The Eurofighter's IRST
Posted on 09/30/2014 8:58:28 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
The Eurofighter's IRST
How many F-22s did we end up building Vs. how many were originally planned. Does anyone know for sure?
195. 187 are operational.
My research indicates that the plane, which has been plagued with problems, is the one and only operative counter to Russia’s upgraded Mig-31 Foxhound. The problem the Foxhound poses is its operating ceiling. That I think is why we’ve been seeing the F-22 operating in intercepting Russia’s practice runs at the US with the Bear bomber; of late, the Mig-31 has been escorting the Bears.
ping
The F-22 is an amazing aircraft. It almost seems as if those who ordered it's production shut down, didn't have a single clue.
The range on of the F-22 is 1839 miles. The distance from UAE to Damascus is 1254 miles.
I doubt the aircraft had to refuel more than once.
Ran into this.
The FB-22 was a proposed medium-range bomber for the USAF. The FB-22 was projected to carry up to 30 Small Diameter Bombs to about twice the range of the F-22A, while maintaining the F-22’s stealth and supersonic speed. However, the FB-22 in its planned form appears to have been canceled with the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review and subsequent developments, in lieu of a larger subsonic bomber with a much greater range.
Under Derivitives
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-22_Raptor
Summing up, the F-22 is and remains the most lethal air superiority fighter ever. Still, it lacks some nice features that could be useful to face hordes of enemy aircraft, especially if these include F-15s, Typhoons, Rafales or, in the future, the Chinese J-20 and Russian PAK-FA.
We need to build many more.
The original procurement was supposed to be about 380 but budget cuts and arrogance cut the builds.
Amen .
We are too proud of our advanced technology and delude ourselves on it's effect in a battle. Large numbers of mediochre planes can kill small numbers of superior planes. The Russians have an old saying "Quantity is a quality all itself". .
The F-22 IS unbeatable in it's environment but when the fight becomes a furball and goes to visual, it is as vulnerable as any other plane. As a matter of fact it is a more valuable target because a few kills will have a disproportionate effect in an air battle. Any enemy will be glad to expend a few planes to take one F-22 out of a game
We are so enamored with our technology and arrogant about our capabilities that we think the F-22 is invincible. In past wars specifically WWII, Korea, and Vietnam we paid the price, in blood, for the same attitude.
Combat aircraft range calculations are similar to MPG ratings for cars: they tend to exclude real world operational scenarios.
Aircraft need to maintain reserve fuel in anticipation of various contingencies, including unanticipated maneuvering, needing to recover at divert fields, the refueling recepticle breaking, etc.
Three refuels would make sense. First shortly after takeoff to top off the tanks. Second before crossing into enemy airspace. Third on the way home. The Raptors’ tanks were probably never more than half empty along the way ...
Okay, reasoned points... I appreciate the response.
“The original procurement was supposed to be about 380 but budget cuts and arrogance cut the builds.”
“The original procurement was supposed to be about 380 but budget cuts and arrogance cut the builds,”
should read “The original procurement was supposed to be about 380 but budget cuts and arrogance cut the builds to give more freebies to the leeches.”
The Foxhound is no match for the F-22 in any environment. It’s essentially a Foxbat airframe; large, heavy and with limited maneuverability, equipped with a pulse-Doppler radar and slightly-better air-to-air missiles.
The Russians claim the Foxhound can function as a “mini-AWACS” and that may be one reason they’ve been flying with the Bears into Alaskan airspace. But the F-22 would kill both the MiG-31 (and the TU-95) long before they realized the F-22 was in the area.
One thing worth remembering: depending on the scenario and/or ROE, the Raptor has varying degrees of “stealthiness.” There is some reason to believe that not even our European allies have flown against the F-22 in its “full up” stealth mode, or with its complete ESM/ISR package on display.
The F22’s advantages presuppose they will be allowed rules of engagement which would allow them to always fire from beyond visual range. Historically this has been a bad assumption.
Once the enemy can track the F22 by eyeball, the advantage is lost.
You’re exactly right.
The Germans had better tanks in World War II but we had more. It came down to attrition.
so, the enemy will kill it on the ground,
using locals,
that are peaceful.
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