05 Sep 2015, 10:21
I read an articile on THIS very site someplace that, in some instances in can take as much as 1/2 of the fuel in the drop tanks, to make up for the induced drag penalty. CFTs are good but they will come with thier own penalities, since the plane is already considered stubby. Im suggesting that there is more than 1 way to skin a cat.
1. A cruise weapon: One that can cover the distance of 300 miles while remaining internal. Im sure this will be difficult since the JSF from Norway, has a 250LB warhead, and can only travel over 100 miles Yes the physics are daunting, But this would be the close to the ideal solution.
2. External cruise missiles: that cover the distance. BUT the Jassm-ER probably wont be sold, and has its own drag penality.
3. Use buddy tanks: ALL F-35s come with the probe as an option. Here you can have a super FAT stubby with a buddy tank kit off load about 500Nms out, or fuel them agian on the return trip. The strikers, still stay 100% clean, and need very little to no modification.
4. Super fat conformal tank stubbies: I like this idea, but Im concerned about what happens when the super fat stubby gets bounced, but is suffering a serious weight penality. Lets assume the Russians are chomping at the BIt to sell Iran S-300s, and SU35s
IMHO I would take 3 since its the safer solution, and you need not modify ALl of your F-35s