Should give it the advantage in BVR combat.
I agree, but it would seem to me that you’ve only got so many long range air to air missiles. If ten of our aircraft are challenged by hundreds of an opponent, doesn’t that make them vulnerable?
I’m asking because I don’t know that answer. Hopefully you’re going to alleviate those concerns.
Stealth is only useful when the enemy is using RADAR. When the enemy is using visual guidance, various non-visual sensors, etc. and can shoot lasers, the F-22 is dog food.
No enemy is there yet...yet.
/johnny
I saw this article yesterday. Basically, if an enemy aircraft can teleport into close proximity of an F22, there’s a 50/50 chance of the enemy aircraft winning the engagement.
Yep, that sure is disconcerting.
Stealth goes away in a dogfight? Well, duh! At least until you get a cloaking device. Isn’t the whole point to clear the skies BEFORE going bare knuckle in visible contact? The good news is that there’s still a need for the United States Air Force Weapons School.
Journalists are such morons. It isn’t a 79 billion dollar advantage, it is 220 million per plane over the Typhoon. With that 220 million you get a plane the Euro pilots said they could not get within 20 miles of, and within in that they were evenly matched. Looks like it is still worth the advantage.
Yeah, we should just scrap the F-22s and replace them with more F-35s, because that’s been working out well for us. /sarc
Raptor Ping.
Wait’ll they start remotely piloting them. They’ll be able to turn a bit tighter.
Huh. Is that true, this is the first time they had them at Red Flag? That doesn't seem right.
Problem is that most aerial combat doesn't take place at BVR, but at ranges of two miles or less. They made the same incorrect assumptions that the USAF made in the 1950s, until MiG-17s, MiG-21s, and perpetually stupid ROEs made a mockery of U.S. fighters during the Vietnam air war.
These people never learn.
“The F-22 took part in the exercise while under strict flying restrictions imposed by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta”
Would love to know what those restrictions were and how the F-22 would perform without them. The F-22 is tremendously powerful and maneuverable with it’s thrust vectoring. Foreign pilots flying against them in earlier simulated encounters basically said, “It’s not fair, we can’t see it on radar and we can’t lock it up when in visual range.
Panetta is part of the administration that cancelled the F-22 and is a POS in general. I have to wonder if he wasn’t attempting to sabotage the F-22’s performance to justify the Kenyan’s ending the F-22 project.
Love this picture of the F-22, too bad we had to retire the shuttle in the background.
There we go again.. Advertising our military vulnerabilities. It’s an 0bama past time!!!!
This is how we develop tactics. Place the aircraft in undesirable situations and figure out which tactics are best. When I flew the f-4 in the late 70’s we deployed to Nellis and achieved at least 50% kills against f-15’s, untill they developed tactics to mitigate their vulnerabilities.
Modern fighter pilots consider a multitude of variables and the AOB in real time to succeed. We can’t know what ROE they may have been dealing with to test their tactical options.
If the big balloon ever goes up I doubt visual ID will be required.
I read Hartman’s biography. He was a fascinating person.
One thing I remember is tho all the other German aces said Hartman was the best long range shot, Hartman stressed getting as close as possible.
He said the guns were so much more effective at close range. He also continued to fly the BF-109 long after it was probably obsolete. He probably was just used to it and also he probably got the best equipment, latest improvements, best engines, ground crew etc..
Another interesting tid bit is his parents were missionaries to China. Erich grew up there.
The first task in air combat is see the enemy. Then turn to meet him or surprise him from behind. Small, light, highly maneuverable aircraft have huge advantages in close combat. If a small plane is nearly impossible to see, it is nearly impossible to defeat. (Again in close ranges). By the way, using the new miniature electronics with networked UAS vehicles, along with small manned command combat aircraft, a very effective Air Force could be build for the cost of half a dozen F-22s.