Now ain't that a pretty picture.
Posted on 12/22/2005 2:06:56 AM PST by F14 Pilot
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - The Air Force's new F-22A Raptor is such a dominant fighter jet that in mock dogfights its pilots typically take on six F-15 Eagles at once.
Despite the favorable odds, the F-15s, still one of the world's most capable fighters, are no contest for the fastest radar-evading stealth jet ever built.
"The F-15 pilots, they are the world's best pilots," said Lt. Col. David Krumm, an F-22A instructor pilot. "When you take them flying against anyone else in the world, they are going to wipe the floor with them. It's a startling moment for them to come down here and get waylaid."
The F-22A officially became ready for combat this month with a squadron of 12 Raptors on standby for worldwide deployment at Langley Air Force Base, Va.
Those who know the Raptor best say it represents a major leap in U.S. warfighting abilities. At this Florida Panhandle base, where all Raptor pilots are trained, instructors say the jet's stealth, speed and ability to electronically scan the battlefield from the air are far superior to any other fighter.
"This is what's next," Krumm said. "The stuff that we have is great and it's capable, but this is what's next."
The Raptor, originally designed for air-to-air combat, was expanded to include a ground attack role. Pilots dropped bombs from Raptors for the first time last weekend in training exercises at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.
One of the challenges is finding pilots for the single-seat Raptors, formerly designated F/A-22 to emphasize its ground attack role. The Air Force looks for experienced pilots with a background in fighters and bomb dropping, said Col. Matthew Molloy.
Raptor pilots are former F-15 pilots who have flown a two-seat version, the F-15E Strike Eagle, and also have ground attack experience. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is the Air Force's only other jet that flies both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
Eventually, the Air Force plans to take students straight out of pilot training into the Raptor program, Molloy said.
Critics say the Raptor is too expensive at a time when the U.S. already dominates the skies, and that it was designed for a high-tech enemy that no longer exists - the Soviet Union.
The Air Force puts the Raptor's price tag at $160 million per plane, but outside experts estimate they cost more than $350 million each when research and development expenses are added. So far, the Air Force has 56 Raptors, including training and test fighters, at Tyndall, Langley, Nellis and Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
The current budget plans call for about 180 Raptors, but the Air Force wants more. Tyndall has the largest contingent at 23.
Military leaders say the plane will ensure American air dominance for years to come.
"In any air-to-air fight out there, it is a hopeless mismatch," Krumm said. "What we are more concerned with are countries that want to deny us air space by purchasing surface-to-air missiles and that kind of stuff. Those are very lethal to the way the U.S. deploys."
The Raptor is designed to be especially proficient at taking out such ground-launched missiles because of its speed and stealth. That's something military leaders say could be needed in a fight against potential enemies including Iran or North Korea.
"We want to kick the door down so the air space is clear for any (aircraft) you want to go in," Krumm said. "Someone could come in flying a Cessna 172 with a pistol if you wanted after we're done."
The Raptor's dogfighting capability adds a new dimension to the Air Force's fleet of stealth aircraft. Krumm compared the earlier F-117 Nighthawk and B-2 Spirit to cockroaches.
"They want to sneak in, drop their bombs, and sneak out again. They have absolutely no wish for a fight," he said. "They don't have air-to-air missiles, they cannot maneuver that well or anything else. Our airplane is entirely offensive. Not only am I stealthy, but I'll also hunt you down and kill you if you get in my way." And then there is the Raptor's super cruise capability that lets it fly at supersonic speed without using fuel-guzzling afterburners as required by other fighters. "That saves us a lot of gas and opens up a whole host of things when you start talking about dropping bombs," Krumm said.
"You can imagine if you are 60,000 feet doing mach 1.9 (about 1,400 mph) and these bombs are flying out of your airplane, the swath of hell you can produce going through a country saying 'I'll take that target, and that target'."
Twelve Raptors will head to Alaska in June for their first routine peacetime exercise deployment.
In the meantime, the instructors at Tyndall's 325th Fighter Wing will continue looking for the Air Force's top pilots to fly the world's best fighter jet.
"Langley rapidly needs pilots and we are trying to produce pilots to keep up with the production of the airplanes," Molloy said.
Krumm said one issue is that the plane is single-seater, which means only the most experienced fighter pilots, capable of flying such a high-tech plane solo, will be selected until the program becomes more routine. "When you strap on $160 million of taxpayer money, it's by yourself with me nervously flying alongside you going 'Please don't screw up, please don't screw up,'" Krumm said.
It was sure a wake up call for the U.S. Air Force when the Indian Air Force handed the Americans their hats in mock air battles. Expected when going up against the Israelis.
The deal with the Israelis, I believe, was that they could make simple modifications to thier aircraft that would take mountains of paper work and red tape to accomplish in the US.
I seem to remember one of the Mods was a simple Mirror somewhere in the cockpit that gave them some advantage.
But I think what I am talkign about was 10+ years ago easy.
Now ain't that a pretty picture.
< NYTIMES>Surely it is not fair that our aircraft are so much more capable than our adversaries'. There should be a program where US taxpayers build these planes in order to provide them to China, Iran and any other hostile nations, so we can mantain a stable balance of power. < /NYTIMES>
Too cool! Let's drive down the cost......buy 500!
You wrote: "the Indian Air Force handed the Americans their hats in mock air battles."
Not entirely true. The US went in without it's best equipment and with handicaps. Kind of like fighting with one hand tied behind your back. Not that the indian pilots are bad its just that our technology trumps theirs, and in the event of a true battle they wouldn't stand a chance. Read More About it here. http://www.windsofchange.net/archives/007810.php
You should all read this site. It's mind-numbing.
The Vayrag is not something to be taken lightly. Fully equiped it would approach a 65,000 ton displacement and embark 40-50 modern jet fighter and attack aircraft. As such, it would be the equal (it is in fact a newer design) to the Russian Kuznetzov and would be the largest carrier in the world outside of America's super-carriers.
All these carriers can hadle are VSTOL type aircraft....no match for the aircraft deplyed on our carriers...can you spell "FLOATING TARGET?"
You're right. It was rear-view mirrors mounted on each side of the cockpit bubble on their F-16s. Simple and effective.
To win a war, you need to control the air, control the ground, control the roof-tops and control the sewers if needbe.
One thing about these air-superiority F-22s is that just a dozen or so over any country would cause that country to leave its airforce on the ground.
Like Iraq left its airforce on the tarmac in the war, just sitting there to be taken out, these F-22s will ensure that is the case in all wars for the foreseeable future.
Stealth, low heat signature, speed and missile-defence capabilities mean they can take out most surface to air missile systems while they are also leaving the enemies planes on the ground.
That is a very inexpensive option for air-superiority, a crucial component of winning any war. No matter the price-tag.
I live across the water from Langley.
Saw one in a FCF (funtional Check Flight).. That is a bird of wonder, I saw it practically hover on the air at 2500 msl
What an awesom wonder. Wish I could have turned a wrench on her.
I remember a Barney Miller episode where they were processing this drunk.
The drunk asks Miller: "Are you Jewish?"
Miller: "Yes"
Drunk: "You guys have one heck of an Air Force!"
Air Farce pilots are good, but Marine pilots are just as good, AND...
have bigger balls.
You are correct on all counts..... air superiority is where it is at!!!!!!!!!!
“Not entirely true. The US went in without it's best equipment and with handicaps. Kind of like fighting with one hand tied behind your back. Not that the indian pilots are bad its just that our technology trumps theirs, and in the event of a true battle they wouldn't stand a chance. Read More About it here. http://www.windsofchange.net/archives/007810.php“
Yes, the F-16 is certainly not the best fighter out there so it losing a dogfight is not earth-shattering news.
Perhaps one lesson to be taken away is don’t go into a fight assuming you’re the best there is. You might get a nasty surprise.
THanks to Gen. Merril McPeak, there will only be one Military...
"It was sure a wake up call for the U.S. Air Force when the Indian Air Force handed the Americans their hats in mock air battles. Expected when going up against the Israelis."
The facts are simple. In the mock air battle against India, the US guys {by agreement} couldn't use their "look ahead" radar capabilities, which means the one thing that gives us the biggest advantage, the capability to know where they are before they find you, was given up. It's like fighting with a blindfold on. Even then, they didn't beat us, but made our "losses" too high. It proved {once again} that you should never get into a fair fight.
If the other nations are getting close in technology terms, and this new aircraft gives us a big jump, good on us.
Not 'a' but 'the'. Sort of like no-tickie/no washie - no air superiority/no (military) win. The only fallback choice of the enemy is the support of our Left (eg Iraq).
I figured we didn't use our superior equipment against the
Indian Air guys but I heard that all things being equal they did much better then expected and won with what they had. Was glad to hear they have come so far so as to maybe be able to blunt the chi-coms if necessary and the pakistanis if necessary.
Thanks.
We need to lend a couple to the IDF so they can take out Persian-nuke capabilities, since we don't apparently have the stones...
Yep. We used equal equipment during this exercise and it showed flaws in our system.
While we enjoy superior equipment advantages we shouldn't rely solely on equipment.
This just went to show that other countries training is catching up.
This new jet should keep us far in the lead but too we need consistantly better taining methods and not get to high on our abilities.
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