Redefining Military Air Power

[longknife]

We've spent billions designing, testing, and building what we thought to be the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world. And, guess what? Some say they're not even close. Here's this:

Forget The F-22 And F-35, Russia's New Su-35 Fighter Jet Blows Them Away
David Cenciotti, The Aviationist Jun. 18, 2013,

Read more: The Aviationist » Forget the F-22 and F-35, this is a real Super Maneuverable Fighter plane: the Russian Su-35 Flanker-E

 

[RoccoR]

longknife,, et al,

I agree, it is a very! impressive plane.

We've spent billions designing, testing, and building what we thought to be the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world. And, guess what? Some say they're not even close.

(COMMENT)

If the F-22 and F-35 cannot match or exceed this new SU-35, then I agree --- we need to deep-six our current effort and go for either superior numbers at a much reduced cost, or kick the designers in the ass and get something better. But we need to stop the aircraft industry in the US from bilking the taxpayer and milking Air Force for every dime it can squeak out of the system in endless testing of inferior products.

Most Respectfully,
R

 

[whitehall]

That should be good news right? Russia is an ally Right? I just saw Putin and Barry sitting together just like FDR and Stalin used to do.

 

[Moonglow]

The Ruskies will drink the de-icing fluid to get drunk.

 

[whitehall]

The people who engineered Chernobyl now claim that a four tailed jet with the outline of a US 60's vintage Phantom rules the sky. Another shot of vodka please.

 

[SteadyMercury]

Yup the SU-35 blows them away in air-show performances, as have previous generations of Soviet/Russian super maneuverable fighters like MIG-29 that were air-show studs then shot down in combat by older American planes.

Are you seriously declaring this non-stealth fight better because of an air show video?

 

[Auteur]

Even if the F-35 makes it into large scale production, it is likely to be the last manned fighter aircraft design. Various drones, smart cruise missiles, and similar vehicles will be cheaper to build, and in some applications will surpass the performance of conventional manned aircraft. Defense budgets are bitterly contested today, and the savings here are going to be hard to resist.

 

[longknife]

The biggest difference between Russian, Chinese, and American aircraft is THE PILOTS!

Unless Obama continues to cut back air time so our pilots can continue to hone their skills, our guys and guys will always outdo the others.

We could be flying WWI Spads and would still beat the others.

 

[whitehall]

There is more to air power than pilots and jets. You need tactics, agenda and the willingness to do what it takes to win. Since WW1 the world has understood that air superiority is a major factor in warfare. Today we are fighting an enemy in Afghanistan that has forced the last world superpower to fight by rules set in the 6th century.

 

[Oldguy]

There is more to air power than pilots and jets. You need tactics, agenda and the willingness to do what it takes to win. Since WW1 the world has understood that air superiority is a major factor in warfare. Today we are fighting an enemy in Afghanistan that has forced the last world superpower to fight by rules set in the 6th century.

And, our American hubris not withstanding, have handed us our ass.

 

[rightwinger]

The future of airpower is unmanned

 

[editec]

The future of airpower is unmanned

Of course it is.

The weakest links in the war plane are the men who cannot take the g force.

Umanned planes will be much cheaper to put into the air and more efficient killing machines, too.

When they are flying missions entirely on their own internal programming nothing manned will be in their league.

 

[rightwinger]

The future of airpower is unmanned

Of course it is.

The weakest links in the war plane are the men who cannot take the g force.

Umanned planes will be much cheaper to put into the air and more efficient killing machines, too.

When they are flying missions entirely on their own internal programming nothing manned will be in their league.

Very true

If you look at aircraft design, much of the design and weight is for the survivability of the pilot. Critical components have multiple redundancies. You can't afford a failure that will cost a pilot his life.

Like you said, drones can be made much lighter, faster and manueverable. You can send a swarm of drones to attack an aircraft and the pilot will be overwhelmed

 

[SteadyMercury]

Like you said, drones can be made much lighter, faster and manueverable.

Yup, I believe some drones will blur the line between air superiority fighter and anti-aircraft missile.

Some land attack missiles already have some simpler drone-like capabilities in that they can retarget mid flight or loiter, but anti-air is still primarily one shot for the kill. Imagine a small stealthy air breather unmanned aircraft that can fly like a plane but it's only goal is to get close enough to enemy aircraft to detonate a proximity charge. It would suck to be in a dogfight with something that is far more maneuverable than you and only wants to get close enough to blow up both of you.

Bonus = no pilot fatigue so could be set to loiter using waypoints for control of airspace, only limitation is fuel