, and 10) can be set to 0.3, 1.5, 5, 10, 60, 80, or 170 kiloton explosive yield (depending on version). The strategic version (B61 Mod 7) has four yield options, with a maximum of 350 kilotons. The earth-penetrating Mod 11 apparently has a single, undisclosed yield.
The early Mods have been retired, leaving the Mod 7, Mod 10, and Mod 11 as the only variants in active service.
Defcon4F-35 fighters would effectively eliminate the threat from Russian-made S-300 air defe
Tel Aviv earlier said that the purchase of F-35 fighters would effectively eliminate the threat from Russian-made S-300 air defense systems because a series of computer simulations had clearly demonstrated that new U.S. stealth fighters outperform the Russian missiles.
http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20100917/160619264.html
Can anyone Comment on this also were these Sims done independently by Israel ?
Thanks
Defcon4Not bad Defcon4, it looks even better with those external weapons on it for some reason.
What would happend with a F-35B if it is hit by a few 23mm rounds?
Like it could in places like Afganistan..When are the Marines slated to retire the last A-10’s?
My Qualified answer as to the F-35B Survivability would be the scenario in which the combat engagement presented it’s self ……I’m thinking ‘Total Awareness’ not Pilot Error.
No Problem
Defcon4Unfortunately the USMC does not have this asset (Warthogs) in house they have to call in USAF when available for CAS as they say these ‘Boys Go Ugly Early’.
1990’s — An A-10A Thunderbolt II aircraft takes part in a mission during Operation Desert Storm. The aircraft is armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, AGM-65 Maverick missiles, and Mark 82 500-pound bombs.
My Qualified answer as to the F-35B Survivability would be the scenario in which the combat engagement presented it’s self ……I’m thinking ‘Total Awareness’ not Pilot Error.
No Problem
Defcon4Not bad Defcon4, it looks even better with those external weapons on it for some reason.
What would happend with a F-35B if it is hit by a few 23mm rounds?
Like it could in places like Afganistan..When are the Marines slated to retire the last A-10’s?
Unfortunately the USMC does not have this asset (Warthogs) in house they have to call in USAF when available for CAS as they say these ‘Boys Go Ugly Early’.
1990’s — An A-10A Thunderbolt II aircraft takes part in a mission during Operation Desert Storm. The aircraft is armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, AGM-65 Maverick missiles, and Mark 82 500-pound bombs.
Defcon4BF-3
Close Air Support… Eye Candy
Defcon4I beat you to it lol
Your on Point…Good Looking Out
Defcon4Yeah but i’m up to speed with the current development on the F-35 progress.
As is everybody else in this thread.
No need to copy paste Wiki.When it comes to the B variant, just where would LM find the extra internal space to fit six AIM-120?
I’m sure the engineers at LM are working hard at the drawing board to figure this out.
But one thing is 100% clear, the F-35B fuselage has to be enlargen in some way to accomandate six AIM-120’s.
And it could happen to the other A and C too, if not the Internal fuel capacity has to give away somewhat..
Pros & Cons, its all Pros & Cons.
Life Go On
Marines may opt for early use of different F-35 model
Lockheed Martin’s F-35 super salesman Tom Burbage let slip a surprising bit of information yesterday at the Air Force Association meeting, Aviation Week’s Bill Sweetman reports.
It seems that as flight test work on the F-35B STOVL jet continues to lag behind the Marines are now considering using the the F-35A model initially to achieve “initial operational capability.”
Defcon4Excuse me..
Isn’t it Four internal AIM-120’s at the moment:confused:If/when the six AIM-120 ever see daylight, its even more ‘hello fattie’ than now;)
The F-35 includes a GAU-22/A four-barrel 25mm cannon.[58] The cannon will be mounted internally with 180 rounds in the F-35A and fitted as an external pod with 220 rounds in the F-35B and F-35C.[59][60] The gun pod for the B and C variants will have stealth features. This pod could be used for different equipment in the future, such as EW, reconnaissance equipment, or possibly a rearward facing radar.[61]
Internally (current planned weapons for integration), up to two air-to-air missiles and two air-to-air or air-to-ground weapons (up to two 2,000 lb bombs in A and C models (BRU-68); two 1,000 lb bombs in the B model (BRU-67)[62]) can be carried in the bomb bays.[63] These could be AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-132 ASRAAM, the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) – up to 2,000 lb (910 kg), the Joint Stand off Weapon (JSOW), Small Diameter Bombs (SDB) – a maximum of four in each bay (Three per bay in F-35B[64], or four GBU-53/B in each bay for all F-35 variants.[65]), the Brimstone anti-armor missiles, and Cluster Munitions (WCMD).[63] The MBDA Meteor air-to-air missile is currently being adapted to fit internally in the missile spots and may be integrated into the F-35. The UK had originally planned to put up to four AIM-132 ASRAAM internally but this has been changed to carry 2 internal and 2 external ASRAAMs.[66] It has also been stated by a Lockheed executive that the internal bay will eventually be modified to accept up to 6 AMRAAMs.[67]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-35_Lightning_II
I can only imagine (and can’t wait) to see what the Final Product will look like But These Men and Women are at Work hopefully they have gotten the math right…..This has become a priority project for the USA so Don’t be surprise as to any Rapid developments who knows what lurks behind LM Hanger Doors.
Defcon4F-35A internal weapons bay loadout 6 AIM-120s carriage around (2) GBU Bombs.
Defcon4Thats amazing. I wonder if DAS was cued to look that way or did it auto detect the launch. This has serious implications for mach 1.5 super cruising semi stealthy Russian fighters
One of the biggest challenges facing Lockheed Martin in its efforts to install a high-energy laser on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is the question of what to do with all the excess heat generated by the system, according to the company’s lead for directed energy programs.
Lockheed Martin plans to make space for the laser system by pulling out the Rolls-Royce-built shaft-driven lift fan in the Marine Corps short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the JSF (DAILY, Sept. 23). Within that 100-cubic-foot space, used largely for fuel storage in the other variants, the laser can draw wattage from a shaft connected directly to the aircraft’s JSF119-611 engine.
The earliest opportunity the company will have to place a high-energy laser system on the JSF will be beginning with the Block Four version around 2012.
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