Forum: General F-22A Raptor forum

As Flight Global reports the first F-22A (4115) with the increment 3.1 upgrade enhancements has been delivered to the 3rd FW at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.

According the article EA capabilities are introduced with the new upgrade, thus the first formal confirmation I have seen on this.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... rs-369886/

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Article also mentions "The Raptor will also gain an automatic ground collision avoidance system" in a future increment 3.2 upgrade. Is it in 3.2A for 2014, in 3.2B for 2017, or 3.2C for 20?? ?

exfltsafety wrote:

Article also mentions "The Raptor will also gain an automatic ground collision avoidance system" in a future increment 3.2 upgrade. Is it in 3.2A for 2014, in 3.2B for 2017, or 3.2C for 20?? ?

If I had to guess, it'd be in 3.2A. This will help mitigate issues with the OBOGS system/pilot unconsciousness, if they are still unable to ascertain the origins of the problem.

Will the F-22 ever employ the AN/APG-81 over the 77?

No, the antenna is too small and the software is incompatible.

What might happen (years down the line) is a -81 backend , a -77 frontend, and new T&R modules.

SpudmanWP wrote:

No, the antenna is too small and the software is incompatible.

What might happen (years down the line) is a -81 backend , a -77 frontend, and new T&R modules.

I believe the APG-77(v)1 already has different T/R modules, as well as upgraded backend components. I'm sure over it's career, there'll be significant upgrades just like the APG-63 had.

Is there a difference between the AESA arrays of the AN/APG-77 and -81, or is it just the sensor and software suite?

pants3204 wrote:

Is there a difference between the AESA arrays of the AN/APG-77 and -81, or is it just the sensor and software suite?

The -77 has considerably more(and different) modules.

wrightwing wrote:

pants3204 wrote:

Is there a difference between the AESA arrays of the AN/APG-77 and -81, or is it just the sensor and software suite?

The -77 has considerably more(and different) modules.

In that sense, then, is there a correlation between quantity of modules and and the system's capabilities? From my studies, I have learned that the -81 is the -77's successor, but decreasing the number of modules seems counterintuitive. Are they more efficient? Perhaps these new modules are more sensitive?

Thanks.

Good news to see, just so frustrated with the glacial upgrade spirals. The most interesting part of the article that I saw was the air force is still interested in introducing a open architecture to make upgrades much faster and possibly compatible with the F-35 program. IMO that should be the number one priority for the F-22 PO, otherwise the F-22 will end up going the way of the F-14 program with tons of potential but no funding.

pants3204 wrote:

wrightwing wrote:

pants3204 wrote:

Is there a difference between the AESA arrays of the AN/APG-77 and -81, or is it just the sensor and software suite?

The -77 has considerably more(and different) modules.

In that sense, then, is there a correlation between quantity of modules and and the system's capabilities? From my studies, I have learned that the -81 is the -77's successor, but decreasing the number of modules seems counterintuitive. Are they more efficient? Perhaps these new modules are more sensitive?

Thanks.

the F-35's nose is much smaller than the F-22's. There isn't enough space to fit the F-22's antenna, inside of an F-35. It's like trying to put an F-14's antenna, into an F-16. The APG-81 has more modes, but less raw power, and range.

pants3204 wrote:

In that sense, then, is there a correlation between quantity of modules and and the system's capabilities? From my studies, I have learned that the -81 is the -77's successor, but decreasing the number of modules seems counterintuitive. Are they more efficient? Perhaps these new modules are more sensitive?

Thanks.

The APG-81 has a lower module count because it's a smaller array; i.e. the F-35 has a smaller nose. The T/R modules in the 81 probably have a higher average power rating, maybe smaller, lighter and more efficient in their thermal cycle. That being said the APG-77 is generally credited with about 15-20% greater range but little else is know vid a vis 81. The -77v1 is based on the -81 TR tech tree but there is almost no information on what capabilities it has vs the baseline -77.

It's tempting to assume that the -81 is a more capable radar because its newer and indeed it is a more capable radar since it can almost certainly perform A-G modes that the -77 cannot, but I'm skeptical that there's a significant difference in A-A modes although it's possible. Certainly there hasn't been anything published to indicate there a significant difference in capabilities between the two.

Still no word on MADL?..

For F-22?

IIRC it was pushed to the rights as the F-35 that it would communicate with were also pushed to the right. No need to upgrade an F-22 to talk to an F-35 that will not be flying yet. Also, MADL has not finished dev so again, not ready for install yet.

FY2013 budget docs make no mention of MADL for the F-22.

exfltsafety wrote:

Article also mentions "The Raptor will also gain an automatic ground collision avoidance system" in a future increment 3.2 upgrade. Is it in 3.2A for 2014, in 3.2B for 2017, or 3.2C for 20?? ?

The FY2013 budget shows 35 Inc 3.2B kits ordered in 2016.

Forum: General F-22A Raptor forum

First increment 3.1 ac delivered