Forum: F-22A Raptor

If the F35A was already in Service and it was the F22A that was being tested? Of course the F35A would not be progressing as smoothly as it appears to be doing now had there not been such a steep learning curve with the F22A. It is a purely contrived and hypothetical question. Another way of asking it might be to think about the entirely unlikely possibility that instead of block improvements to the F22A, consideration be given to the development of an F22C - incorporating all the technological advances from both programs.

Of course if we assume that the F22A is perhaps 100 times better than its nearest potential adversary, then there is no point in making it more expensive so that it is 700 or 800 times better than anyone else.

Let us just consider this as a conjecture about the state of the art.

If we were going to build an F22A from scratch or even an F22C, what would it look like?

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DAS, JSF-style cockpit, perhaps more efficient engines?

I agree. Maybe dual F135s instead of F-119s, an HMD instead of a HUD, upgraded ASEA variant, but other than that, I doubt it would be much different (maybe a bit less expensive??)

zeroyon04 wrote:

I agree. Maybe dual F135s instead of F-119s, an HMD instead of a HUD, upgraded ASEA variant, but other than that, I doubt it would be much different (maybe a bit less expensive??)

Well first of all there wouldn't BE an F-22 because every politician out there would be saying "we already have a stealth fighter". If it did get bought the only reason they'd put F135s in it would be to save money but then there would go your supercruise. The two engines aren't designed with the same envelope in mind.

lol the Air force is pretty smart in getting what it wants.

sferrin wrote:

zeroyon04 wrote:

I agree. Maybe dual F135s instead of F-119s, an HMD instead of a HUD, upgraded ASEA variant, but other than that, I doubt it would be much different (maybe a bit less expensive??)

Well first of all there wouldn't BE an F-22 because every politician out there would be saying "we already have a stealth fighter". If it did get bought the only reason they'd put F135s in it would be to save money but then there would go your supercruise. The two engines aren't designed with the same envelope in mind.

Would the F-135 even fit into an F-22? Is the F-135 physically larger than the F-119? Even though the F-135 is a derivative of the F-119 I think the F-135 has evolved into a very different beast...designed for the Lightning II and NOT the Raptor.

I think some of the technology in the F-35, in terms of avionics at least may find their way into the F-22 eventually, if the budget and requirement allow.

Night wrote:

lol the Air force is pretty smart in getting what it wants.

You mean like the mobile Peacekeeper, Migetman, SRAM II, SRAM-T, ASALM, re-engined B-52, 381 F-22s, B-1R, F-22B and so forth?

sferrin wrote:

Night wrote:

lol the Air force is pretty smart in getting what it wants.

You mean like the mobile Peacekeeper, Migetman, SRAM II, SRAM-T, ASALM, re-engined B-52, 381 F-22s, B-1R, F-22B and so forth?

Raptorwise I mean. those otehr programs couldn't have been helped.

snypa777 wrote:

sferrin wrote:

zeroyon04 wrote:

I agree. Maybe dual F135s instead of F-119s, an HMD instead of a HUD, upgraded ASEA variant, but other than that, I doubt it would be much different (maybe a bit less expensive??)

Well first of all there wouldn't BE an F-22 because every politician out there would be saying "we already have a stealth fighter". If it did get bought the only reason they'd put F135s in it would be to save money but then there would go your supercruise. The two engines aren't designed with the same envelope in mind.

Would the F-135 even fit into an F-22? Is the F-135 physically larger than the F-119? Even though the F-135 is a derivative of the F-119 I think the F-135 has evolved into a very different beast...designed for the Lightning II and NOT the Raptor.

I think some of the technology in the F-35, in terms of avionics at least may find their way into the F-22 eventually, if the budget and requirement allow.

Well, IF the F-22 came second, the F-22 could have been designed to have the F-135s fit in it. But then again, the F-135s probably wouldn't have as much thrust as the current ones do. There's so much ifs, ands or buts that it's almost impossible to answer.

Quote:

I agree. Maybe dual F135s instead of F-119s, an HMD instead of a HUD, upgraded ASEA variant, but other than that, I doubt it would be much different (maybe a bit less expensive??)

Replacing the 119s with 135s would be a smart thing, because the 135 (albeit more powerfull) wouldn't allow the raptor to supercruise.

zeroyon04 wrote:

I agree. Maybe dual F135s instead of F-119s, an HMD instead of a HUD, upgraded ASEA variant, but other than that, I doubt it would be much different (maybe a bit less expensive??)

I think upgraded AESA variant and HMD/Aim9x are scheduled to next upgrade..
I also would love to see enhanced F119 and DAS on F22 as mil_hobbyist said,

and..why not, a longer weapon bay to carry even that weapon reserved to F35 .

Forum: F-22A Raptor

What if the F22A had come second?