Adrian_44Re: Gripen NG beats SU-35 in a2a
The F-117 is faceted because stealth technology at the time of its design was limited to flat surfaces.
The B-2 is a generation after the F-117 in steath technology & includes the (due mostly to much greater computing capability) the ability to apply steath priciples to curved surfaces but like the F-117 is mostly ‘making a stealth shape fly.
The F-22 is a generation after the B-2 where as stealth technology had progress to the point where high aerodynamic performance & stealth could be combined.
The F-35 is a generation after the F-22 but with the improvement being more in cost, durability & maintainability than in superior shaping.
After Northrop lost the Have Blue competition they were given a contract from the USAF for a stealth vehicle with a code named, “Tacit Blue.” It was to test the concept of stealth with “continuous curvature.” They also got a copy of Ufemstev’s work. This technology was used to build the B-2 bomber and the technology was also used to design the YF-22 and YF-23. Northrop simply had to much knowledge to not take advantage of it, just because they lost to Lockeed.
The USAF in 2004 was quoted in front of the US Senate:
The F-22 has the lowest RCS of any manned aircraft in the USAF inventory.
This from Smithsonian Air And Space Magazine, several years old, around 2005.
http://www.airandspacemagazine.com/ASM/Mag/Supp/AM97/Stealth.html
F-35A/B/C____-30.0db =0.001m²
PAK-FA ______-30.0db =0.001m²
F-117A_______-35.0db =0.0005m²
F-22A/B-2A___-40.0db =0.0001m²
Since then the USAF said the F-22A is more stealthy than the specifications called for.
Being a flying wing with no draggy tail or control surfaces at work, i actually think B-2 is a better aerodynamic design then F-22 in subsonic plain flight, tho it is naturally totally out-classed in agility and can’t get supersonic.
The USAF has stated that the F-22A has less drag than ANY previous USAF aircraft! Technology moves on!
Adrian_44Re: Even better news for the F-35. Lipstick on a pig, according to Janes
In April 1992 during flight testing after contract award, test pilot Tom Morgenfeld escaped without injury when the first YF-22 prototype that he was flying crashed while landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
In an interview with test pilot Tom Morgenfeld, he stated that the crash was caused by management!
They had Morgenfeld to make a very low pass. The landing gear was down and as Morgenfeld passed the reviewing area, he increased his speed. The problem came when he commanded the wheels to retract. With the F-22, while the wheels are down, the thrust vectoring system is disabled but, when the wheels are retracted the TVC engages, this is where the problem starts. As Morgenfeld was passing real low, he had to push the the stick forward to keep the nose down. As the wheels retracted (at a certain point) the TVC engaged, causing nose to suddenly pitch down. Morgenfeld reacted quickly and pulled the stick back causing the nose to pitch up. Morgenfeld knew the F-22 could move about the pitch axes very quickly but, he had never experience quickness like this before. Thinking something was wrong, he wanted to crash land it. If he could land and have large pieces of the wreckage, the analysis of what went wrong would be easier! So he made a very a landing, as well as he could, and the problem was resolved.
After all the flight testing, they had stumbled into a performance area that had not been explored before.
Adrian_44Re: Gripen NG beats SU-35 in a2a
As for previous failures of technologies to deliver what they promise, all I can say is that someday the change will happen.
If you want to talk about ‘teething problems’, look no further than the Su-27! Two crashes with the T-10 killing two pilots, forcing the complete redesign. Two more crashes before production resulting in the total loss of those two planes. Thank goodness, those two test pilots survived. Now look at the Su-27 and the derivatives from it (such as the Su-30MKI), a real high quality fighter.
Adrian_44Re: Even better news for the F-35. Lipstick on a pig, according to Janes
Even their only remotely valid arguments of risks of delays & cost increases are disengenious as they are the norm of military programs & nothing new or unique to the F-35.
This is what increased the cost of the F-22A. The F-22A was scheduled to start operations near the beginning of President Clinton’s second term. LM was ordered by the Pentagon back in 1990 to slow development, to delay IOC by at least seven years and base, cost on a production run not more than one-half of what was originally stated! Critics were able to cut funding, stretch it out further and, cause the overall price to increase. Then have the balls to complain about the cost of the F-22!
Funny, that many of those same F-35 Critics. Hardly, complain about the crash of the Su-35 and its lack of export success. Nor, the much troubled A-400 Program……………
Clearly, a double stanard!
It is easy to criticize American weapon systems, so much information is available, much of it is subject to interpretation. This does nothing but fan the flames of those who oppose the weapon system. I remember Sprey and Wheeler making the statement that an F-5 equip with HMDS & HOB missile is the equal in dog-fighting of an F-22. To me this totally, once and for all destroyed their credibility/opinions on weapons systems!
Making charges that new aircraft should not be made because they are more expensive than their predecessors well, what replacement aircraft has had the same cost as its predecessor? If people hate the F-22 or the F-35 because of the cost, how would they feel about any replacement aircraft? There has been talk that they new F-15SE (Silent Eagle) could cost $100M each! How much would it cost if a new production line would have to be created to produce the SE, if the production run was less than 300 aircraft.
Most all the information on the new Mikoyan and Sukhoi comes directly from the company or the Russian AF spokes people. There is no third party or critical interest that is going to make accurate but, negative statements. Most likely, other than western intelligence agencies, the world will have to wait until these new aircraft are exported before meaningful information will be found.
Adrian_44Re: Pentagon defies Congress over V-22 data
I guess we need to have some Japanese company or some other country be willing to buy the program should Congress again votes to end the program or, the administration cuts it. This happened once before and when Congress realized that if the Japanese bought the entire program and solved the remaining problems, they would have a unique aircraft with a lot of potential. It would also place them ahead in a technology the US doesn’t want to be second in. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
Bell missed the chance to have with the V-22 a successor of the S-65.
Does the V-22 met the specifications? When not, does the US administration has the chance to hand the production of the V-22 to another company? The development work was payed by the tax-payer!
I think the US Military missed the window in being able to switch manufacturers. The US has done this before, switch manufacturers. Willis manufacturing company designed the “Jeep” but, only had 250 employees. The US Army wanted 2,000 vehicles per week level production in less than a year. So, the US Army gave the contract to Ford Motor Company and Willis produced the gun mounts, trailers and associated equipment. There is too much money involved to switch manufacturers at this point.
Adrian_44Re: The myth of missile boat threat?
The world feels secure with hard kill countermeasures to the anti-ship missile problem. But, a very large percentage of attacks have been foiled soft-kill countermeasures -chaff, jamming, etc.
Adrian_44Re: Why we don’t have SSBN subs deployed in inland seas and lakes?
As far as using some inland waterways, I have heard in the past the USN sent a few boomers into the Gulf of Mexico!
I also know the USN has pressured the Canadian Navy to do more patrolling in Hudson Bay! The southern tip of the Hudson Bay is within a couple hundred miles of Canadian and US northern and northeastern cities. (In fact most all cities west of the Appalachia Mountain Range.) A launch of sub-launched cruise missiles in the southern part of Hudson Bay is a nightmare scenario for NORAD.
Adrian_44Re: PLAN South Sea Fleet Projecting Power and Showing the Flag
Last year I read in the US Naval Proceedings Magazine that the PLAN is sending its subs (SSK’s, SSN’s and, SSBN’s) on longer patrols. Some SSK’s which made ‘day trips’ now sortie out for two to three days. Some SSBN’s which normally went for one week patrols now are going for patrols that last over a month.
Has anyone heard of anything along this topic?
Adrian
Adrian_44Re: Growler Power: EA-18G boasts F-22 kill
I wonder if the shot was BVR or VVR, F-22 is said to be easily spotted by the eye, whats the minimum range of AMRAAM ?
Actually from most pilots who have gone against the F-22, only a small percentage ever see the F-22. Seeing an F-22A is getting it in your weapon’s envelope is another issue.
Raptors wield ‘unfair’ advantage at Red Flag
http://www.acc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123041831
by By Tech. Sgt. Russell Wicke -Air Combat Command Public Affairs
[An RAF pilot on an exchange tour with a F-15C against a F-22A.]
A Typhoon Pilot Discusses His Efforts Against An F-22A
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/modern/f-22-vs-12344-9.html#post351443
> WW-2 <
> drgondog <
> Guys – I just got back from the 355th FG reunion hosted by the 355th FW at Davis <
> Monthan. At Roll Call on Friday night at the O-Club the newly deployed Euro <
> Fighter rotation of Brits were in full array and feisty – until the discussion <
> of ‘Say, how are you guys doing against the F-22?” <
> “Well, if you can see the bloody thing you have a chance… not a great chance <
> but about the same as an F-15 or F-16 has against us. The problem is the AAMRAM <
> is up your ass long before you can possibly see it. Quite discouraging ‘do’ at <
> Nellis, really.” <
To claim the computing power of F-18G being the reason is the worst possible situation for F-22.
True but, many other kill claims against F-22A’s have been made and most turn out to be something unexpected by the F-22 pilot. While the F-22A can indeed romp over anything else in the air, if the pilot gets into a situation, he can die.
The first pictures of an F-22A in the HUD of an F/A-18, the F/A-18 broke the ROE’s and the intentions of that exercise. If you look at the HUD you will see the kill could have been done by a P-51 Mustang!! The small black rectangle in the upper left corner indicates the trigger is being pulled by the pilot. The F/A-18’s parameters were;
Airspeed __ 183-kts.
Altitude __ 15.090-ft.
Decending Angle __ 30º [Nose low]
Distance to the F-22 900-ft.
G-Load __ 1.8G’s
Closure Rate __ 210-kts
Adrian
Adrian_44Re: Growler Power: EA-18G boasts F-22 kill
I wonder if the shot was BVR or VVR, F-22 is said to be easily spotted by the eye, whats the minimum range of AMRAAM ?
Actually from most pilots who have gone against the F-22, only a small percentage ever see the F-22. Seeing an F-22A is getting it in your weapon’s envelope is another issue.
Raptors wield ‘unfair’ advantage at Red Flag
http://www.acc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123041831
by By Tech. Sgt. Russell Wicke -Air Combat Command Public Affairs
[An RAF pilot on an exchange tour with a F-15C against a F-22A.]
A Typhoon Pilot Discusses His Efforts Against An F-22A
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/modern/f-22-vs-12344-9.html#post351443
> WW-2 <
> drgondog <
> Guys – I just got back from the 355th FG reunion hosted by the 355th FW at Davis <
> Monthan. At Roll Call on Friday night at the O-Club the newly deployed Euro <
> Fighter rotation of Brits were in full array and feisty – until the discussion <
> of ‘Say, how are you guys doing against the F-22?” <
> “Well, if you can see the bloody thing you have a chance… not a great chance <
> but about the same as an F-15 or F-16 has against us. The problem is the AAMRAM <
> is up your ass long before you can possibly see it. Quite discouraging ‘do’ at <
> Nellis, really.” <
To claim the computing power of F-18G being the reason is the worst possible situation for F-22.
True but, many other kill claims against F-22A’s have been made and most turn out to be something unexpected by the F-22 pilot. While the F-22A can indeed romp over anything else in the air, if the pilot gets into a situation, he can die.
The first pictures of an F-22A in the HUD of an F/A-18, the F/A-18 broke the ROE’s and the intentions of that exercise. If you look at the HUD you will see the kill could have been done by a P-51 Mustang!! The small black rectangle in the upper left corner indicates the trigger is being pulled by the pilot. The F/A-18’s parameters were;
Airspeed __ 183-kts.
Altitude __ 15.090-ft.
Decending Angle __ 30º [Nose low]
Distance to the F-22 900-ft.
G-Load __ 1.8G’s
Closure Rate __ 210-kts
Adrian
Adrian_44Re: British and French nuclear submarines collided
While everyone talks about how quiet the latest generation of submarines, they are all playing catch to boomers! The Western countries might cry about how tight money is but, they have enough money to keep their boomers state of the art, in noise monitoring, sound isolation and, sonars. To much is at stake not to have the very best.
Some parts of the oceans have very bad conditions for passive sonar detection. I know the USN did some test where one boomer was submerged and returning home while another boomer were entering the area. The two Ohio class boats got within 1,000 yards of each other and neither knew of the presence of the other sub.
Adrian_44Re: US Aircraft carrier vunrable
The whole thrust of carrier defence is now keeping the ship, plus attendent HVU’s, at arms length from any potential threat.
In a best case scenario, this is what would happened.
It is not in a system that anticipates the carrier taking any punishment – such as an armoured deck!
Sea skimming anti-ship missiles in a ‘pop-up’ mode or anti-ship missiles that fly a high altitude profile and dive almost straight down upon its target, armored flight decks along with a deck or two between the flight deck and the hangar deck are just one of a few measures to keep the interior of the ship safe. Not to mention deck fires that occur when the deck is full of armed and fueled aircraft (similar to the fires on the USS Oriskany, USS Forrestal and, USS Enterprise) back in the 1960s. Plus, the Nimitz class carriers are the only US ships being built with metal armor along its sides, up to 2½ inches thick in places.
Adrian_44Re: British and French nuclear submarines collided
It really angers me the way the press spouts a lot of nonsense, sensationalizing in an effort to sell an article. Nuclear subs have sunk, nuclear warheads blown out of silos by exploding ICBMs and gee…. nobody was endangered by the radiation.
Adrian
Adrian_44RE: Supercruising
NASA defines supercruising as being able to sustain level flight at 95% dry thrust at Mach 1.0+. But in essence what you stated was correct, to have enough engine power to cruise at Mach 1.0+. Little details such as having large fuel reserves, and low drag are also necessary to make the plane practical.
Adrian
Adrian_44RE: Supercruising
NASA defines supercruising as being able to sustain level flight at 95% dry thrust at Mach 1.0+. But in essence what you stated was correct, to have enough engine power to cruise at Mach 1.0+. Little details such as having large fuel reserves, and low drag are also necessary to make the plane practical.
Adrian
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