F-22 AIRST

milosh · by **milosh** » 25 May 2014, 19:34

Is there any info about cancelled Raptor IRST? Is there any chance F-22 even get IRST?

bring_it_on · by **bring_it_on** » 18 Jul 2014, 14:48

It needs to get MADL and then keep a few F-35s close by to share passive targeting.

For some info on the IRST read these threads -

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/i ... 0/all.html

and

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/i ... 5.390.html

aaam · by **aaam** » 21 Jul 2014, 21:58

bring_it_on wrote:It needs to get MADL and then keep a few F-35s close by to share passive targeting.

For some info on the IRST read these threads -

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/i ... 0/all.html

and

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/i ... 5.390.html

MADL has been dropped from future plans for Raptor.

lookieloo · by **lookieloo** » 21 Jul 2014, 22:17

aaam wrote:MADL has been dropped from future plans for Raptor.

Pretty much everything has been dropped from future plans for the Raptor. With only ~180 airframes, development/integration of upgrades isn't worth the trouble, especially as the F-35 comes on-line. I expect they'll all end up in the bone-yard whilst some F-15Cs are still flying, a crying shame.

popcorn · by **popcorn** » 22 Jul 2014, 04:17

At least 2 threads on these boards dealing with Jetpack, Project Missouri highlighting priority being given to linking different 5G platforms as well as 5G to 4G. Many ways proposed to skin that particular cat.

wrightwing · by **wrightwing** » 22 Jul 2014, 14:00

lookieloo wrote:
aaam wrote:MADL has been dropped from future plans for Raptor.
Pretty much everything has been dropped from future plans for the Raptor. With only ~180 airframes, development/integration of upgrades isn't worth the trouble, especially as the F-35 comes on-line. I expect they'll all end up in the bone-yard whilst some F-15Cs are still flying, a crying shame.

I wouldn't say that. Increments 3.1, 3.2, 3.3...... All of these add new and improved capabilities.

steakanddoritos · by **steakanddoritos** » 22 Jul 2014, 16:44

lookieloo wrote:
aaam wrote:MADL has been dropped from future plans for Raptor.
Pretty much everything has been dropped from future plans for the Raptor. With only ~180 airframes, development/integration of upgrades isn't worth the trouble, especially as the F-35 comes on-line. I expect they'll all end up in the bone-yard whilst some F-15Cs are still flying, a crying shame.

Considering how long the USAF has dragged more life out of its F-16's and F-15's, I'd say that's a miscalculation. The Raptor will have every last bit of life squeezed out of it. Even in the future it will still be a capable platform. Bear in mind that both the F-22 and the F-35 are designed with far more modular and robust airframes than previous 4th gen aircraft. Also, in the future, it is not a stretch to assume that maintenece procedures and equipment will be far superior than what we have today, allowing operators to lengthen the service lives of their equipment greatly.

arcturus · by **arcturus** » 24 Jul 2014, 01:33

wrightwing wrote:
lookieloo wrote:
aaam wrote:MADL has been dropped from future plans for Raptor.
Pretty much everything has been dropped from future plans for the Raptor. With only ~180 airframes, development/integration of upgrades isn't worth the trouble, especially as the F-35 comes on-line. I expect they'll all end up in the bone-yard whilst some F-15Cs are still flying, a crying shame.

I wouldn't say that. Increments 3.1, 3.2, 3.3...... All of these add new and improved capabilities.

+1

disconnectedradical · by **disconnectedradical** » 28 Jul 2014, 06:58

According to one source I've read a while back, the leading edge flaps on the production F-22 got extended inwards because they got rid of the AIRST, which would've been at the wing root. Now there have been some talks of upgrading the F-22's MLD to have IRST functionality like the F-35's DAS, which I think would be a substantial upgrade.

That said, I think the dedicated AIRST of the F-22 would have a smaller field of view compared to each camera of the MLD, so the dedicated system could have better range and target identification. Here are some pictures of current sensor locations on the F-22.

I'm wondering if it's still possible to retrofit them into the wing root somehow (might not be possible).

Lightndattic · by **Lightndattic** » 06 Aug 2014, 15:50

I don't know how much I'd trust that schematic for the Raptor. There are not countermeasure dispensers on the top of the fuselage as shown in the middle illustration and pic. The innermost locations on both sides are where the APU and gun are.

milosh · by **milosh** » 06 Aug 2014, 16:15

It is probable similar to this:

http://www.mycity-military.com/slika.ph ... 6_natf.gif

geogen · by **geogen** » 07 Aug 2014, 07:45

steakanddoritos wrote:
lookieloo wrote:
aaam wrote:MADL has been dropped from future plans for Raptor.
Pretty much everything has been dropped from future plans for the Raptor. With only ~180 airframes, development/integration of upgrades isn't worth the trouble, especially as the F-35 comes on-line. I expect they'll all end up in the bone-yard whilst some F-15Cs are still flying, a crying shame.

Considering how long the USAF has dragged more life out of its F-16's and F-15's, I'd say that's a miscalculation. The Raptor will have every last bit of life squeezed out of it. Even in the future it will still be a capable platform. Bear in mind that both the F-22 and the F-35 are designed with far more modular and robust airframes than previous 4th gen aircraft. Also, in the future, it is not a stretch to assume that maintenece procedures and equipment will be far superior than what we have today, allowing operators to lengthen the service lives of their equipment greatly.

Which is only 'necessary' sadly (as a last-resort), due to a fundamentally flawed (anti-seamless and unsustainable) modernization and recap/acquisition process being implemented still today.

Given more strategic planning and prudent process though, there would most likely be more balanced and sensible upgrade, life-extension and new-build procurement in actual benefit to national defense and security policy. God speed.

geogen · by **geogen** » 07 Aug 2014, 07:55

milosh wrote:Is there any info about cancelled Raptor IRST? Is there any chance F-22 even get IRST?

Buy a few new-build F-15SA+ (w/ AGP-82, etc) for USAF and simply equip with IRST (as well as modern ECM capabilities) as 'escort' for F-22 in future. Call it a day.

sferrin · by **sferrin** » 07 Aug 2014, 13:24

geogen wrote:Which is only 'necessary' sadly (as a last-resort), due to a fundamentally flawed (anti-seamless and unsustainable) modernization and recap/acquisition process being implemented still today.

Given more strategic planning and prudent process though, there would most likely be more balanced and sensible upgrade, life-extension and new-build procurement in actual benefit to national defense and security policy. God speed.

Well you got all the right buzzwords in there. :roll:

Unfortunately you forgot the biggest problem when it comes to planning: the politicians.

XanderCrews · by **XanderCrews** » 07 Aug 2014, 13:56

geogen wrote:
milosh wrote:Is there any info about cancelled Raptor IRST? Is there any chance F-22 even get IRST?

Buy a few new-build F-15SA+ (w/ AGP-82, etc) for USAF and simply equip with IRST (as well as modern ECM capabilities) as 'escort' for F-22 in future. Call it a day.

or simply put an IRST on an F-22. call it a day.