Posted on 12/22/2010 9:23:39 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Beyond Myths
Super Hornets’ classic design compliments its advanced strike capability
By Vidhi Upadhyay
New Delhi: Boeing Defence and Security wants to do away with the biggest myth that exists regarding the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, its contender for the MRCA contract for the IAF — that it is a 40-year old aircraft, which if you go by the systems and sensors on the aircraft — it is not.
The reason the misconception exists primarily is due to the fact that this fourth generation aircraft takes its general shape from its predecessor aircraft — the Classic Hornet and it is this feature that brings to the aircraft ‘the most advanced strike capability in the world’ according to Rick McCrary, director, International Business Development, Boeing Military Aircraft.
The aircraft only looks similar to the Classic Hornets but the similarity ends there, it is not only larger in size, rather it also shares common features in avionics and technology with the most advanced aircraft in the world — the Joint Strike Fighter. “This version of the Hornets first flew in 2005 — the version that is with the US Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force and is now being offered to the IAF. Also, this is one aircraft in the MRCA competition which has actually flown in combat and this is important criteria if you are going for a combat aircraft,” McCary asserts.
provide it with the ability to see & detect air and ground targets from long ranges. The state of art AESA radar which in turn comprises a hundreds of small radars — and each of those can be individually directed, give its
multi-mission capabilities (cued search, search while track, weapon support air-to-ground targeting, sea surface search, weapon support, electronic protection etc).
The latest features on the Super Hornet that concern the IAF the most are the radars and the avionics on the aircraft which Talking about the weapons capability on the aircraft displayed during the trials with the IAF, McCary, who was present during the MRCA trials, says, “When we demonstrated the weapons capability to the IAF, we were able to pick up three separate targets and lock them each simultaneously with three separate weapons and shoot them down, so the targeting proved to be very effective in terms of usage of aircraft.” The same holds true for air-to-air and air-to-ground targeting in the aircraft, because in case the aircraft is venturing into a heavily defended area, the force would want a long range weapon to take out the defence system of the adversary.
The Boeing executive further explained how in case of a stand off between ground forces of the two sides inside a closed area, say a building, the laser-guided weapons on the aircraft could take on the adversary, but before that, the pilot would also be able to confirm with the ground forces to clear the area and confirm the target by passing a digital picture to the ground forces and receiving information back as well through digital connectivity. “Other aircraft will have this feature in the future but, as of today, it exists only on the Super Hornet,” McCary stresses.
Had the pleasure of having two do a flyover at a local airshow this fall. A guy I went to high school with was one of the pilots. Sweet!
I still miss the Tomcat.
and the 55 gallon drums on wheels you had to put under them to catch the leaking fluid.... :)
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Excellent article, can’t wait to see the comments when this shows up on LiveFist. All that’s holding this bird up from going to India is fear of future sanctions and tech xfers. That, and the fact that India is taking forever to make up their minds.
Also, this is one aircraft in the MRCA competition which has actually flown in combat and this is important criteria if you are going for a combat aircraft,” McCary asserts.
Last time I checked, more F-16s have flown in combat than F/A-18Fs.
The state of art AESA radar which in turn comprises a hundreds of small radars and each of those can be individually directed, give its multi-mission capabilities (cued search, search while track, weapon support air-to-ground targeting, sea surface search, weapon support, electronic protection etc).
The same can be said of any of the AESA radar equipped entries; the Gripen NG, the F-16IN, the Eurofighter...
The Boeing executive further explained how in case of a stand off between ground forces of the two sides inside a closed area, say a building, the laser-guided weapons on the aircraft could take on the adversary, but before that, the pilot would also be able to confirm with the ground forces to clear the area and confirm the target by passing a digital picture to the ground forces and receiving information back as well through digital connectivity. Other aircraft will have this feature in the future but, as of today, it exists only on the Super Hornet, McCary stresses.
Complete BS. Any Sniper or LITENING targeting pod equipped aircraft can do the very same thing, and that includes all of the Western contenders, as well as IAF aircraft already in service.
The F/A-18E/F is a good aircraft, but if and when it is chosen for the MRCA aircraft, it will be because of engine commonality with their Tejas aircraft, not because it posseses any unique avionics.
The Super Hornet cannot exceed Mach 1 below 10,000 feet, clean. No myth.
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