Posted on 01/01/2009 4:14:24 AM PST by pobeda1945
I miss those days terribly.
CAS is a multi-service mission, though fixed-wing CAS is for the Air Force, and not just because of the politics, but because the Army would not assume the cost of maintaining additional “large” fixed-wing runways and the entire new support infrastructure that comes with it.
At any rate, the guys on the ground are supported with a fierce dedication on the part of the Hog Drivers, and that's really what matters.
A couple of times I/we’d see a A10 pop up, roll over, point down, dis appear behind trees and wait for the crash. They were really, really, low to be doing that. (not too fast, but twisty and low. Lots of control surface movement and engine throttle noises.) No crash though. They’d fly over trees, then down into a farm field, thus lower than the tree tops( pretty much ). I’m guessing 100-150 feet above ground level.
Really cool.
What is your opinion of the F-35? Is it stealthy and how manueverable is it? How does it compare to the F-22 and Grippen?
What is your opinion of the F-35? Is it stealthy and how manueverable is it? How does it compare to the F-22 and Grippen?
What is your opinion of the F-35? Is it stealthy and how manueverable is it? How does it compare to the F-22 and Grippen?
“What is your opinion of the F-35? Is it stealthy and how manueverable is it? How does it compare to the F-22 and Grippen?”
Stealth is about compromises, and there is no single figure of merit that encompasses all stealth characteristics. Radar low-observability is a function of frequency, and angle of illumination - and technologies - both fairly mature (IR) and developing (bi-static radars) along with signal processing tend to thwart the longevity of stealth advantage.
The F-35 has more compromises than the F-22 because of VTOL - which in turn has quite a few compromises - limited internal stores being the biggest.
My problem with the F-35 has more to do with questioning the need than the performance. If you throw enough money at an airframe you can make it work.
The Gripen is not a stealthy airframe - external mount points under the wings and a non-planform aligned design are the dead-giveaway for a back-of-the-envelope analysis.
I don’t know too much about the comparative aerodynamics of the F-35 vs. Gripen, sorry. I suspect they are very different and mission dependent - doesn’t mean either is bad or good - just different.
F-22 and JSF are not to be compared, as they are totally different aircraft for vastly different missions.
Grippen is a 4.5 generation jet that a) would not make it to the merge with an F-22, and a JSF for that matter, and b) even if it did, it simply can't perform like the F-22/F-35.
There is a lot more to both jets than is generally known.
The F-35 is over-weight and running late, and will be more costly than the F-22 when all is said and done, but with an air force of those aircraft, nothing can stop them.
F-22 is a “kick down the door” weapon, opening gaps in the defenses that other jets, like the venerable and hardworking F-15E carrying lots and lots of weapons.
My take on it, though not asked, thought I would offer.
Cheers.
Is there any fighter in the world that can equal the F-35 other than the F-22?
Short answer: When it is IOC, no.
“Is there any fighter in the world that can equal the F-35 other than the F-22?”
I’m sure there are some fighter jocks on this board that could answer the question from an operational perspective, but as with many things, the answer is “it depends”.
An F-16 with an experienced pilot could probably do well against it in many scenarios.
An F-15E will easily outperform it for strike missions.
There is a tendency, when talking about new aircraft, for the Air Force to minimize the capability of existing airframes, and the ability to upgrade them to provide similar capabilities to new aircraft. This has to be done to justify new aircraft costs - so take estimates of “X times more effective than Y airframe” with a grain of salt.
Thanks much!
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