EA/18G Growler

swerve

Super Moderator
...With most aircraft due to their size Supercruising means the ability to sustain around Mach 1.3 without afterburner. The Eurofighter can do this clean but the F-22 is the only aircraft that can do it in combat configuration.
....
Not according to Eurofighter. They reckon Typhoon can - and does now - supercruise with external fuel & AAMs, & yes, that does mean the whole airframe supersonic, & at least M1.3.

They have also pointed out that LM now & then revises its definition of supercruise to exclude whatever performance Typhoon has demonstrated since the previous definition, & suggest that the LM marketing definition is actually "whatever F-22 can do that Typhoon can't".
 

Ozzy Blizzard

New Member
People keep under estimating the F-35.. It will definitely be the second best aircraft in the world by a golden mile.
I would agree that the F35 will be the best strike/CAS platform in the world.
However A2A combat is a much different story.

Some thoughts on the F35 vs the Flanker, its principle opponant.

In pure aiordynamic and kenetic terms the F35 is no match for the current flanker variants, however this deficiency is only going to get worse in the next ten years. In accelaration at all altitudes, thrust to weight ratio, wing loading, rate of climb, sub sonic, trans sonic and super sonic manuver, top wet speed by a mile, and with the introduction of the AL41F that has already entered LRIP top dry speed by a mile, payload and internal fuel, flanker is a much better performer. In conventional A2A combat, with comparable missile systems (which happens to be the case) the F35 would not last 5 minets. But everyone seems to think that networking and LO will not only overcome these huge problems, its this that the RAAF will be relying on to maintain air superiority in the region for the next 40 years.

So lets look at a scenario that suits the F35. An enemy CAP made up of a couple of advanced flanker variants. A couple of F35's, backed up by a wedgetail, have to go and kill them in order to achieve air superiority. The only way the F35 can achieve victory is if it reaches a launch range without being detected by the Flanker, because if it is detected for the reasons outlined above it's in deep sh*t. The F35's know exactly were the enemy CAP is and what its diong through a datalink with the wedgetail and the AIM 120's can be fired of this information. So the F35 just has to get to a launch point, release the missiles and head home without ever being seen right? Well it isnt exactly invisible. The SU XX family are all equiped with a capable IRSTsystem, and by the time the F35's are in squadron service more advanced variants will be available, and this will be able to detect the F35 at decent ranges 50+NM, it should be noted that detection ranges will significantly increase as more sophistocated systems are put into production. But the AIM 120D carried by the F35 has a range of over 100NM. However if it is launched at its maximum range the chances of a kill will be very low due to the energy (or lack of) the missile will have when it reaches the target. Thats is if the target does not simply put the incoming missile on its tail and hit the after burner, in which case the msiile wil not reach the flanker at all. So the F35 will want to launch as close to the no escape zone for its missiles. This range depends on many peramiters such as speed of the launch platform, altitude, speed and direction of the target, time of detection of the missile and the targets top speed. Suffice to say the F35 will want to launch as close as possible to the target to raise the chances of a kill. However it will not want to enter the detection range of the flankers IRST. The F35 would not know if it has been detected. if it has then the F35 could be engaged with Ir variants of the R27 long burn and R77 with ~70NM and ~45NM ranges respectively. Both of these missiles are reported to have an IR target aquisition range of ~11NM with datalink and internal guidence up to that point. The F35's xband stealth is irrelevant when we are talking about these weapons, and these could be launched without the JSF detecting it. So there is this magic range that is as close as possible to the NEZ (or in it) of the AMRAAM but just out of detection range of the flanker, its the only survivable envilope for the F35 considering the consequences if it tries to go toe to toe with the flanker. The name of the game is hit and run before he see's you and comes running. However the problem with this is that as newer IRST's are equiped that magic range gets larger and larger. This keeps erroding the only advantage the F35 has in this situation. It may be able to pick and choose were to fight, but eventually to reach a realistic launch range it will have to enter the Flankers detection radius and missile envilope and actually fight. Longer range missiles can counter this in the future, however more capable IRST and longer range russian missiles or even low frequency radar will counter this again. This is hardly decicive for the F35, and all the flankers are doing is flying around in circles.

Now how about a situation that doesent suit the F35. This time a squadron of F35's are on CAP over an Australian airfield with a wedgetail providing support. They have to intercept multiple strike packages of flankers on multiple vectors and multiple altitutdes carying ASM's like the Club or PLAN TLAM clone before they reach launch range. Some flankers will be escorting the strike packages. The F35 will have to haul ass to try to intercept the very quick flankers. And with those afterburners glowing the detection range for the IRST will be much larger betraying thier stealth, they will be flanker fodder for the escorting sukkohi's. The SU XX's would be forcing the F35's to fight on their terms and the ALL of the advantages would be with the flankers in this situation. And i could have thrown in a couple of R 172's fired at extreem range at the wedgetail from below its radar horizon that either force it to shut down or shoot it down. This scenario really shows the shortcomings of the F35 in air to air combat. The F22 would have had no problem with at all, and 6 would be able to do what 12 F35's wouldn't have a hope of. Interception would be a non issue with its massive speed and it would defeat most missile shots on an energy basis alone. Even a Typhoon would have been much better than the F35.

Bottom line; The only time the F35 has a chance to win is if the flanker allows the F35 to dictate when and how to fight, ie by doing nothing. As soon as the F35's have to react to the Flankers the game is up.
 

Grand Danois

Entertainer
1. IRST has to be directed by e.g. a radar. It doesn't scan the sky on it's own.

2. IRST doesn't provide a firing solution for a missile. It only provide a bearing - not range. That means no 3d coordinates and no knowledge of speed and direction of target. In other words - poor detection and no track generation.

3. The F-35 does have IR signature management. Not as good as the F-22A, but it does hae some. Flankers have little or zero RCS or IR suppression.
 

Thumper

Banned Member
Have a look for yourself. The graph is aqusistion range vs target RCS in M2. It is referenced.
I am not going to continue to argue with you about this. Much of Carlo Kopp’s published “facts” have proven to be inaccurate or incomplete. I will take what the people who fly and maintain the su30MKI (the IAF) say about the Bars capability over what he comes up with any day. Fact is you keep trying to use his arguments and they have been debunked. His research is not objective and it shows his F-22 bias.

Keep this in mind the USN is so happy with their SHs that they are thinking about cutting back on F-35s and getting more SHs. One of its greatest supporters in the navy is a former Tomcat pilot.

Even Carlo likes the Superhornet. He started bashing it only when he found out that there was no chance to get the F-22.

“The current configuration of the F/A-18E/F avionic package is the most advanced of any production aircraft based upon a Mil-Std-1553B bussed federated architecture, and is surpassed only by the much newer F-22A and JSF architectures. It is very likely that growth variants of the F/A-18E/F will see the progressive incorporation of avionics technology used in the JSF.”

“In terms of meeting the USN's aim for a low risk F-14/A-6 and F/A-18A-D replacement, in a timescale and budget compatible with current circumstances, and prior to the production of the high risk high payoff full stealth JSF, the F/A-18E/F clearly meets this objective.”

“The Super Hornet is a fighter with exceptional handling qualities, even by modern fighter standards, which even a novice can handle comfortably and with confidence at the edge of the low speed manoeuvre envelope.”

“In a low speed post-merge manoeuvring fight, with a high off-boresight 4th generation missile and Helmet Mounted Display, the Super Hornet will be a very difficult opponent for any current Russian fighter, even the Su-27/30. The analogue and early generation digital flight controls with hard-wired or hard-coded AoA limiters used in the Russian aircraft are a generation behind the Super Hornet and a much more experienced pilot will be required for the Russian types to match the ease with which the Super Hornet handles high alpha flight regimes.”

http://www.ausairpower.net/SuperBug.html

Now I know Carlo has this big disclaimer on the document but one has to wonder does Dr Kopp speak out of both sides of his mouth. Oh and lets remember he flew a Block I bird without AESA, the redesigned stealthier front fuselage, and all the other goodies.

You live by the words of Kopp and you die by the Kopp. Do try to use information from a variety of sources next time.

Signed A Former Super Hornet Skeptic.

Bottom line; The only time the F35 has a chance to win is if the flanker allows the F35 to dictate when and how to fight, ie by doing nothing. As soon as the F35's have to react to the Flankers the game is up.
Bottom line Ozzy is I am now convinced you have no idea of what you are talking about. IRST is no substitute for radar. IRST is a nice supplement but you cannot target a missile using it. You need to have some idea of where to search with IRST; its detection range is a fraction of radar.
 

Whiskyjack

Honorary Moderator / Defense Professional / Analys
Verified Defense Pro
I am not trying to muddy the waters, just clarification.

I would be surprised if F-35 supercruises but I was using the example of the Typhoon. The manufacturer claims it supercruises but it was never expected to nor where the engines designed to do so.

Are you saying Typhoon does not supercruise?
No, the Typhoon is a documented capability, I am saying that the F-35 does not supercruise.
 

Thumper

Banned Member
To an extent I agree. Keep in mind no one has said how long Typhoon can do it for. Remember her engines where not designed to supercruise (nor is F-35s) and I do believe it came as a suprise that Typhoon did so. That said we may also be surprised ( I doubt it though) that F-35 may be able to manage M1.2-1.3 for short periods of time as well.
 

ELP

New Member
I am not going to continue to argue with you about this. Much of Carlo Kopp’s published “facts” have proven to be inaccurate or incomplete. I will take what the people who fly and maintain the su30MKI (the IAF) say about the Bars capability over what he comes up with any day. Fact is you keep trying to use his arguments and they have been debunked. His research is not objective and it shows his F-22 bias.

Keep this in mind the USN is so happy with their SHs that they are thinking about cutting back on F-35s and getting more SHs. One of its greatest supporters in the navy is a former Tomcat pilot.

Even Carlo likes the Superhornet. He started bashing it only when he found out that there was no chance to get the F-22.

“The current configuration of the F/A-18E/F avionic package is the most advanced of any production aircraft based upon a Mil-Std-1553B bussed federated architecture, and is surpassed only by the much newer F-22A and JSF architectures. It is very likely that growth variants of the F/A-18E/F will see the progressive incorporation of avionics technology used in the JSF.”

“In terms of meeting the USN's aim for a low risk F-14/A-6 and F/A-18A-D replacement, in a timescale and budget compatible with current circumstances, and prior to the production of the high risk high payoff full stealth JSF, the F/A-18E/F clearly meets this objective.”

“The Super Hornet is a fighter with exceptional handling qualities, even by modern fighter standards, which even a novice can handle comfortably and with confidence at the edge of the low speed manoeuvre envelope.”

“In a low speed post-merge manoeuvring fight, with a high off-boresight 4th generation missile and Helmet Mounted Display, the Super Hornet will be a very difficult opponent for any current Russian fighter, even the Su-27/30. The analogue and early generation digital flight controls with hard-wired or hard-coded AoA limiters used in the Russian aircraft are a generation behind the Super Hornet and a much more experienced pilot will be required for the Russian types to match the ease with which the Super Hornet handles high alpha flight regimes.”

http://www.ausairpower.net/SuperBug.html

Now I know Carlo has this big disclaimer on the document but one has to wonder does Dr Kopp speak out of both sides of his mouth. Oh and lets remember he flew a Block I bird without AESA, the redesigned stealthier front fuselage, and all the other goodies.

You live by the words of Kopp and you die by the Kopp. Do try to use information from a variety of sources next time.

Signed A Former Super Hornet Skeptic.



Bottom line Ozzy is I am now convinced you have no idea of what you are talking about. IRST is no substitute for radar. IRST is a nice supplement but you cannot target a missile using it. You need to have some idea of where to search with IRST; its detection range is a fraction of radar.

Quote from that same page:
APA Notice

This article predates the mid December, 2006, announcement by Defence that Super Hornets may be be sought as gap fillers for the RAAF. The article does not constitute an endorsement of that proposal in any fashion and should not be interpreted to be such by any parties. Any attempt to do so wiil be considered
to be intentional and mischievous misrepresentation.
Also check out the Jan/Feb 2007 issue of Defence Today by strike publications. An article called Super Hornet vs Flanker by a fellow named Dr. Carlo Kopp. In there he says the Super Hornet is basically uncompetitive to the Flanker. Given the radar upgrades coming down the pike for the Flanker, and its obvious raw outperfromance of the Super Slow Hornet, I would agree.

The USN being "happy" with their SH is "happy" like an accountant is happy. We are all out of cash. We are on a borrowed economy. That is the ONLY reason for shifting the Navy portion of JSF a couple of bars to the right on the program schedule. The shipbuilding lobby also demands their cut of every budget. The USN has painted themselves into a corner. Super Hornets only great thing is that it is carrier capable, in production, and has a new car smell. And after a lot of band aid fixes at least does strike pretty well.

What is amusing is the compatability to legacy Hornets as part of how it was sold to Defence. Whats in the news the other day? Info on how ASRAAM won't be compatable on Super Hornet. Stores of Aim-9x will have to be part of the SH deal. Not so bright start for a "stop-gap" jet.

Here is some thoughts from Davies...
Critically, the performance of the Super Hornet means that it cannot realistically be expected to defeat well-flown Flankers in combat.
And he goes on with recomendations. The one (F-22) might not be very workable but the others at least gives some form of justice to the taxpayer and at least give the chance to avert getting the SH.

A deferral of the decision to purchase Super Hornets would seem sensible. This could be for 6-12 months, during which the government could:

Gather availability, cost and capability data for the F-22, so that we understand the affordability and feasibility of moving quickly to a high-end fifth generation solution. Only if that proves unfeasible should we move to a fourth generation fallback.

Evaluate the fourth generation options available in the world marketplace and choose the one most likely to provide us with high-end capability through the decade beginning 2020 should we need to go that way.
Here are some bold faced untruth from the Navy RE: Super Hornet . that an independant study by GAO didn't find. ( I refer to: GAO - F/A-18E/F Will Provide Marginal Operational Improvement At High Cost-June 1996 and Operational Testing and Evaluation of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet- maneuverDOD Inspector General- July 7, 1999- Report number 205-99

40 percent increase in mission combat radius. (
(independent GAO report showed around 20 at best btw this lie is still parrotted as late as 2003 in a state of the Navy to congress speech)


50 percent increase in combat on-station time. (
(Also interesting with this is that Navy claimed large drop tanks could not go on the legacy Hornet.... not true said ( at the time McDonnell Douglas ) They did a study with large Super Hornet sized tanks that got really good range with the legacy. Quoting 50% is a is a reach)


Three times the carrier recovery payload--safer carrier operations for our pilots.

( Again, not true. SH F is around 9k and SH E is around 9.7 or so K bringback. MD did a study that woud put legacy Hornet bringback with replacement gear around 6-7k. Kosovo there were waivers of Legacys bringing back 7k... Not even close to the Admirals claim of 3 times bringback for Super Hornet)


Improved survivability, lethality and greater penetration into the enemy's battle space.
(Based on what? a lower escape speed. Granted ALE-50 helps. The LO improvement goes away with external stores)


Growth potential for future combat enhancements and mission requirements.

(Except that the Navy never really explored legacys growth potential to it's limits. Again MD did a study on this that showed that improved avionics could be put in the jet ).


Those are just a few things. Now, things like avionics are usually fixable. Also the wing drop was fixable (lots of jets get this btw, F-16 solved most of it with software but still has some limits on how weapons release is done pertaining to this ). And those reports are kinda old. However what is important is the raw performance ( or lack of it ) hasn't changed. Reason you don't hear much now is because DOD with our questionable expeditionary warfare has other fish to fry. A jet that while weak in raw performance yet can keep accountants happy, is not such a threat to the Navy.

What is important to note here is why would Australia want a compromised carrier design jet that is designed specifically to deal with carrier like issues? What you are getting is a lot of extra weight. USN didn't have money for much else given all of it's other tales of woe in the 1990's. Why follow that path?
 
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Ozzy Blizzard

New Member
1. IRST has to be directed by e.g. a radar. It doesn't scan the sky on it's own.

2. IRST doesn't provide a firing solution for a missile. It only provide a bearing - not range. That means no 3d coordinates and no knowledge of speed and direction of target. In other words - poor detection and no track generation.

3. The F-35 does have IR signature management. Not as good as the F-22A, but it does hae some. Flankers have little or zero RCS or IR suppression.
What happens when the existing OLS-27/30/31 series IRST is replaced with a newer longwave Focal Plane Array device - such as a single chip QWIP device? The result will be a capability to engage opposing aircraft under clear sky conditions regardless of RCS reduction measures. While the supercruising F/A-22A can defeat such techniques by kinematics alone, fighters in the teen series performance envelope will have to contend with BVR shots using the R-27ET, R-77, R-77T and R-77M cued by the thermal imaging search and track set. Similar issues arise with the deployment of modern ESM receivers on the Su-30MK, analogous to a number of existing Western systems. The Su-30MK series can then launch long range BVR missiles such as the R-27ET, R-77T with infrared seekers, or the R-27EP and R-77P with passive radio-frequency anti-radiation seekers. If cued by such sensors or offboard sources, these weapons will permit the Su-30MK to engage the JSF despite the JSF's good forward sector radar stealth performance
http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-Flanker.html

So what is he just making stuff up???

Whats the problem? You know your detection range is within your max missile range. You launch a slow burn R27P down the bearing, use its datalink to keep it on the bearing untill its IR seeker aquires the target. I dont see how this isnt feasible. Also the more advanced ESM's get the less chance LPI radars will have that includes wedgetail.
 
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Grand Danois

Entertainer
http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-Flanker.html

So what is he just making stuff up???

Whats the problem? You know your detection range is within your max missile range. You launch a slow burn R27P down the bearing, use its datalink to keep it on the bearing untill its IR seeker aquires the target. I dont see how this isnt feasible. Also the more advanced ESM's get the less chance LPI radars will have that includes wedgetail.
He is not making it up. He is (you are) overestimating impact.

It is feasible. You can fire a missile down a bearing. Here is the drawback: remember that max range for a missile, under operational conditions, is conditioned by targeting data of approp quality. As the IR missile is heading down a bearing only and not a track, which has XYZ plus velocity plus direction, it loses range dramatically. The missile will use its energy compensating for the poor targeting data. An opposing fighter with a radar track and an AMRAAM is superior to the IR all-the-way solution.

Also - IRST still has to be cued at BVR.
 

Ozzy Blizzard

New Member
Bottom line Ozzy is I am now convinced you have no idea of what you are talking about. IRST is no substitute for radar. IRST is a nice supplement but you cannot target a missile using it. You need to have some idea of where to search with IRST; its detection range is a fraction of radar.
Bottim line thumper; you are living in the this second right now. Advanced variants or IRST will be able detect tanrget at near BVR ranges, and the flankers will be able to fire missiles of it. Cus missiles have never been directed by IR guidance before? And if were going back to the SH thing BARS isn't the only thing your going to have to deal with. In LRIP is the NIIP Ibis E PSA is a much more powerfull, eveolved BARS. It has a peak power output of 20kw compared to 7 on the BARS. It will have more advanced T/R modules and a huge apature size. This radar will be operational in the SU 35 in the 2010 timeframe and is an availavble ugrade for all flanker variants. Bye bye SH. Oh ant this radar is spcifically designed to work with the R172. i.e. keep you AWACS nice and safe.

Fine chuck a hissy fit. Those numbers were published in a commercial and respectable magazine, so it would have been a bit embarrasing for the editor if he published numbers that were off by 100%. There's a few things i could say about poliots outlining the radar performance of their operational aircraft too. But you know what say i'm wrong about the BARS, the Snow Leapeord (Ibis) will be three times more powerfull and is in production now.

The SH is a great strike aircraft. In RAAF service it would be damn handy in the marritime strike rolle, and unlike the Pig, it can self escort to some degree. Kopp thinks its a great aircraft as you outlined above. However when used in an A2A role against advanced Flanker variants it is toast.

IRST is no substitute for radar. However it WILL allow advanced flanker variants to engage the JSF from BVR range. This is bad news for the F35, it has nothing to do how the SU XX will kill the SH, it simply doesent need it with all the advantages it has.
 

Thumper

Banned Member
Been away for a while Elp. Maybe you should first read some of the previous posts before you continue?

Quote from that same page:
APA Notice
It still does not change what he wrote.

Also check out the Jan/Feb 2007 issue of Defence Today by strike publications. An article called Super Hornet vs Flanker by a fellow named Dr. Carlo Kopp. In there he says the Super Hornet is basically uncompetitive to the Flanker. Given the radar upgrades coming down the pike for the Flanker, and its obvious raw outperfromance of the Super Slow Hornet, I would agree.
It seems that all the negative crap either you or ozzie every post is attributed to Kopp. Fact is his "facts" have been disputed and disproved by multiple documented sources. As for the radar, like I said you are rehashing an old argument that based on what we know of the documented (other than Carlos) facts does not hold water. You continue to cling to the 70's warfighting paradigm. I suggest you read previous posts for education.

F/A-18E/F Will Provide Marginal Operational Improvement At High Cost-June 1996 and Operational Testing and Evaluation of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet- maneuverDOD Inspector General- July 7, 1999-
First note the dates. Not block II. Second the GAO never likes anything the Pentagon funds.

What is important to note here is why would Australia want a compromised carrier design jet that is designed specifically to deal with carrier like issues? What you are getting is a lot of extra weight.
F-4 Phantom, A-7 Corsair. Ever hear of them?

Look I know everyone is allowed to change their mind on things. I am a self admitted former SH detractor. Once I did the research I changed my mind. Carlo wants only one thing, the F-22 and that is not going to happen. It is not necessary and it is not in our interest to sell it to anyone just yet.

Like I said everyone is allowed to change their mind.

Breaking a wedge of F-18E/F AESA aircraft on their way to deliver the mail is another story. When it is set up to go strike something, you have to stop it. Might be kinda difficult. Not because of it's raw performance, ( it doesn't have any ) but because of the avionics on it. Also... once they figure out how to jam and soft-kill opposing sensors/transceivers with AESA watch out.
F-18E/F and later JSF will most likely make a very good team. Consider that anyone in their part of the world doesn't have the operational savvy ( owning a big SU all by itself won't make you a winner...( a non-issue Doc Koop ) ) and more serious no netcentricity, Australia won't have a problem defending it's own back yard.
Do you know who said that on the F-16 forum Elp? I will give you a hint. It was posted by someone with a three letter userid that starts with E and ends with p.

http://www.f-16.net/modules.php?op=m...ghlight=apg-79

So what is he just making this stuff up???
To a certain extent yes. He cherry picks his arguments and if there are multiple sources with all but one saying just about the same thing but the one he wants to hear saying another he posts that as fact. It shoud be obvious that both he and Elp want the F-22 bad.

Two examples of Carlos blunders. In one of his writings he claims that GPS jammers are effective. Well it turns out they are not effective against JDAM.

"Then on Tuesday, officials announced at a press briefing at U.S. Central Command in Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, that six GPS jammers "provided by another nation" were taken out of commission by U.S. forces.
"We destroyed one of the GPS jammers with a GPS weapon," quipped Air Force Major Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr."

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=31773

Or how about his claim in one of his FAQs that the SH was a fragile plane and would need expensive repairs to keep them air worthy. Well it turns out that carrier landings (last I looked the Australians where not planning to use them on carriers) are very stressful on an airframe. The navy had to make a repair on their jets after about 160 flight hours to ensure the planes would not develop cracks. The repairs are done in house for 2 million a plane.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/f-18cd.htm
 

Ozzy Blizzard

New Member
He is not making it up. He is (you are) overestimating impact.

It is feasible. You can fire a missile down a bearing. Here is the drawback: remember that max range for a missile, under operational conditions, is conditioned by targeting data of approp quality. As the IR missile is heading down a bearing only and not a track, which has XYZ plus velocity plus direction, it loses range dramatically. The missile will use its energy compensating for the poor targeting data. An opposing fighter with a radar track and an AMRAAM is superior to the IR all-the-way solution.

Also - IRST still has to be cued at BVR.
He's not saying it will be superior or even equal to Radar and AMRAAM, just that it will allow the JSF to be engaged by the Flanker at BVR ranges. And as bad a performer as the F35 kinematicaly and airodynamicaly this errodes the F35's only advantage, LO at BVR combat.

Also with more advanced RWR, LPI radars such as the APG 81 will not be so LPI any more. This goes for the wedegtail too. Another major problem with the F35, it wont be LO if it can be detected every time it radiates. This can be countered by networking, but missiles like the R172 do have the range to reach out and touch the radiating platform.

Everyones thinking about the here and now, this aircraft will be our ONLY air superiority platform for the next 30-40yrs!!! Can you imagine the advances in ECM and passive sensor technology in that timeframe. And thats the scary think about the SU XX family, its growth porential. Raw airodynamic and Kenetic performance can not really be upgreaded due to the fact that is fundimental to the design (apart from the powerplant, whic is also limited by size). To be fair RCS in the same leage of the F35 is fundimental to the designe too. It has the room to fit large sensors, its computing and networking potential is limitless, and this is one of the F35's major advantages. In F35 vs Flanker, the F35's advantages will be steadily made up by the flanker through networking and eveloving sensors, the Flankers advantages can not be made good by the F35 as they are fundimental differences in the design.
 
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Grand Danois

Entertainer
He's not saying it will be superior to Radar and AMRAAM, just that it will allow the JSF to be engaged by the Flanker at BVR ranges. And as bad a performer as the F35 kinematicaly and airodynamicaly this errodes the F35's only advantage, LO at BVR combat.
Then you are overestimating impact. The Flanker dies in the IRST vs radar BVR engagement. Raw performance regardless.
 

ELP

New Member
And read the rest of my comments v SH. It is slow. Note there that SH is going toward a target. SU has to break it or at least try to. In that event it at least has some work to do as in a head to head shot with C7 or D AMRAAM it is probably going to eat some of them. Do the reverse and SU in a strike can contempt of engage the SH .... easy. The faster aircraft almost always determines the time of the attack. You can look all through history and it won't change anything.

Now, consider that SH is a reasonable strike jet, Yet, in a negative event where it has to disengage, because of it's slow speed, it isn't going to have that option. Many aircraft made including the latest 3rd or 4th gen ( depending on how you like to use those terms) can contempt of engage a SH.
SH is only good if it is on it's way to a strike where the enemy has to engage it or on defence where it doesn't have to move much. F-14s ( in the speed class of SU ) in exercises in the 90's as bombcats with 4 Mk83's could avoid legacy Hornets ( which are no slower and certainly a tad faster, than an SH ). That is where the big jets like F-14, 15, Big SU have an advantage with fuel and a good ( not compromised ) wing designs. About all the Super Hornet wing helps to do is get it aboard the ship at a nice safe speed, other than that, the wing is a mess. I don't mind SH if it is used within it's limits. However used as the big stick on a carrier is risky and another country that could have a fly off and compare and shop around, making a snap decision to get SH, is a mistake of large proportions. Especially if our lord and savior Dr Nelson is correct on the stop gap except a variation on the theme where U.S. falls flat on its face under-funding JSF and delaying it where: F-111 goes away by 2010 due to a damn bad decision. Some of the legacys are offline getting barrel replacement, and Super Hornet ends up going beyond 10 years of service because of JSF being delayed. The stop gap idea can end up being really bad by picking the wrong jet to stop-gap with. Being stuck with SH as your "air superiority" jet doesn't sound too good. Not having a fly off with other types is dumb and wasteful. Super Hornet is filled with so much risk that you better hope things don't change in 10 years geographically speaking and all the sudden you have a Chicom satellite nation bought off with Chicom money in your back yard loading up on Flankers. One thing nations are really bad at is predicting the future. However being prepared would seem to be good advice. Especially if you have $22 billion burning a hole in your pocket. I really hope I am WRONG, as the alternatives don't seem too pretty.
 

Ozzy Blizzard

New Member
Thumper you stoped arguing the facts and started attacking the man a fair while ago, Kopp and ELP, and this is usually the sign that someone CANT argue the facts any more.
 

Ozzy Blizzard

New Member
Then you are overestimating impact. The Flanker dies in the IRST vs radar BVR engagement. Raw performance regardless.
You can get a range and track by triangulation from multiple sensors, but we'll forget that one for the minet.

Maybe a stupid question, but i was wondering if you could enlighten me? If the AMRAAM is fired with a target track generated from radar, am i wrong in assuming that it will be aimed at a certan point in the battle space were it expects the target to be when it gets there? A rough intercept track? I suppose this would be very effficient if the target moved in a steight line untill the terminal phase. But what happens if the target changes direction? I would assume that during a missiles flight the intercept point that it was aimed at when it was launched would move quite a bit depending on the target. I'm trying to figure out why this is so much more effieceint than using IR bearing for your initial launch co ordinates. If the radar guided missile is constantly changing its heading wouldn't it loose energy too? The AMRAAM may have accurate intecept co ordinates at the launch point, but as soon as the target changes direction the missile will have to compensate, just like the IR going down the bearing. Would the F35 use the datalink to point the AMRAAM at a new intercept point? So if the target reversed direction the AMRAAM would have to change direction more abruptly then the IR guided one that is just keeping itself pointed at the target. Unless the target is doesent change direction, i dont see how Radar guidence is THAT much more efficient. i.e enough to be decisive.
 

rjmaz1

New Member
Actually the first APG-77's fitted to the Raptors will have less range than the first APG-81 to be produced.

The F-22's are switching over to the new generation AESA modules now, with the new modules the APG-77 will have a longer detection range. In the future if production has ceased on the F-22 and a newer AESA module comes out then the F-22 will not get their modules upgraded however the F-35's coming off the production line will get these modules straight away.

So the F-35 may end up having a more powerful radar even with less modules.

Avionic wise the F-35 is also superior to the F-22.

Also the heat produced from an F-22 at Mach 1.5 will be greater than a subsonic F-35. This makes the F-22 no better against this IRST capability of the suhkois.

I believe during the lifespan of both F-22 and F-35 that the F-35 will no doubt receive more upgrades.
 

Grand Danois

Entertainer
You can get a range and track by triangulation from multiple sensors, but we'll forget that one for the minet.

Maybe a stupid question, but i was wondering if you could enlighten me? If the AMRAAM is fired with a target track generated from radar, am i wrong in assuming that it will be aimed at a certan point in the battle space were it expects the target to be when it gets there? A rough intercept track? I suppose this would be very effficient if the target moved in a steight line untill the terminal phase. But what happens if the target changes direction? I would assume that during a missiles flight the intercept point that it was aimed at when it was launched would move quite a bit depending on the target. I'm trying to figure out why this is so much more effieceint than using IR bearing for your initial launch co ordinates. If the radar guided missile is constantly changing its heading wouldn't it loose energy too? The AMRAAM may have accurate intecept co ordinates at the launch point, but as soon as the target changes direction the missile will have to compensate, just like the IR going down the bearing. Would the F35 use the datalink to point the AMRAAM at a new intercept point? So if the target reversed direction the AMRAAM would have to change direction more abruptly then the IR guided one that is just keeping itself pointed at the target. Unless the target is doesent change direction, i dont see how Radar guidence is THAT much more efficient. i.e enough to be decisive.

The BVR AMRAAM achieves the range by doing a ballistic trajectory. By gaining altitude from the rocket burn it can coast at higher altitude increasing range massively as it will suffer less drag and also manages its energy better. To do this it needs quality data as described above in order to optimise flight path and to avoid expending energy correcting its course. The IRST cued missile cannot do this. It does not know the range or have a poor sense of it. On top of that it expends more energy correcting its course.

Much less range. The NEZ of the BVR radar guided missile much much bigger.

BVR ranges depend on highly optimised flight path of the missile.

Example of flight profile.
http://www.ausairpower.net/Su-30MK+Kh-31-2.png

Link didn't work so it's attached.
 

Ozzy Blizzard

New Member
Actually the first APG-77's fitted to the Raptors will have less range than the first APG-81 to be produced.
That i find very hard to believe. Do you mean first production APG 77's, or testbed systems back in the 90's? At the moment the 77 is much better than the 81. Given the same software and T/R modules (which will more than likely be the case) the 77 will outperform the 81 by a long shot.

The F-22's are switching over to the new generation AESA modules now, with the new modules the APG-77 will have a longer detection range. In the future if production has ceased on the F-22 and a newer AESA module comes out then the F-22 will not get their modules upgraded however the F-35's coming off the production line will get these modules straight away.
IIRC the F22s will be on the production line for a while, and wahts to stopping them from undergoing block upgrades?

So the F-35 may end up having a more powerful radar even with less modules.
In short no. not at the same time. Late model 81's may be more powerfull than early model 77's but this is not a vailid comparison.

Also the heat produced from an F-22 at Mach 1.5 will be greater than a subsonic F-35. This makes the F-22 no better against this IRST capability of the suhkois.
Sure does. But it really doesent matter because the F22 will defeat any of these shots on an energy basis alone. Without LO the Raptor would still easily defeat any flanker, advanced or not, in 99% of situations. The truth is its LO is the bit that is "nice to have" without it the raptor would still be the most capable fighter on the plannet for decades to come.

I believe during the lifespan of both F-22 and F-35 that the F-35 will no doubt receive more upgrades.
Why? They will both be in service for a similar timeframe?
 

Thumper

Banned Member
Also with more advanced RWR, LPI radars such as the APG 81 will not be so LPI any more.
Yeah and with more efficient flux capacitors time travel will be possible. Fact is ozzie how can you design a more effective RWR against LPI radar when the exact way it works is classified. Sort of like those pesky GPS jammers.

Another major problem with the F35, it wont be LO if it can be detected every time it radiates.
Making a bit of a stretch there ozzie. See, they fitted the plane with an LPI radar. Say while we are talking about the future how much do you want to bet that within a few very short years the US will come out with satellites that can track jet fighter and pass the targeting information on. I mean hell we can all speculate on “future” capabilities can’t we?

Everyones thinking about the here and now, this aircraft will be our ONLY air superiority platform for the next 30-40yrs!!! Can you imagine the advances in ECM and passive sensor technology in that timeframe.
And LM is going to be sitting on their hands in the meantime. Ever consider how far stealth has come since the F-117 days? It is not a zero sum game. Both sides make advances.

And thats the scary think about the SU XX family, its growth porential.
Yeah that and the fact that it has a huge RCS and massive heat signature.

the Flankers advantages
Of speed are no longer relevant. If it where, there would be Mach 3 fighters already in production. As I recall the Mig 25 had Mach 3.2 capability. Where is it today. The US has built a Mach 3 bomber 35 years ago. I am sure they could build a Mach 3 fighter today with ease. Why don’t they? Why didn’t they give the Raptor that kind of speed?

Now, consider that SH is a reasonable strike jet, Yet, in a negative event where it has to disengage, because of it's slow speed, it isn't going to have that option. Many aircraft made including the latest 3rd or 4th gen ( depending on how you like to use those terms) can contempt of engage a SH
.

Well lets see if that really matters. The SH in the defensive role would be an interceptor. The enemy aircraft have to pass through them to accomplish their mission. Not much a reason to “contemp of engage” there. The SH in a strike role have to get past the enemy interceptors. Again not much of a reason to contempt of engage.

F-14s ( in the speed class of SU ) in exercises in the 90's as bombcats with 4 Mk83's could avoid legacy Hornets
But they could not outrun their missiles

Super Hornet is filled with so much risk
To the contrary it is a fully in production AC with a long list of upgrades planned and funded. It is actually very low risk.

I really hope I am WRONG
Don’t worry, you are.

Thumper you stoped arguing the facts and started attacking the man a fair while ago,
When will you start using facts other than those of Kopps? I am not attacking him. You asked if he is to be believed. I pointed out that he has an obvious desire for the RAAF to acquire the F-22 and he has tried to make an argument for it using exaggerations, cherry picking and incorrect/uncorroborated data and speculation passing as data.. That is not attacking someone, just pointing out the shortcomings of his logic. I am not attacking you, just pointing out where you are wrong. Try citing a source other than Kopp’s.

Funny thing is there is all sorts of hard numbers published by the Russians and very few numbers published by the Americans. The Americans also have a habit of publicly understating numbers. For example does anyone for a minute believe that a Seawolf subs maximum speed is 25 knots? On the other hand the Russians tend to exaggerate the published numbers.

Maybe a stupid question, but i was wondering if you could enlighten me? If the AMRAAM is fired with a target track generated from radar, am i wrong in assuming that it will be aimed at a certan point in the battle space were it expects the target to be when it gets there? A rough intercept track? I suppose this would be very effficient if the target moved in a steight line untill the terminal phase. But what happens if the target changes direction?
The radar feeds it updated targeting information.

i dont see how Radar guidence is THAT much more efficient. i.e enough to be decisive.
Almost missed this gem. Are you serious?
Also the heat produced from an F-22 at Mach 1.5 will be greater than a subsonic F-35.
Don’t be so sure they put a lot of work into IR suppression as well.
 
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