Ok, so the F-22 went into production in 1997, and has already been more or less replaced by the JSF F-35, but it looks like the Russians are well on thier way to building a competing aircraft (to the 1997 standard). Check out this video.
Russian 5th Gen PAK FA T-50 fighter makes first ever flight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22fN4fVoFdY&feature=player_embedded#normal)
I don't see any vectored thrust, but you can tell that it's loosely modeled after the F-22. Looks like they're first priority to to sell it on the international arms market too....
bet you it ain't really stealth.
Quote from: wbeck257 on February 01, 2010, 07:21:01 AM
bet you it ain't really stealth.
What makes you say that? You could be right of course....
That thing looks badass
If they used the stealth material, the one that absorbs radar, then it should be stealth to a certain extend. Shape also has some to do with it.
It looks Russian though - that I find comical. I don't remember the last time that I saw a jet and said to myself, wow, that must be Russian. [cheeky]
It definitely looks like a MiG
Maybe the Russians designed a new material or shape that makes this is a stealth plane.
Who really knows and I probably don't want to ever find out.
The shape is similar to the F-22, but defenitely no thrust vectoring. It's the Russian (cheap) version of the F-22. By the time it's available, the F-22 will be replaced. Anyone heard what's going on with the joint strike fighter?
The 27th of Jan was the first time that a RAF pilot took to the sky in the F35. They are on track it looks like for deployment. I thought that I had read somewhere that the F22 funding was cut because of how costly the aircraft is....which is ultimately why the JSF was created.
While I love the F-22, you can't deny that the F-35 is an amazing aircraft. It's replacing so many aircraft....F-15, Harrier, ect...
(http://www.jsf.mil/images/gallery/sdd/f35_test/b/sdd_f35testb_026.jpg)
Awesome! [thumbsup]
Quote from: duccarlos on February 01, 2010, 07:39:22 AM
If they used the stealth material, the one that absorbs radar, then it should be stealth to a certain extend. Shape also has some to do with it.
i'd say that shape has more to do with it than materials... the materials come into play where the shape couldn't/can't mask the radar cross-section.
I heard that it runs on Vodka.
the F-22 is the air superiority fighter, replacing the F-15C and some F-16's in that role
the F-35 is basically a fighter bomber attack replacing all attack aircraft like the F-16, av-8b and F-15E
the F-18 may or may not be replaced, depends on the success of the superhornet
the fact that we think the f-16 can replace the A-10 also probably means they think the f-35 will replace it as well (IMO a bad thought all around)
the new russian jet is to combat the f-22. and seeing that we now are cutting back on production and they are ramping up AND selling to anyone... expect it to get into at least a 3-1 advantage on the f-22 in numbers.. hope the they didnt do a good job on it. i would expect the russians to come out with a new ground attack aircraft soon as well. and once the chinese get ahold of the f-22's rival... it could be touchy in the east as they want to test its capabilities.
Russian planes tend to look just a little bit goofy. I find them entertaining.
But I wouldn't consider it a threat, per se. Several reasons: The nations we attack typically aren't armed with the latest and greatest, if they do have reasonably up to date technology, their training is crap, and the amount of money we spend on defense ensures that we are ridiculously ahead of the game (at least as far as technology goes).
The Yankees buy the pennant, and we buy wholly overwhelming air power.
high tech planes don't mean shit if you dont have the training to give your pilots the skill to utilize it.
Wasn't it Iran that we sold a bunch of F-16s to and when we had a falling out with them rather than take them we just left them and because that couldn't maintain them they just sat out in some desert and are totally unflyable? I recall hearing that or something like that somewhere awhile back.
personally, as a nation that depends on forward basing and shipbased aircraft to project our power. a stealth attack fighter with air launch antiship missiles is a major threat.
We have to keep in mind though that this plane is just coming out from under the curtain, the F35 has been out now and in public eye for quite some time, whose to say we're not on the the next best thing....scramjet.....??
Quote from: Monster Dave on February 01, 2010, 09:42:55 AM
Wasn't it Iran that we sold a bunch of F-16s to and when we had a falling out with them rather than take them we just left them and because that couldn't maintain them they just sat out in some desert and are totally unflyable? I recall hearing that or something like that somewhere awhile back.
I know we sold them/gave them a bunch of F-14s. Now that the US is decommissioning all of our f-14s, we are going through extra steps to destroy all the parts beyond use, as to assure that there are no spare parts for the fleet of them that Iran currently has.
kind of a round about way of decommissioning the Iranian airforce [laugh]
Quote from: Le Pirate on February 01, 2010, 10:15:46 AM
kind of a round about way of decommissioning the Iranian airforce [laugh]
Thats a "gotcha last" situation to be sure!! [laugh]
Quote from: derby on February 01, 2010, 08:14:34 AM
i'd say that shape has more to do with it than materials... the materials come into play where the shape couldn't/can't mask the radar cross-section.
Exactly. Shape is much more important. "Skunk Works" by Ben Rich is an excellent book for those interested in the history of stealth aircraft in the US.
I also don't believe the F-35 is replacing the F-22. The F-22 will be made in far fewer numbers, but it is a cutting-edge air superiority fighter, ala the F-16 back in the day. Whereas the F-35 is more all-around, ala the F-15. I'd expect both to be operational at the same time for quite a while, just like the F-15 & F-16 were/are.
Quote from: Triple J on February 01, 2010, 10:41:56 AM
Exactly. Shape is much more important. "Skunk Works" by Ben Rich is an excellent book for those interested in the history of stealth aircraft in the US.
I also don't believe the F-35 is replacing the F-22. The F-22 will be made in far fewer numbers, but it is a cutting-edge air superiority fighter, ala the F-16 back in the day. Whereas the F-35 is more all-around, ala the F-15. I'd expect both to be operational at the same time for quite a while, just like the F-15 & F-16 were/are.
About the F22/F35 you are correct - they will both be in service for quite some time. Recently though I was watching the documentary put on by NOVA about the competition and the need for a JSF. The necessity for such a program cam out of the enormous cost of building the F22 ($361 million vs the F35s $65â€"120 million price range).
It is however, a replacement program. In July of 2009, the Senate voted unanimously to halt production of the F22. For more info, read here: http://www.slate.com/id/2223287/ (http://www.slate.com/id/2223287/)
As far as the training is concerned, the U.S. military routinely trains the pilots from other countries. I have seen German, Russian, Japanese, Italian, etc pilots running around our bases during joint training evolutions...
Quote from: NAKID on February 01, 2010, 12:34:35 PM
As far as the training is concerned, the U.S. military routinely trains the pilots from other countries. I have seen German, Russian, Japanese, Italian, etc pilots running around our bases during joint training evolutions...
True, but I'd be willing to bet that U.S. pilots get alot more flying time in than most other pilots.
Quote from: krolik on February 01, 2010, 05:46:50 PM
True, but I'd be willing to bet that U.S. pilots get alot more flying time in than most other pilots.
Not when their here using our fuel. [thumbsup]
Quote from: Monster Dave on February 01, 2010, 07:43:57 AM
It looks Russian though - that I find comical. I don't remember the last time that I saw a jet and said to myself, wow, that must be Russian. [cheeky]
what about this one?
(http://www.jimbrooks.org/web/aviation/full/firefox.jpg)
Quote from: Monster Dave on February 01, 2010, 11:05:22 AM
About the F22/F35 you are correct - they will both be in service for quite some time. Recently though I was watching the documentary put on by NOVA about the competition and the need for a JSF. The necessity for such a program cam out of the enormous cost of building the F22 ($361 million vs the F35s $65â€"120 million price range).
It is however, a replacement program. In July of 2009, the Senate voted unanimously to halt production of the F22. For more info, read here: http://www.slate.com/id/2223287/ (http://www.slate.com/id/2223287/)
actually the F-35 is not replacing the F-22, just they think we have enough of the f-22's to cover the skies based not on military concepts but on washington's economic concepts.
also the f-16 was the all around fighter bomber vs the f-15 air superiority fighter. the f-15E program was put into place to give the F-15 it's veristiility
Quote from: NAKID on February 01, 2010, 12:34:35 PM
As far as the training is concerned, the U.S. military routinely trains the pilots from other countries. I have seen German, Russian, Japanese, Italian, etc pilots running around our bases during joint training evolutions...
Correct.
I've met several German and Italian pilots when I was living in Wichita Falls. All training through a NATO program of some sort (I'm not military...can you tell?). They would be here for several months at a time and several of the Italian pilots would buy Ducatis to ride around on while they were here [thumbsup]
Quote from: kopfjäger on February 01, 2010, 05:51:49 PM
Not when their here using our fuel. [thumbsup]
I meant overall flight time as a pilot, not when they're here for training. 8)
we can just send Clint Eastwood to go pick one up.. no big deal..