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By: 29th March 2011 at 09:20 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Here is a recent Fighter Recap graph showing that some of the F-15Es (more to the point, it's mission set) will likely be eventually replaced by the F-35.
My bet is on UCAVs.
By: 29th March 2011 at 10:53 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-with the F-35 numbers ever doubtfull (ref. F-22, B-2...) I'd say
- UCAVs for all out war and first-day warfare
- UAVs for once the enemy air defences have been beaten down (and even if not, they can win through sheer numbers)
the only reason they're not using UAVs right now over Lybia is because they're needed too much in Afghanistan and Iraq
By: 29th March 2011 at 11:58 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-What's the purple section up top of the F-22/F-X section starting in about 2026?
By: 29th March 2011 at 13:13 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-USAF has initiated a series of study contracts under the title Next Generation Tactical Air (NGT). IOC is tentatively planned for 2025.
By: 29th March 2011 at 19:24 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Who knows what is possible budgetwise. I'd say NGAD/FAXX as manned option, plus whatever results from the X-47B as unmanned companion. Not a single system, but also not a pure UAV solution. Or: No real replacement, but a combo of expanded ISR capabilities and hypersonic long range precision strike missile.
By: 29th March 2011 at 19:44 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-So far as I understand it the F-15E is not currently scheduled to be replaced in USAF service by the F-35A, which begs the question of what it will eventually be replaced by. As I see it the plausible possibilities are these:1. More F-35s
2. Evolved F-35 (ala F-16 > F-16XL)
3. F/A-XX/NGAD
4. UCAVs
5. Buy some Su-34 and the licence to produce them as Made in USA? :rolleyes:
By: 29th March 2011 at 20:38 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-F/B-22,
two seats.
2 F-135/136 engines (I still root for F-136!)
compound delta, cranked arrow with plenty of internal fuel capacity.
big internal weapon bays.
tailless design. no need for high AOA manuevers.
update of F35's sensor systems.
F/E-22 Jammer/EW version.
By: 29th March 2011 at 22:09 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-F/B-22,two seats.
2 F-135/136 engines (I still root for F-136!)
compound delta, cranked arrow with plenty of internal fuel capacity.
big internal weapon bays.
tailless design. no need for high AOA manuevers.
update of F35's sensor systems.
F/E-22 Jammer/EW version.
It would be WAY TO EXPENSIVE.
By: 30th March 2011 at 06:33 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Here is a recent Fighter Recap graph
Nice graph, thanks. Obviously it predates the truncation of F-22 production. Not to belabour the point, but again I can't help but wonder at the budgetary assumptions underlying these projections.
What's the purple section up top of the F-22/F-X section starting in about 2026?
The F-15A/B returns! :D
Seriously, I think that's "F-X'.
By: 30th March 2011 at 07:30 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-5. Buy some Su-34 and the licence to produce them as Made in USA? :rolleyes:
LOL. Support that idea!
By: 30th March 2011 at 08:20 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-What is more probable and doable as the next F-15E; developing 2 seat F-22 or developing derivative F-35 ?
By: 30th March 2011 at 09:25 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-What mission doe it need to perform that requires a "derivative F-35"?
By: 30th March 2011 at 09:34 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-F-35 derivative would be cheaper and thus more plausible. In the timeframe we're talking about (2025+) I think that if an even larger airframe was required the consensus would be to wait for F/A-XX rather than pursue an F-22 deriv. Indeed, the requirement could be used to advance the case/timeline for F/A-XX.
The question of the number of seats is a good one. On the one hand you've got the trend towards increasing automation - most FB-22 concepts were single-seaters IIRC - on the other, the nascent doctrine of having manned combat aircraft acting in concert with and coordinating UCAVs, something which would seem to require a back-seater to avoid overloading the pilot.
What mission doe it need to perform that requires a "derivative F-35"?
Greater range/persistence and payload than offered by the base F-35?
By: 30th March 2011 at 14:16 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-5. Buy some Su-34 and the licence to produce them as Made in USA? :rolleyes:
What has the Su-34 got that the present day F-15E hasn't got?:confused:
By: 30th March 2011 at 14:33 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Armoured cockpit, a seating arrangement offering improved crew comfort and workload sharing, better low-level handling/ride characteristics and marginally greater range/persistence would be my guess. Of course the Strike Eagle has its own advantages...
By: 30th March 2011 at 15:25 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-What's the purple section up top of the F-22/F-X section starting in about 2026?
The FX, F-22 replacement. For the F-15E replacement, how about a larger stretched F-35 with 2 engines and maybe some canards for stability ...
Oh wait.
By: 30th March 2011 at 21:13 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-They should look at the idea of the F-35D I like it
By: 31st March 2011 at 13:01 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-What has the Su-34 got that the present day F-15E hasn't got?:confused:
1. Armor
2. Looks
3. Armor
4. Looks
By: 31st March 2011 at 13:48 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-1. Armor
2. Looks
3. Armor
4. Looks
The USAF doesn't want armour on it's aircraft - not to the level of the Su-34 at least. As for looks, well...
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By: Rii - 29th March 2011 at 08:41
So far as I understand it the F-15E is not currently scheduled to be replaced in USAF service by the F-35A, which begs the question of what it will eventually be replaced by. As I see it the plausible possibilities are these:
1. More F-35s
2. Evolved F-35 (ala F-16 > F-16XL)
3. F/A-XX/NGAD
4. UCAVs
Thoughts? My instinct is that they'll hang around till F/A-XX/NGAD. Funding for a clean sheet aircraft will likely be tight, but faced with a requirement to replace three platforms (F-15E, F/A-18E/F, F-22A) I can see a JSF-esque program emerging. Minus STOVL tagging along to spoil the party. :rolleyes: