Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor

Scott Kenny said:
Gotta loathe the Peace Dividend.
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I would argue there was nothing wrong with it, had the west not given its current chief rival everything it needed technologically and economically to become a global military power. If Russia was still the biggest threat, that would be rather easy to contain with resources on hand.
 
The pilot for the PIO / pancake landing of the YF-22 was by Tom Morganfeld, who was a Lockheed civilian test pilot, retired from the US Navy. I don’t believe he had anything to do with the USAF F-22 program management during DOT&E flight test. 10% true….

However, the International Date Line story is true…. I can’t say if the effects were as dramatic as described, but the aircraft definitely turned back to Guam and needed a software update before they could continue.
 
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EmoBirb said:
I still have doubts about throwing huge external payloads onto what's supposedly a low observable aircraft. Smells like Have Dash reloaded.
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You have to spot the enemy before they spot you - you can do this either by having the lowest possible RCS, or trade some of that for seeing further out than the enemy. The F-22 for example was betting on the former, while the Su-57, the latter. It's interesting to see this change in US philosophy - either they think their opponents are going to field stealthier airframes, or they got better at detecting stealth.
 
EmoBirb said:
I still have doubts about throwing huge external payloads onto what's supposedly a low observable aircraft. Smells like Have Dash reloaded.
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"Supposedly"? Are you under the impression the F-22 is NOT a stealth aircraft?

It's all about signature management. If they're able to do that with tanks on board then why not?
 
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Sandboxx has a new video out about the F-22's new stealth-tanks:


The F-22 Raptor is already the most dominant air superiority fighter on the planet today, but with a long list of upgrades now heading for service, the Raptor is only getting better with age.
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Let's talk about the Low Drag Tank and Pylon program, and why it's such a big deal.
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Thomas Newdick and Jamie Hunter just posted a new web article with more pictures showing the F-22 scale model.
www.twz.com

Upgraded F-22 “Raptor 2.0” Details Seen In New Model

A scale model of the new-look F-22 Raptor reveals details of its new stealthy external fuel tanks and underwing infrared sensor pods. A scale model of the new-look F-22 Raptor reveals details of its new stealthy external fuel tanks and underwing infrared sensor pods.
www.twz.com www.twz.com
 
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That will help the F-22 stealth issues whilst carrying external fuel tanks especially since the original tanks were not stealthy and would have impacted stealth were they carried.
 
The drop tanks clearly are going to degrade the RCS reduction effort somewhat. How much I could not say, but they are designed specifically with the F-22s shape in mind and I believe their connections have bee revamped to make the hard points more stealthy post pylon jettison comp to standard tanks. That said, the intensional seems to be to hold onto them…I suspect they are comparatively expensive compared to standard tanks, and those typically are not jettisoned in combat either unless absolutely necessary.
 
Elysium said:
You have to spot the enemy before they spot you - you can do this either by having the lowest possible RCS, or trade some of that for seeing further out than the enemy. The F-22 for example was betting on the former, while the Su-57, the latter. It's interesting to see this change in US philosophy - either they think their opponents are going to field stealthier airframes, or they got better at detecting stealth.
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I guess the problem isn't so much to spot enemy before they spot you - it is that with insufficient sensors fighter swipe is outright leaking, and you have far higher density requirement. Not a big deal if you're attacking a less stealthy force or just charge into a Fulda brawl.
One hell of a deal if you're defending against a stealthy foe over open large theater with limited number of airframes.

Overall, starting in late 2010s, US took matter serirously, all major A2A platforms other than F-35 either carry or will carry a dedicated, big mirror LWIR seneor. The price is stealth, lowered supersonic performance and weather limitations.
p.s. tbh, i wonder if the other pod is actually a jammer.
 
Josh_TN said:
The drop tanks clearly are going to degrade the RCS reduction effort somewhat. How much I could not say, but they are designed specifically with the F-22s shape in mind and I believe their connections have bee revamped to make the hard points more stealthy post pylon jettison comp to standard tanks. That said, the intensional seems to be to hold onto them…I suspect they are comparatively expensive compared to standard tanks, and those typically are not jettisoned in combat either unless absolutely necessary.
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Israel felt confident using F-35s with LO drop tanks over Iran, so I'm guessing this is a non-issue.
 
fightingirish said:
Jamie Hunter just posted a new web article with more pictures showing the F-22 scale model.
www.twz.com

Upgraded F-22 “Raptor 2.0” Details Seen In New Model

A scale model of the new-look F-22 Raptor reveals details of its new stealthy external fuel tanks and underwing infrared sensor pods. A scale model of the new-look F-22 Raptor reveals details of its new stealthy external fuel tanks and underwing infrared sensor pods.
www.twz.com www.twz.com
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The shape of the tank conform to the previous artist render and the photo of an F-22 testing the tanks last year. The pylons are what I find interesting. They seem fasceted.
 
TomcatViP said:
IADS is factually overrated (when you are stealthy). That´s a silent transformation that the world (outside of Israel and the US) has still to fathom. But shhhh...
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Well, if IADS design is lagging behind the force actively trying to undermine it - that's a given.
But it turns out quite ugly, when, you encounter a stealthy force against you, and you don't - didn't even bother to develop, - really have means to counter.
 
I don't know to whom it may be interesting but 11 F-22 already landed in Israel's Ovda AFB and 12 more are en route and set to pass through RAF Lakenheath.

Maybe escort for bombers, but also possibly desperate to score a kill for once in the F-22's record (that isn't a balloon).
 
Big_Zukini said:
I don't know to whom it may be interesting but 11 F-22 already landed in Israel's Ovda AFB and 12 more are en route and set to pass through RAF Lakenheath.

Maybe escort for bombers, but also possibly desperate to score a kill for once in the F-22's record (that isn't a balloon).
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I'd say that things are starting to look serious for another US air-raid on Iran.
 
Big_Zukini said:
I don't know to whom it may be interesting but 11 F-22 already landed in Israel's Ovda AFB and 12 more are en route and set to pass through RAF Lakenheath.

Maybe escort for bombers, but also possibly desperate to score a kill for once in the F-22's record (that isn't a balloon).
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Please, please, let The Kid get an intercept!

"Would you intercept me? I'd intercept me!" :D
 
Iran seems like a poor opportunity for F-22 intercepts. But unfortunately I think we will know for sure soon enough.
 
Josh_TN said:
Iran seems like a poor opportunity for F-22 intercepts. But unfortunately I think we will know for sure soon enough.
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Wonder if they are there to escort B-2s, or will be conducting OCA? They will need more than 12. Their kill opportunities might be greater than F-15Cs during OIF. If the Iranian Air Force sends up aircraft the F-22s and F-35s for that matter might be able to sneak up on enemy aircraft better than 4th gen fighters.
 

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