Raptor debuts at Red Flag, dominates skies

Air Combat Command ^ | 2/20/2007 | Tech. Sgt. Russell Wicke

[DuncanWaring]

Hmmmmm. You may have a point there.

[oldbill]

You don't have a clue about what you are talking.
I hope you are a foreign spy.

[SampleMan]

Unless they completely failed at making an extremely low RCS aircraft (which neither you nor I am privy to), the JSF will have fired its AMRAAM before any of the named aircraft detect it. Given that it is principally an attack aircraft, that's a very impressive capability.

Post merge it is of course vulnerable, but with fully gimbaled seeker heads for a cross-circle shot (AIM-9X), it shouldn't come down to the most maneuverable aircraft anyway, but rather the fastest shot. That said, the design team doesn't appear to agree with you concerning it being inferior to the F-16 in maneuverability. We'll see soon enough when it hits the street.

[Mr.Unique]

...RAAF Squadron Leader Stephen Chappell, F-15 exchange pilot in the 65th AS...

An exchange pilot from the RAAF (roughly a Major equivalent) flying a US F-15.

[Pukin Dog]

Not only is the RCS on the JSF insufficient, the Tomcat carries IRSTS which would also pick up the JSF at a distance beyond AMRAAM range. Try to remember, the Tomcat was designed for this mission. The JSF could NOT evade detection by a Tomcat under any circumstances. It does not have the exhaust masking features of the Raptor, and it would simply get shot. Sorry to burst your bubble, but it is a fact.

[Pukin Dog]

Nope, I know nothing about this subject. Nothing at all. Idiot.

[neutronsgalore]

"Maybe Northrup can navalize their F-23 like McDonnel Douglas did with Northrup's F-17."

It's one thing to design something from scratch for carrier operations, it's quite another to navalize a ground-based aircraft. That's how the F-111B program failed. If you want an aircraft design for both ground and carrier operations, you design the carrier aircraft first. From there you can only increase performance with a ground-based version.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

Beware the "golden BB"...bump

[A.A. Cunningham]

You suffer from cranial rectumitis.

[FierceDraka]

I flew 'red' one week of this Red Flag, with the aggressors quoted in this article.

I salute you, sir. I've been a fan of Red Flag since the 1980's when I first read about the exercize.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Incorrect.

Super Hornet gun kill of Raptor.

[GBA]

You do know that the F/A-18 evolved from the F-17?

[Nuc1]

Guns will be making a comeback.

[neutronsgalore]

"Guns will be making a comeback."

I'd like to see the Vulcan replaced with a tri-barrel or quad-barrel 30mm.

[GBA]

"No, I am not a JSF fan, and I remain convinced that eventually it will be cancelled."

You have been saying this for a very long time and I have been extremely skeptical considering the money that has been invested in the F-35. In fact, you come across as sort of an old navy fighter pilot curmudgeon..."back in my day flying F-14s...blah, blah, blah..." But, as I watch the progress of this program and get a better idea of what the aircraft is, I tip my hat to you. I think you're right. It should be easier to maintain, though...

[neutronsgalore]

"Beware the "golden BB"...bump"

And collisions with other aircraft and debris.

[neutronsgalore]

"The JSF could NOT evade detection by a Tomcat under any circumstances."

Whether it's true or not, it's a moot point. The Tomcat has been retired and there's no chance of it coming back. However, it does look like the JSF is nothing more than a boondoggle and nothing can help it. They need to start a naval stealth fighter from scratch.

[neutronsgalore]

"we need to build 5000 of them"

Amen! One-for-one replacement of all F-117 and F-15C/D at least.

[Spiff]

I saw the Red Flag IMAX film. Wow! That's a heck of an exercise. Very cool. Awesome pilots, etc.

[Pukin Dog]

I was asked a question, I gave an answer.