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sferrin
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Posted: Jul 23, 2008 - 07:33 PM
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Elite

Joined: Jul 22, 2005
Posts: 964
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em745 wrote:
Methinks people need to gain a bit of perspective regarding the Raptor's perceived "corpulence":
I always got a kick out of those who thought the F-22 would be slow because it was "boxy" and that it wouldn't be able to manuever at all because it was "compromised for stealth". Clearly they weren't acquainted with the concept of "common sense".  |
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Sponsor
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Posted: Sep 07, 2008 - 3:11 AM
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F-16.net Sponsor
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Viperalltheway
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Posted: Jul 23, 2008 - 07:34 PM
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Veteran

Joined: Apr 16, 2005
Posts: 433
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The problem with UCAVs is that the decision making has to be either autonomous or remote. This doesn't fit well with air combat or with target of opportunity missions. UCAVs for the foreseeable future will be platforms which will take off, hit pre-determined targets or target areas wit some limited pre-strike or post strike feed back, then return to base. Fighter sweeps, CAPs, more ambiguous mission types will require a manned platform.
I don't see why UCAVs would not in the long term be capable of doing search and destroy missions. The longbow system can already detect, identify and track 128 targets.
Also, I'm not for a total UCAV force. The AF could have other manned platforms with strike capabilities, like F-22s or other options like the F-16X that was discussed before. These a/c would have a/a capabilities too. It's just that there's no point in building 1760 F-35s until 2034.
A medium term alternative, say something that would be credible until 2020, could already have been developped and put into service. The entire USAF would not be risking obsolescence.
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Also, there are no UCAVs with the F-35 or the F-22's performance on the road map right now. The designs in service in 2020~30s will be sub-sonic, stealthy platforms with the ability to deliver one or two bombs on pre-defined ground targets with no A2A ability -- designs ala X-47C
The X-45 could have been optimized for subsonic speed, yet have been able to fly in supersonic. That would not have been much more difficult and expensive to build. A top speed of M1.5 on AB would have been sufficient. It's very stealthy so most air targets it would encounter would be taken by surprise and would be flying at subsonic speed. M1.5 would have been sufficient to have a speed advantage. The bays would have been designed to fit 6 AIM-120s.
The way I see it the air vehicle is not really the problem. It's more the software that would pose problem. And even at that, the F-22 and F-35 are already almost completly automated for BVR engagements. The pilot himself has to trust the system otherwise it would always have to get WVR. |
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em745
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Posted: Jul 23, 2008 - 08:53 PM
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Regular User

Joined: Oct 18, 2007
Posts: 28
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vapor069 wrote:
energo wrote:
checksixx wrote:
There is a reason for it...that isn't it. You all should be able to figure it out though...
Feel free to elaborate.
Regards,
Bjørnar
My guess is because of the stealth, the F-15 was there so the flight could be seen on radar... am I right Checksixx? They supposedly had to put foil tape / strips on the F-117 when it flew to different airshows so it could be seen on radar.
When it needs to be visible to radar, the Rap' usually flies with that little radar-enhancing nubbin on its belly. |
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Guysmiley
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Posted: Jul 23, 2008 - 10:32 PM
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Joined: May 26, 2005
Posts: 1093
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em745 wrote:
When it needs to be visible to radar, the Rap' usually flies with that little radar-enhancing nubbin on its belly.
Nubbin That is a perfect word to describe it! |
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strykerxo
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Posted: Jul 24, 2008 - 06:43 PM
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Regular User

Joined: Mar 21, 2008
Posts: 46
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| Let's not forget that with all this talk about slow AOA, agility, controllability, min-turn, instantaneous, etc. etc. The 22 can preform all this and more with a full combat load, these are not just air-show m/v with specially modified or clean AC. I think this is just one of the many aspects the 22 brings to bare, that the crowds are responding too. |
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asiatrails
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Posted: Jul 28, 2008 - 12:43 AM
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Joined: Aug 30, 2005
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Guysmiley wrote:
em745 wrote:
When it needs to be visible to radar, the Rap' usually flies with that little radar-enhancing nubbin on its belly.
Nubbin  That is a perfect word to describe it!
I think this was the prototype version
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strykerxo
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Posted: Jul 28, 2008 - 04:22 PM
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em745
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Posted: Jul 28, 2008 - 10:54 PM
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Regular User

Joined: Oct 18, 2007
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strykerxo wrote:
Ohhh, that's just wrong
Maybe... But it DOES demonstrate the Raptor's incredible payload carrying abilities.  |
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energo
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Posted: Aug 05, 2008 - 04:20 AM
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Joined: Dec 09, 2007
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em745 wrote:
vapor069 wrote:
energo wrote:
checksixx wrote:
There is a reason for it...that isn't it. You all should be able to figure it out though...
Feel free to elaborate.
Regards,
Bjørnar
My guess is because of the stealth, the F-15 was there so the flight could be seen on radar... am I right Checksixx? They supposedly had to put foil tape / strips on the F-117 when it flew to different airshows so it could be seen on radar.
When it needs to be visible to radar, the Rap' usually flies with that little radar-enhancing nubbin on its belly.
Don't quote me on this, but the two-ship formation is required under current British regulations in case the transponder (or nubbin) fails. I might be wrong, of course.
Regards,
Bjørnar
Oslo |
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