Forum: General F-35 Forum

It's my understanding that CFT's are being design to equip the F-35. If, so would such external tanks have a large impact on the aircrafts RCS???

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Corsair1963 wrote:

It's my understanding that CFT's are being design to equip the F-35. If, so would such external tanks have a large impact on the aircrafts RCS???

My guess is that maintaining VLO would be part of any design, or it'd be a waste of time.

Corsair1963 wrote:

It's my understanding that CFT's are being design to equip the F-35. If, so would such external tanks have a large impact on the aircrafts RCS???

Sorry, Corsair, but from where did you garner such "understanding", other than mere speculation, of course? First I heard of it, and I know more about the program than your average bear. Care to point to any official sources?

The F-35 already has a huge fuel fraction. There's no need for CFT's.

If there is need for more fuel/range (and the F-35A already has 2.5x the amount of internal fuel as a USAF F-16C), get drop tanks. The F-22A has been seen with external tanks up around Alaska.

sextusempiricus wrote:

Corsair1963 wrote:

It's my understanding that CFT's are being design to equip the F-35. If, so would such external tanks have a large impact on the aircrafts RCS???

Sorry, Corsair, but from where did you garner such "understanding", other than mere speculation, of course? First I heard of it, and I know more about the program than your average bear. Care to point to any official sources?

On the same note, where did you "garner such understanding"? Google?

sextusempiricus wrote:

Corsair1963 wrote:

It's my understanding that CFT's are being design to equip the F-35. If, so would such external tanks have a large impact on the aircrafts RCS???

Sorry, Corsair, but from where did you garner such "understanding", other than mere speculation, of course? First I heard of it, and I know more about the program than your average bear. Care to point to any official sources?

I know you're from a bygone era and probably used to LexisNexis, but they have this fantastic new thing I like to call the googlemachine. You may have seen it mentioned elsewhere before.

Since you seem to be new to the idea, let me Google that for you.

PrinceHoudini, Rolling Eyes

that was an interesting experience: http://pdf.aiaa.org/preview/CDReadyMASM ... 08_376.pdf

sextusempiricus wrote:

Sorry, Corsair, but from where did you garner such "understanding", other than mere speculation, of course? First I heard of it, and I know more about the program than your average bear. Care to point to any official sources?

Easy there, "my understanding" means that he doesn't know for sure. Don't jump on him because he heard something and asked a question about it. You can politely tell him that no plans exist and maybe answer the question anyway.

FYI, the second link on that Google search is a FlightGlobal article that directly mentions the Israeli CFT project.

Maybe he heard about what Israel wants to do.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... fleet.html

"The Israeli air force wants to increase the operational range of its future fleet of 100 Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters by adding new external fuel tanks that are already being developed by domestic companies.

Elbit Systems subsidiary Cyclone Aviation is offering to supply external tanks to be carried on the F-35's under-wing hardpoints, while Israel Aerospace Industries plans to produce conformal fuel tanks for the Israeli fighters.

Israel's air force recently completed the design of a unique F-35 version optimised for its mission requirements, but further details remain highly classified.

Under current plans, Israel will sign a letter of agreement in 2009 to advance a multi-year purchase of the F-35, which local sources say will be launched with an order for 25 aircraft for delivery from 2014, plus options on a further 25.

In a further bid to extend the range of its strike aircraft, Israel's Boeing 707 tanker-transports will be equipped with Honeywell-supplied glass cockpits incorporating new communications equipment, six multi-function displays and a global air traffic management system.

The work forms part of a wider modernisation effort, which will also see the type's IAI-produced refuelling boom replaced with the design used by the US Air Force's Boeing KC-135s."

Maybe that's where Corsair heard about CFTs. Since the gun pod is supposed to be stealthy, perhaps a fuel tank in the same shape is worthy of consideration. Other than that, I don't know where CFTs could be installed.

sextusempiricus wrote:

Corsair1963 wrote:

It's my understanding that CFT's are being design to equip the F-35. If, so would such external tanks have a large impact on the aircrafts RCS???

Sorry, Corsair, but from where did you garner such "understanding", other than mere speculation, of course? First I heard of it, and I know more about the program than your average bear. Care to point to any official sources?

I've have to see if I can find it. Yet, if memory serves me? Israel was developing the CFT's for the F-35.

BTW It was CFT's not some type of External Fuel Tank.

Seems to me that designing a cft or even underwing tanks and pylons that are stealthy would be fairly easy these days. Hell, I bet I could design an F-117 style diamond faceted cft.

Question is, will they get access to use the same skin materials that's used on the rest of the aircraft? Either way, it might add something to frontal and rear RCS, but may not effect (or may even enhance) the sides.

Isn't there DAS sensors on the fuselage under the wing roots though? They'll lose some good capabilities.

Corsair1963, gotcha about CFT and not external tanks. I thought the 'external tank' find was NOT[e]worthy. Smile

Likely what I have read about conformal fuel tanks for JSF would be on forums (not some news item) so what I have read is not worthwhile but it seems that like any external fuel tanks (not in design now) such extra/external fuel is irrelevant for whatever perceived advantage, there are too many disadvantages hence idea dropped. Good luck Israel with any mods you may devise for JSF.

Forum: General F-35 Forum

CFT's impact on the F-35's RCS???