(DAS) for F-35 Demonstrates Ballistic Missile Defense Capabilities.

Photo Release–Northrop Grumman Distributed Aperture System (DAS) for F-35 Demonstrates Ballistic Missile Defense Capabilities.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/photo-release-northrop-grumman-distributed-aperture-system-das-for-f-35-demonstrates-ballistic-missile-defense-capabilities-2010-09-07?reflink=MW_news_stmp

AN/AAQ-37 Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (DAS) for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter successfully detected and tracked a two-stage rocket launch at a distance exceeding 800 miles during a routine flight test conducted aboard the company’s BAC 1-11 test bed aircraft.

Photos:
http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=7952

The F-22 has demonstrated supercruise speeds of at least Mach 1.7, a difference of 320 knots (593 km/h) indicated airspeed (KIAS) at 40,000 ft (12,000 m).[2]

Supercruise in militarily significant parlance is meant to imply a significant increase in effective combat speed with a full weapons load over existing types. Virtually all current and past jet fighters, prior to the F-22, cruise at approximately Mach 0.8~0.9 with a militarily significant weapons load.

The F-22 represents a significant advance in cruise speed over previous types (for performance of current USAF types, see Air Force Magazine, May 2006, “Gallery of USAF Weapons,” pp. 147-155 – [3]).

The key challenge in attaining supercruise is not simply a high thrust to weight ratio vis a vis the aircraft but a radical redesign of the engine because the air entering a jet engine must always travel at subsonic speeds, regardless of aircraft speed. Otherwise compressibility waves (or shock waves) will create uncontrollable vibrations among the compressor vanes.

Engine inlet design therefore can effectively limit the speed of the aircraft, regardless of thrust. The SR-71 Blackbird’s distinctive nosecone is designed to funnel air around the J-58 engine for that very reason.

There are few engines in production that are able to facilitate supercruise.

The PW F119 in combination with the F-22 Raptor (the PW F135 and the RR/GE F136 used on the Joint Strike Fighter have higher thrust but the JSF does not supercruise).

The EJ200 engine built by Rolls Royce adds the supercruise capability in the Eurofighter Typhoon, and is capable of supercruising at mach 1.5[4]. Typhoon pilots have stated that mach 1.3 is attainable in combat configuration with external stores.

Independently Russia is working on an all new Al41 engine with a complete redesign underway to add supercruise ability to the PAK FA.

The new Gripen NG (Next Generation) will have many new parts and will be powered by the GE/Volvo Aero F414G, a development of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet’s engine. The engine will have 20% more thrust at 98 kN (22,000 lb), enabling a supercruise speed of Mach 1.1 with air-to-air missiles.[14]

http://www.worldlingo.com/ma/enwiki/en/Supercruise

Maybe LM is trying to Redefine the Definition of Supercruise ?

F-35 Mach 1.2 at Edwards

U.S. Air Force test pilot Lt. Col. Hank “Hog” Griffiths believes he may have flown faster in an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter than anyone else.

Griffith says in June he took the F-35A to 583 KCAS (exceeding Mach 1.2). “I may be the first to fly this fast in the jet so far,” he muses. “The jet handles well, and she just wants to fly fast. It has a monster engine. It looks like an aircraft that’s built around an engine.”

Even when loaded internally with two 2,000lb GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions and two AIM-120 AMRAAMs, Griffith says the sheer power of the Pratt & Whitney F135 is evident. “The engine has a lot of thrust. It’s been fun to outrun the F-16 (chase aircraft). They can’t keep up. If we go to full military power the F-16 has to go to afterburner to keep up.”

Link

U.S. Air Force test pilot Lt. Col. Hank “Hog” Griffiths believes he may have flown faster in an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter than anyone else.

Griffith says in June he took the F-35A to 583 KCAS (exceeding Mach 1.2). “I may be the first to fly this fast in the jet so far,” he muses. “The jet handles well, and she just wants to fly fast. It has a monster engine. It looks like an aircraft that’s built around an engine.”

Even when loaded internally with two 2,000lb GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions and two AIM-120 AMRAAMs, Griffith says the sheer power of the Pratt & Whitney F135 is evident. “The engine has a lot of thrust. It’s been fun to outrun the F-16 (chase aircraft). They can’t keep up. If we go to full military power the F-16 has to go to afterburner to keep up.”

Link Below,

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3a5c517cbf-5655-4e5d-aa85-2c03d7757ea7&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest