They likely did not go for the APG-80 due to SABR/RACR being a drop-in replacement and likely based on better tech.
The original APQ-181 was PESA (pre APG-79) and was upgraded to AESA starting in 2009 and the APG-79 was being installed in 2007.
The B2’s APQ-181 is also AESA and while it’s not a fighter radar, it is small and airborne.
So why Thales couldn’t do the same
Possibilities:
1. The APG-79 is a very mature AESA platform while it’s Thales’ first fighter AESA. There could be issues like total power output, signal processing, etc that are better on the APG-79.
2. The APG-79 has a physically larger AESA array which will gather more of the return signal.
So it will be fair to say that 200 km range is against 3 sq m target ( 61km more range translates into 44% increased detection range for AESA ). But who knows the true ?
Rough calculation puts that at (/10 = 1/2 range):
100km vs .3 sq m
50km vs .03 sq m
25km vs .003 sq m
Found more info on another thread.
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=71723
Top radar is a FAB AMX with SCP-01
Bottom is a AMI AMX with FIAR Grifo
Grifo info: http://babriet.tripod.com/airforce/stat/statgrifo.htm
Ranging radar for guns?
F-35 avaionics would be the way to go IMHO due to them already being qualified/certified/available. Use the APG-81 with a larger array and don’t forget the IRST (or two) for good measure. Save the HMD for later since the code supports a HUD.
The F-35 would not have to be cut back, just get rid of any wastfull program like OCare, free cellphones for the poor, sell off the GM shares, subsidized hi-speed rail in California, subsadized solar panal projects, etc and you would save many billions per year.
There are so many places where the goverment wastes money on programs that it has no business being involved in or constiturional authority for.
The WH & Congress should get out of the “businenss” of trying to directly create a short-term job (ie pork, shovel ready jobs, directly subsadizing programs, etc) and get back to fostering an environment were businesses can grow & prosper in order to create their own long-term jobs.
[/rant]
Eglin AFB flies 300th sortie (Sept 21st) less than a month after the 200th (Aug 27th).
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2012/09/33rd-fw-flies-300th-f-35-sorti.html
The potential cooling issue that may arise is in relation to the components of the weapons themselves, not the F-35 components (as they are actively cooled with fuel).
As such, hotspots will not be much of an issue (if at all) due to the weapons being in the middle of the bay rather than packed in the corners (or tucked out of the way) and strategically placed fans and proper duct aiming should ensure that the air in the bay is well circulated.
Obviously a valve or gate of some sort would be involved to regulate the temp and not just a simple “always open” solution.
Why not an LO exhaust vent btw?
It goes without saying 🙂
As to the scoop, use the same styling that the other three scoops use (one on the upper right wing and one under each wing root).


Aux bay cooling, if needed, could be addressed by adding a LO scoop to the front of each outer bay door with a exhaust vent at the rear of the same door.
It will obviously cause a little additional drag.
They could use BACN for now and add MADL to the F-22 after MADL dev is complete and funds are available.
It’s not Defcon4’s fault, just another case of a reporter not doing any research.
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/slideshow-52423-time-afb.html