Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.

[DRG]

Originally Posted by FASTBOAT TOUGH

But as Don mentioned, there is that decades old issue of 1 versus 2 engines and the HORNET can carry a larger payload.

It's a huge issue but the jobs that might be created given the economic downturn due to the response to Covid *might* ( maybe..) tip the balance but personally.....I still think the argument against in the political and military back rooms will be the single-engine.

We have a LOT of "middle of nowhere" to theoretically patrol ( more than most nations' entire area ) and losing one engine when you have two gets you back to base but not when you only have one to start with. What one engine gets you is a search and rescue operation and a crash investigation ( ...in a remote area ) and that attitude is deeply ingrained

[Suhiir]

Originally Posted by DRG

What one engine gets you is a search and rescue operation and a crash investigation ( ...in a remote area ) and that attitude is deeply ingrained

The same reason the US Navy and USMC are fond of two engine aircraft. REALLY hard to swim 500km back to your carrier.

However, modern jet engines are pretty reliable so that's not as big an issue as it use to be.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

John to your last, I would say it depends on the aircraft being flown due to the electronics onboard. One must remember "stealth" goes beyond just it's radar cross section. I'm going to it simple and use what I've read up to this point.

In an environment (Sweden) where I know the Russians are operating S-300/S-400 SAM Systems there's less than a handful of Jets in the world I would trust in potential combat environment as noted above, and the GRIPEN E/F is onE of them.

Two I'll knock out for all the "hoopla" that surrounded them and they are Chinas J-20 and Russia's T-50 (Used to be PAK-FA).

The J-20 it seems isn't as stealthy as first thought, and there are questions concerning it systems capabilities and reliability to include the powerplant.

If there was to be a foreign contender to the F-22 it would've been the PAK-FA/T-50 joint venture between India and Russia that I reported on extensively for years in here.

Basically with everything else Russia was trying to accomplish with their defensive needs, something had to give and it was the PAK-FA/T-50(And you might've heard about the T-14 as well!?!) they wanted to cut most of assets that would've truly have made this jet only the 2nd 5th GEN fighter in the world behind the F-22.

And NO the F-35 doesn't have true Super Cruise, because it has to go to "afterburner" first and it can only sustain "Super Cruise like" capability for around 150NM.
Super Cruise has been one of long standing 6-8 requirements to be met by a truly stealth jet. You might as well "Be on Broadway" with those bright LED (Neon just so not today.) lights.

So back to PAF-FA/T-50, India had warned Russia for more then a couple of years that if they didn't "reset" to the original concept of the joint venture (Stealth) they would withdraw from the the program. And so they did.

This next then should tell tell you a lot, India is now flying the latest version RAFALE and Russia with the T-50 is in "limbo" with it. An old saying comes to mind...Don't bite the hand that feeds you. India's hand healed quickly.

So I wish to leave with an article I would've rather have posted but just found today from a well industry respected source, talking about Canada, Sweden and Russia, GRIPEN E/F, Stealth and in the first para a remark about the F-35 and more.
https://skiesmag.com/features/saab-gripen-e-dark-horse/

USAF 4th GEN being around for a couple of more decades and how we're making them better...
https://www.airforcemag.com/article/...s-in-the-Game/

I've done enough damage for one day, take care!

Regards,
Pat

[Karagin]

https://www.businessinsider.com/brit...ighter-2020-12

The main image looks like a model mockup but it is an interesting looking aircraft.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Awhile back you were asking about weapons loadout "graphs" for Aircraft. If I would've taken a "deep breadth" I would've remembered about AUSA, I would've provided the following...

Just scroll down, you'll find them.

F-22: Yes this in one of the one's I did submit already, however, this could be a check against it or slightly more detailed which I believe will be the case here.
http://www.ausairpower.net/raptor.html

In order top to bottom Su-35+35S/Su-27SKM and Su-30MK2.
http://www.ausairpower.net/flanker.html Also:

Besides those good looking silhouettes, by clicking on them you get this "bonus" read on Asia's FLANKERS and Asia's aviation in general. It is both informative and technical in scope.

Unless I'm mistaken, something one of my first associates would find worth his while, so John enjoy!! I hope some of you will as well.
http://www.ausairpower.net/PDF-A/TE-Flankers-Aug03.pdf

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

This is another reason why the F-35 hasn't reached FOC, and this situation wasn't limited to just the USMC. They all did it because it's a "common" platform. In fact there's another modification just contracted that won't be complete until mid-2023 as DID has reported earlier this week.

The JANE's ref below just nicely encapsulates the situation. Para 3 will lead you into the problem, while Para 4/5 tell you how bad the problem is.

From Para 4 from DOD, "For example, 44% of purchased parts were incompatible with aircraft the Marine Corps took on a recent deployment."

I touched on this last when discussing ODIN situation which will be used to hopefully address these issues and the complexities of aircraft operability. You cannot maintain normal operational tempo, let alone sustained combat operations without a reliable supply chain.
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/n...b-parts-issues

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

It sometimes amazes me how something "old" can be so accurate and relevant well into the future. It's a topic I've kept up with for a very, very longtime. Tonight is the first time I've read or seen this article.

I've seen over the years many times out here the question asked in many variations of the topic concerning stealth aircraft and countermeasures against it.

This is the first article I've read to date that covers the topics above with a little more clarity and sense of purpose. And as always, they leave you better informed afterwards then what you thought you knew starting it.

Of course I speak about AUSA. The topic STEALTH and COUNTERMEASURES. I'm "better informed" in particular concerning Countermeasures from a technical standpoint.

And to think, I thought I knew it all, well OK, almost all anyway!?!
http://www.ausairpower.net/PDF-A/APA...ay-2009-AE.pdf

Besides it also agrees with what I've been saying about the F-22 for I don't know how many years now. It's still true now and will be into the future for at least for another 10 years or more.

If you missed my post on this, the whole F-22 fleet is being modernized and will be more stealthy then it is as they're to be "recoated" with a new "hush/hush" paint if you will.

Another one for John!

Regards,
Pat