Posted on 06/13/2006 10:15:56 AM PDT by MARKUSPRIME
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor air dominance fighter, flying at a speed of Mach 1.5 and an altitude of 50,000 feet, released a GPS-aided Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) from a range of 24 nautical miles, destroying a small ground target in the F-22's fastest and highest JDAM delivery yet.This was another milestone testing event for the Combined Test Force of Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT], The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and U.S. Air Force pilots who conducted the joint developmental and operational test in early May at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., using a 1,000-pound Mk-83 JDAM with live warhead supplied by Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The ability to release a munition at supersonic speeds and standoff ranges greatly enhances the aircrew's survivability against heavily defended targets.“We've already demonstrated the airplane's ability to operate with virtual impunity in the air-to-air realm and have had many successful JDAM deliveries previously, but successfully attacking a ground target at this speed, altitude and standoff range with a live weapon shows that to be true in the air-to-ground mission as well,” said pilot Lt. Col. Raymond “Buzz” Toth following the test. “The Raptor is ready to fight and is uniquely capable of supporting Air Force and Joint Command objectives against any enemy.”
(Excerpt) Read more at lockheedmartin.com ...
The A-10 is a heck of a plane with that cannon in the nose. It would be great in conjunction with the 22, with the 22 armed for anti-rader and air to air combat, and the A-10, covered by the F-22, takes out everything on the ground. They're so durable too it's amazing. Nothing can take a licking and keep on ticking like the A-10. I remember during the cold war, trickles coming from the Soviet tankers that were afraid of the A-10 if there was a war, because they knew it would eat up their tanks and IFVs with that gun and all the Mavericks it could carry. 8 or 10 each at on time I think. They called it "The Devil's Cross". That in and of itself really tells how scared they were of it, and that from the great Soviet armored force. :) I've always remembered that. The Warthog is a great asset, aging or not.
Hanging on to your hat is always required!
Don't know how they compare on specs, but the F-22 reminds me of the SR-71.
That would be Wild Weasel. You're confused. The Marine Corps EA-6A Electric Intruders flew offensive SEAD missions in Vietnam. The EA-6B didn't gain offensive weapon capability until 1986, with the AGM-88.
Also, just like the F-117 and B-2, the F-22 is detectable by low band search radars.
W already signed those bills. And he'll sign the Senate "immigration" bill that will cost us another $500b in the next 10 years.
The JDAM kit is only $21,000 per bomb. It is also a lot smaller than a Tomahawk, allowing planes to carry more, and more planes to carry them at all. Further, cruise missiles can be shot down like aircraft.
...But wanna see something sick? A B-2 can barrage bomb with up to 80 of the things, except that it wouldn't be scattered bombs, but rather 80 precision-targetted munitions dropped in short order.
AAA, yes, SAMs, no. Powers and Anderson were both flying in excess of 60k when they were shotdown with SA-2s.
The price of the dumb bomb, plus $21,000. It's a conversion kit.
Isn't each Tomahawk worth about half a million bucks?
Well, after it turns around....or waits for about 65 seconds. At Mach 1.5, at sea level, it takes 5 minutes and 15 seconds to travel a hundred miles.
Only if it missed them.
For less sophisticated radar. Sidelobe stuff would guide the HARM to an empty field.
JD!
Glad you liked it. Just adding my .02.
The Aircraft! Supersonic release is Big-time special!
Negative.
We learned from the Israelis...
No need to risk aircraft.
Simply send drones into the AO, enemy radars go for a fix...then...take'em out from stand-off.
How much is a pilot and delivery vehicle?
I'm happy we have the Raptor, I just think( well I wanted to remind others) there is other ways to do the same thing cheaper. To have the capability is great, but it will depend on the target and mission whether or not the Raptor is the best method.
As mentioned before the B2 can release a horde of JDAM's at separate targets at high altitude, just not at mach 1.5. The glide distance for them is probably still classified. Let's just guess 40k ft at 600 knots. Any math whizzes out there. Just a guess at 10-15 miles. I'm also hearing the newer JDAM's will have wings, so gliding will be part of the new capability anyway.
My bad. :(
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