Forum: F-35 Lightning II

Raytheon SDB II Warhead Exceeds Test Requirements

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases ... 53623.html

"Test performance keeps program ahead of schedule
TUCSON, Ariz., Nov. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The warhead for Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Small Diameter Bomb II performed at twice what was required during a series of recent tests. The test marked the first demonstration of an SDB II warhead built on a fully-automated production line.

SDB II is the world's first weapon capable of engaging fixed or moving targets around-the-clock in adverse weather conditions from a range of greater than 40 nautical miles (approximately 46 statute miles)....

...About the Small Diameter Bomb II
SDB II's integrated tri-mode seeker fuses millimeter-wave (MMW) radar, uncooled imaging infrared (IIR) and semiactive laser sensors on a single gimbal, which enables the weapon to seek and destroy targets, despite weather conditions.

SDB II uses an uncooled tri-mode seeker to hit moving targets in all weather conditions...."

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Nice, now what are YOUR thoughts on how this connects to the F-35 (other than the fact that it's a new internal weapon)? Personally, I see it as a possible interim SEAD weapon until the JDRADM is ready; and since it can hit moving targets, I'm also curious about possible anti-ship applications (eg, how it might handle Iranian/Chinese missile boats).

The F-35 ain't looking too healthy right now, but I'm expecting integration on the Beagle and potentially Raptor. It would be a boon for either platform, especially the Beagle with its tractor-trailer-sized RCS. Standoff capability never hurt an airframe.

1st503rdsgt, are you are moderator? My thoughts are my own and I'll choose to make them known here when and wherever I choose. OK?

Having seen this news recently I was wondering if these rockets would be carried in non-stealth mode by potential RAN F-35Bs off LHDs for small boat swarm plinking?

TALON Laser-Guided Rocket Goes 3-for-3 in Flight Demonstration 15 Nov 2011

http://raytheon.mediaroom.com/index.php ... ;item=1964

"Air-launched demonstration clears the way for production phase
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and Emirates Advanced Investments (EAI) Group completed an operational demonstration of the TALON Laser-Guided Rocket from AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters in the United Arab Emirates. The demonstration in Abu Dhabi met all objectives and marked the final step leading to production of TALON LGRs in the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates.

During the demonstration, pilots fired TALON Laser-Guided Rockets at stationary and moving targets. All shots during the demonstration were successful, further verifying the operational performance of the TALON Laser-Guided Rocket.

"This successful demonstration shows that our cooperative design efforts have resulted in a precision system that is now ready to produce for customers worldwide," said Hussain Al Hammadi, Chairman of EAI Group.

TALON has been tested to the very edge of its performance requirements, including short range (1.2 kilometers) and long range (6 kilometers). It has also been launched from both moving and stationary platforms, and employed against both moving and stationary targets....

...About TALON Laser-Guided Rocket
The TALON LGR is an affordable, semi-active laser guidance and control kit that connects directly to the front of 2.75-inch unguided rockets currently in U.S. and international inventories. The TALON LGR is fully compatible with existing airborne and ground laser designators and requires no modifications to the launch platform. It fills the critical operational capability gap between unguided rockets and expensive heavy guided missiles...."

southernphantom wrote:

The F-35 ain't looking too healthy right now, but I'm expecting integration on the Beagle and potentially Raptor. It would be a boon for either platform, especially the Beagle with its tractor-trailer-sized RCS. Standoff capability never hurt an airframe.

The F-22 will probably never have the sensor/software upgrades to field this weapon (unless they restart production of an unf#cked version). It's all LM can handle to integrate pre-programmed GPS bombs.

This should make for an incredibly useful weapon for taking out SAM radars that aren't static. That and considering any sort of important moving target can be quickly and easily targeted with such a small and cheap stand-off weapon it would be wise to field these in large numbers for all of our strike aircraft.

spazsinbad wrote:

Having seen this news recently I was wondering if these rockets would be carried in non-stealth mode by potential RAN F-35Bs off LHDs for small boat swarm plinking?

TALON Laser-Guided Rocket Goes 3-for-3 in Flight Demonstration 15 Nov 2011

From what I understand a four-pack of those rockets is designed to be mounted and wired to the firing aircraft using the same interface as a hellfire missile, so I don't think the F-35 will be able to use them without a new launcher designed to mount to fixed wing fighters, and even then I don't think anyone would want to use them over a four-pack of SDBs on the same pylon.

Thanks for input 'castlebravo'. LAU series pods can carry up to 19 FFAR so that is what I had in mind for TALON carrying 'F-35Bs off LHDs'. With specifically small targets (such as a small boat swarm or similar) this seems a reasonable solution - if it can be enabled. About that I don't know. This is new stuff eh.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mk_4/Mk_40 ... ial_Rocket

Photo by John Bartels (A4G)

I like the APKWS rather than the Talon (or other front mounted solutions). Because the APKWS is a mid-body design, it can be mounted to any warhead and any fuse. Instead of the Talon's meager 3-4lb warhead, the APKWS can employ any Hydra-70 warhead from the standard 9lb version to the huge 17lb beast.

As far as platforms goes, I think the Firescout is a more appropriate launch platform due to persistence.

Brimstone looks like a good candidate for boat swarm plinking. Ripple fire, decent trashfire/MANPADS standoff, fire and forget, already candidate for F-3 integration, good against maneuvering targets.

Check out ripple fire @ 1:32

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeIdeZzuoEA

Last edited by 1st503rdsgt on Nov 18, 2011 - 04:30 AM; edited 1 time in total

SpudmanWP wrote:

I like the APKWS rather than the Talon (or other front mounted solutions). Because the APKWS is a mid-body design, it can be mounted to any warhead and any fuse. Instead of the Talon's meager 3-4lb warhead, the APKWS can employ any Hydra-70 warhead from the standard 9lb version to the huge 17lb beast.

As far as platforms goes, I think the Firescout is a more appropriate launch platform due to persistence.

Mount it on a WP warhead and you have the perfect weapon for dealing with swarms of fiberglass boats (kinda hard to sink with fragmentation or gunfire, may as well burn them).

SpudmanWP wrote:

I like the APKWS .. it can be mounted to any warhead and any fuse. Instead of the Talon's meager 3-4lb warhead, the APKWS can employ any Hydra-70 warhead from the standard 9lb version to the huge 17lb beast....

The Hydra is now being tested for both A-10C and the AV-8B. The "Bee" will at least replace the Harrier and one day the AF will admit that nothing will replace the Wart Hog. Cool

Firing off a cluster of Hydras was always a high point of the flight, "Hell of a Shotgun!". Very Happy

spazsinbad wrote:

1st503rdsgt, are you are moderator? My thoughts are my own and I'll choose to make them known here when and wherever I choose. OK?

Ok then, jeez! I guess it's just fine to post anything on the F-35 topic 'cause that's were all the action is. God forbid we post stuff like this to that desolate "technology" thread.

I guess you know what you are talking about then?