On the relevance of deploying an aircraft gun on the F-35 stealth fighter
The other day, the Pentagon published another report on the problems identified on the fifth-generation fighter F-35. Among the many problematic nuances, the following drew attention to itself: when firing from aviation GAU-4 / A 25-barrel 22-mm cannon mount produces vibration, which is transmitted both to the pilot's seat and to the instrument panel, making certain “corrections” to the sensor readings.
This is a problem on the version of the American fighter F-35A. The gun installation in this version is located inside the aircraft - at some distance behind one of the air intakes.
After the publication, the question of how generally relevant the placement and use of conventional aircraft cannons on an aircraft, which is initially positioned as “invisible” —the aircraft that can “open” the enemy’s air defense without entering the affected area — was discussed. How important is the presence of a cannon for an aircraft that initially "is not going to open up" in front of enemy aircraft?
The very fact of having an aviation gun system suggests that the developers have indicated the possibility of direct combat contact F-35. So direct that the possibility of using air-to-air missiles is already disappearing. In turn, this suggests that the developers, to put it mildly, are not at 100 percent sure of the ability of F-35 to accomplish the combat mission while remaining outside the detection zone.
Thus, the F-35 pilots are given the opportunity to express themselves in face-to-face air combat with the enemy. And here the maneuverability parameters of this American aircraft come to the fore. And with the maneuverability parameters on the background of the latest Russian fighters (even the Su-35), the F-35 has certain problems that are recognized by American experts.
This is a problem on the version of the American fighter F-35A. The gun installation in this version is located inside the aircraft - at some distance behind one of the air intakes.
After the publication, the question of how generally relevant the placement and use of conventional aircraft cannons on an aircraft, which is initially positioned as “invisible” —the aircraft that can “open” the enemy’s air defense without entering the affected area — was discussed. How important is the presence of a cannon for an aircraft that initially "is not going to open up" in front of enemy aircraft?
The very fact of having an aviation gun system suggests that the developers have indicated the possibility of direct combat contact F-35. So direct that the possibility of using air-to-air missiles is already disappearing. In turn, this suggests that the developers, to put it mildly, are not at 100 percent sure of the ability of F-35 to accomplish the combat mission while remaining outside the detection zone.
Thus, the F-35 pilots are given the opportunity to express themselves in face-to-face air combat with the enemy. And here the maneuverability parameters of this American aircraft come to the fore. And with the maneuverability parameters on the background of the latest Russian fighters (even the Su-35), the F-35 has certain problems that are recognized by American experts.
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