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What are possible forseeable upgrades that might be done to the -22? For example, would there be increased bay size and better radar? Would become a ground pounder the Eagle became? Will it become a UCAV based on the existing frame?

BTW This makes 100 posts asking silly questions and giving unfounded opinions... go me.

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Radars are routinely upgraded...increasing the weapons bay size would be a major structural redesign and is highly unlikely to ever happen.

Elite 1K Joined: Jul 22, 2005 Posts: 1089 Status: Offline

One of the easiest (though not cheapest probably) would be to add the side arrays for the radar. The F/A-22 was suppose to have THREE radar arrays and the spots are still there for them. The are essentially empty compartments to the rear of the radome on the lower side. I've looked at the high res photos on the net and even knowing where to look you can't see where they'd go as the gaps in the skin are smoothed over under the paint. Jay Miller's new book on the Raptor has some great shots though so you can see exactly where they'll go. They're not as big as the APG-77's array (obviously) which brings up an interesting question. Will there be seperate radars ie THREE APG-77s or will it just seem to the existing APG-77 that it got a bigger array?

Supposedly the spots still exit for the IRST also but I don't have a clue where those would be. As for weapons we could probably speculate all day. There's the UCAV I mentioned in another thread but that's the only one I'm aware of that is Raptor specific.

LordOfBunnies wrote:

What are possible forseeable upgrades that might be done to the -22?

There are several changes that will be made:

An array IR system will be added in 2008. It will be one IR detector just under the radar antenna and one in each wing root.
Thrust in the engine will be increased.
An "electro-magnetic pulse" generator to fry the electronics of the enemy will also be added. I am not sure whether this will happen in 2008 or 2011.

These are the three I know of but, there are many more I have read about. It has been all planned out, what improvements will be added and when.

Adrian

an EMP weapon? How could the pilot use it and not fry his own electronics?

Enthusiast Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 58 Status: Offline

Current planning envisages the introduction of the GBU-39/40 Small Diameter Bomb in the Block 20 aircraft by 2007, together with high resolution SAR radar modes, improved radar ECCM, two way voice and data MIDS/Link-16 capability, improved crew station software, and improved electronic countermeasures. The Block 20 configuration is the baseline for the Global Strike Task Force (GSTF) fleet, and will include JSF common radar modules, a dedicated high-speed radar processor, and COTS technology CIP processors. The Block 30 configuration, planned for 2008-2011, extends the growth seen in the Block 20. Side-looking radar arrays are envisaged to provide a significant ISR capability in the aircraft along with enhancements to provide full air defence suppression (Wild Weasel) and time-critical target engagement capabilities. A Satcom terminal will be added to provide continuous network connectivity during deep-strike profiles. The post-2011 Block 40 aircraft is intended to be the definitive Global Strike configuration, including incremental enhancements to Block 30 additions, to provide full sensor networking, range enhancements, highly integrated ISR capabilities, and a Helmet Mounted Display similar to the JSF. Longer term planning for post Block 40 envisages an Electronic Attack variant, essentially replacing the lost EF-111A Raven. A stealthy stores pod for JDAM and SDB is also in development to enable carriage on external pylons. As a strike aircraft the F/A-22A will have similar internal payloads to the JSF, but will be vastly more survivable due to better stealth to evade air defence missile batteries, plus better speed/altitude performance, more defensive internally carried air-air missiles and the ability to kill opposing fighters with no difficulty. The spiral development program for strike capabilities is incremental, and primarily involves software and integration of networking equipment and new weapons. As a result, it is an affordable proposition. The Block 20 enhancements were covered within the original 2004 production budget.

Source: http://aimpoints.hq.af.mil/display.cfm?id=3296

F-16.net Editor Joined: Sep 23, 2003 Posts: 2862

Also consider, funds are tight everywhere. The upgrade path is going to be super micro-managed. Any little thing now that goes over it's budget ceiling ( even upgrade path projections)..... it could be a new bathroom for a F-22 support facility, it doesn't matter, will be blown way out of proportion by the_leftist_broken_rifle_$200 hammer_ alarmist gov. watchdog: F-22 Sustainment Budget Problems. So every budget officer/DOD civilian will make sure a contract is bullet proof before it goes into a PowerPoint slide or a press release. Sometimes a delay or schedule to an upgrade_change won't be technology driven but decision_maker/color_of_money/all_the_ducks_lined_up_in_a_row_ driven.
The example has already been set on this program a few years ago when the project manager was fired. So given that climate, put yourself in their shoes. Laughing

Enthusiast Joined: Nov 10, 2005 Posts: 39 Status: Offline

Needs more gas. You can never have enough gas. Gas gives more range and longer loiter and more flexibility in planning the ingress/egress route and longer staying power in a fight.

Elite 1K Joined: Aug 19, 2004 Posts: 1092

djcross wrote:

Needs more gas. You can never have enough gas. Gas gives more range and longer loiter and more flexibility in planning the ingress/egress route and longer staying power in a fight.

Stealthy CFTs? Smile

johnqhitman wrote:

an EMP weapon? How could the pilot use it and not fry his own electronics?

It is a directed energy weapon. I guess in the scheme of things publicizing this is in the same category as the contrail suppression device.

Adrian

johnqhitman wrote:

an EMP weapon? How could the pilot use it and not fry his own electronics?

Not that I know anything about this, but a more correct term would be a "directed energy weapon"

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F/A-22 Raptor Future Upgrades