Posted on 01/31/2021 7:39:40 AM PST by LSUfan
The U.S. Navy is considering removing conformal fuel tanks, or CFTs, from the Block III upgrade package for its F/A-18E/F Super Hornets after discovering various issues with them during testing. Deciding not to pursue these tanks, which are designed to extend the Super Hornet's range even without it having to carry drop tanks in place of other underwing stores, could have significant ramifications for the service's future tactical aviation plans.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedrive.com ...
What the Navy really needs is an effective, manned anti drone aircraft to protect the surface fleet.
Like this hasn’t happened before to almost every Navy and Air Force fighter ever built. Load them down with crapola that destroys their design efficiency and combat effectiveness.
The navy strike load and range has continually dropped since Vietnam. Ending the A-6 was a Cheney idea even though large numbers of them were brand new. The F-14d was a great load carrier with legs and speed. It was routinely launching from the Indian Ocean from beyond silkworm range, and doing strike missions with a good load over Afghanistan! We got rid of that beast and the A-6 tankers so those days are over. We went to an all 18 force but then decided to shrink things even more with the F-35 moonpig.
The carrier strike force has never had such a short range, or carried such a small load.
Oh well, I suppose it’s a total force concept where they bland in well with destroyers that cannot outmaneuver a container ship.
I wasted in an A-6 squadron in the navy. The A-6 was the best medium attack aircraft ever. Going to the F/A 18 was a huge mistake.
I “was in” not wasted. Spell correct
I wonder if this has anything to do with Boeing being a Woke company and incapable of engineering this solution.
New Government motto: Nothing good for America gets past us!
I suspect the CFTs on the Hornet are causing CG problems because their location is higher than the original design CG.
When the tanks are full the CG shifts way up. As the tanks are emptied the CG shifts downward. Moving the CG dynamically causes all sorts of changes to the flight dynamics. That translates to big headaches in flight control characteristics and associated software.
Electric fighter jets.
Just because Boeing lacks the ability to solve fundamental dynamic stability issues [AFTER the award of whatever contract] doesn't mean they are incompetent. After all, they can always outsource the software fixes to the Hinduvians - as they purportedly did in their last disaster- the 737 Maxi. Boeing should be barred from any further military programs. Their military production units should be stripped away and sold to other corporate entities - ones having longer and better track records. Lockheed is another huge offender. Naturally such remedies are pipe dreams barred by politics. Screw the warriors and the taxpayers, right?
You could see the conglomerate issues coming from a mile away. Instead of competition you take what they give you. SPOs have to be really sharp now when establishing specifications.
“The carrier strike force has never had such a short range, or carried such a small load.”
Sure they did, but you’d have to go back to the 1920’s and 1930’s when naval aviation was still in its infancy.
They want the CFT’s to replace part of the fuel lost with the tank mounted IRST, but why didn’t they incorporate the IRST in front of the windscreen like on the Su-27 or an under nose pod like the F-14? They built the E/F with room for growth, so why not a chin mount?
Any sort of ACM with say a Chinese J10 or Su-33, that center tank along with the multi-million dollar IRST is going to get jettisoned.
The newer generations of the F-16 has CFT’s mounted much the same way they’re mounted on the -18.
Lockheed-Martin says there is zero performance loss when fitted with the CFT’s
Boeing and the Navy says CFT’s will not work on the -18 despite it being a key requirement of the Block III upgrade..... Sounds like someone is fishing for a few hundred million dollars more of taxpayers money which is typical of Boeing.
Ping
I happened to notice you posted to Jeff Head. He last posted in 2019 and had quite a health battle going. Wonder if anyone has an update.
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