Strike Raptor and Bombcat. Fire from heaven
“… The first combat group for the“ global patrol ”of fifty FB-22 will reach operational readiness for the 20 of the ninth year. “Strike Raptor” will allow us what we have always dreamed of - invulnerable stealth aircraft with supersonic cruising flight speeds and 4 tons of weapons in the internal bomb compartment can quickly solve any impact tasks in any of the regions of the planet!
The speaker triumphantly looked around the audience and continued his speech again:
- The machine is made on the rampant aerodynamic scheme. The delta wing made it possible to radically increase the capacity of the internal fuel tanks in comparison with the initial design - the calculated combat radius of the FB-22 will exceed 2000 kilometers. The take-off weight of the car is 120 000 pounds (54 tons). Maximum speed - Mach 1,92. The value of the calculated overload 6 g. A new super-bomber will be completely invulnerable to anyone. weapons, which is in service with Russia and China, and an impressive on-board electronics complex will allow for deadly bombing attacks at any time of the day and in any weather conditions ... Now I ask your questions, gentlemen.
- Johnny Smith, Boston Evening News. Lokheed Martin has already received a billion dollars from the 22 budget for the development of the F-66,7 Raptor program. How much is estimated to create a new vandervafli?
The speaker blushed with anger (call FB-22 vundervaflay - how vulgar!), But giving his voice the usual intonation, gave a detailed answer to the difficult question:
- In the design of the FB-22, the F-22 “Raptor” serial nodes are widely used, the on-board equipment and software on 85% are unified with the original machine. All this should minimize the cost of creation and production. Currently, the proposal to create FB-22 is included in the 23 production programs submitted by industry for approval in 2003. The US Air Force clarifies its requirements for the aircraft and its production financing strategy. It is expected that the estimated cost of one “Strike Raptor” (flayaway cost) will not exceed 300 million dollars ...
Only a high fence and two dozen security guards rescued speaker Lokheed Martin from sincere beatings of an angry public.
One of the possible options for the appearance of the FB-22. The program was finally closed in 2006
Legends of healing bombings
The humanitarian aid brought on the wings of the US Air Force undoubtedly has a huge positive significance for the inhabitants of the liberated states. The Pentagon expresses a firm belief that democratic bombing is not at all harmful, but even beneficial to the health of the local population, their appetite improves and their cholesterol levels go down.
Bombs - Alpha and Omega of the American military doctrine. The Yankees are seriously convinced that airplanes flying in the sky are the sure key to victory in any situation. Perhaps they are right in some ways: it is better to throw bombs and missiles at the enemy than the bodies of their conscripts, however, there is no particular desire to sing enthusiastic praises to American weapons - an excellent military doctrine and first-class combat aviation guard American foreign policy, whose interests are entirely contrary to Russia's geopolitical interests.
Nevertheless, it would be curious to analyze some facts about the structure, combat use and ways of further development of American military aircraft.
There is no doubt that the US Air Force has a pronounced strike orientation. According to the accepted doctrine, each of the American fighters, in addition to their basic duties - gaining air superiority, must have the ability to use air-to-surface weapons. At the same time, the aircraft must not only nominally have a pair of external suspension units, but also carry a whole range of sighting means and a wide range of weapons for effective destruction of ground targets.
Often, American fighters are so “living” in the role of bombers, that, despite their original purpose, they are completely transformed into specialized strike machines - attack aircraft or front-line (tactical) bombers.
This was exactly the P-47 "Thunderbolt" - a fierce fighter from the Second World War, whose bomb load exceeded the load of two Il-2 attack aircraft.
He did not lag behind his famous ancestor F-84 "Thunderjet" - one of the firstborn of jet aircraft, earned the nickname "Destroyer" in Korea. According to witnesses of those events, the American F-84 sought to level any object that flashed under their wing — during the three years of the Korean Peninsula war, fighters of this type dropped tons of bombs on the enemy’s 50 000.
F-105 "Thunderer"
New time has created new heroes. The heaviest single engine aircraft in stories Aviation - fighter F-105 Thunderchief (Thunderchief) did not earn the glory of a great fighter, but in Vietnam he received the name "Thud" (Thunder).
Other
In addition to land-based vehicles, there were several deck modifications of the Phantom for the US Navy and NATO countries. Some of the vehicles were used as tactical reconnaissance vehicles (modifications RF-4B, C and E). Many of the surviving Phantoms are still used by the US Air Force as aerial targets: decommissioned vehicles are being converted and turned into unmanned aerial vehicles. drones QF-4.
The only problem: a tactical strike aircraft with impressive flight characteristics and a perfect complex of on-board electronics turned out to be too heavy and clumsy for melee air combat. Maneuverable "dog dumps" were ordered for the "Phantom" ... however, what else to expect from the machine, which received among the pilots the characteristic "victory over aerodynamics".
At the turn of 1960-70, the American theory of “fighter dualism” experienced a serious crisis: new trends in fighter aircraft (first of all, high maneuverability) entered into an unsolvable contradiction with the increased demands on strike engines, their combat load, range and aiming navigation equipment.
Even at the design stage of the new "universal soldier" F-111, it became clear that a full-fledged fighter this time will not work - the F-111 "Aardvark" turned out to be excessively huge, clumsy and heavy. As a result, despite its bizarre "fighter" designation, the F-111 became the shock "trump card" of the US Air Force.
"Sixteen tons is a dangerous cargo, and we are going to bomb the Union"
In fact, there are about 11 tons. F-111C with 48 bombs Mk.82
In fact, there are about 11 tons. F-111C with 48 bombs Mk.82
All-mode aircraft with variable geometry wing, double cabin with transverse crew members, powerful avionics complex, impressive flight performance and combat load of 14 tons for the “bomber” —the US Air Force got a “pocket” strategic bomber with a 2000 combat radius + km (with F-111 flight range increased to completely paranormal values - “Aardvarki” could joke to raid Libya from the UK, or make a non-stop flight on the route Utu British Isles - Saudi Arabia).
"Aardvark" regularly served in the ranks of the US Air Force until 1996 of the year (and its modification - EF-111 "Raven" EW-aircraft to 1998), however, from the fighter in this car only the letter "F" in its designation was preserved. Air combat "Aardvark" was absolutely not capable.
At the same time, fighters created at the turn of the 60-70s: naval The F-14 Tomcat and the land F-15 Eagle were pure interceptors and aircraft to gain air superiority. At least somehow they could effectively use air-to-surface weapons they could not even in theory.
However, despite the fiasco with the highly specialized F-111, F-14 and F-15, the Yankees did not abandon the idea of hanging bombs on a fighter. Already the next plane - the F-16 light fighter-bomber “Fighting Felken” retained and augmented the combat traditions of the USAF, becoming the main “bomb carrier” in all modern local conflicts. It is noteworthy that the combat debut of “Falken” took place precisely as a bomber - the F-16 Israeli Air Force struck a bombing attack on the Iraqi nuclear center Ozirak (Operation Babylon, 1981 year).
In a similar scenario, a fleet developed - along with the heavy F-14 interceptor, naval aviation received the F / A-18 Hornet light fighter-bomber, whose modifications subsequently replaced all types of deck-based aircraft. Currently, the F / A-18 family of vehicles is the only type of combat aircraft on the decks of American aircraft carriers.
Meanwhile, in the United States, work was underway to introduce air-to-surface weapons on F-15 interceptors — such a large aircraft seemed like an ideal platform for deploying strike weapons. In addition to the developers of the company McDonnell-Douglas, the Pentagon was interested in such a machine, looking for a promising replacement for its destructive F-111.
The result of research on programs ETF (Enhanced Tactical Fighter - Air Force competition to create a universal strike aircraft based on serial fighters) and AFCD (Advanced Fighter Capability Demonstrator - personal initiative McDonnell-Douglas), was the appearance of the machine under the designation F-15E "Strike Eagle", able to hit both aerial and ground targets with equal efficiency (first flight - 1986 year).
Structurally, the Strike Eagle fighter-bomber is made on the basis of the F-15D two-place combat training modification. Progress in microelectronics allowed to integrate into the design of the aircraft all the necessary equipment, including synthetic aperture radar and a powerful optical-electronic sighting system, providing round-the-clock all-weather detection and attack of small ground targets.
Another remarkable feature of the “Strike Needle” was the conformal fuel tanks (KTB), made in the form of streamlined “linings” on engine nacelles. Such a solution made it possible to increase the internal fuel supply almost X-fold times, while the KTB, as compared with conventional outboard tanks, only slightly worsened the aerodynamics of the aircraft and allowed the Strike Needle to make supersonic throws at the speed of Mach 2.
A significant role in the creation of the F-15E was played by sets of quick-detachable equipment - 10 400 kg of combat load can include suspended (discharged) fuel tanks, sighting and navigation containers, jamming stations, towed traps, multi-lock holders, containers with reconnaissance equipment, etc. d. etc.
Quick-detachable kits made it possible to realize countless combinations of onboard equipment, which, in turn, made it possible to “sharpen” the aircraft for a specific task as soon as possible.
In addition, the Strike Eagle can carry the widest range of air-to-surface ammunition among all existing tactical aircraft - guided and unguided munitions weighing up to 5000 pounds (2270 kg), including:
- laser-guided bombs from the GBU family
- guided munitions of the JDAM family (a GPS-based kit that turns any free-fall bomb into a precision weapon);
- cluster munitions of the CBU family;
- AGM-65 “Maverick” guided missiles, AGM-130 and AGM-158 cruise missiles;
- antiradar missiles AGM-88 HARM;
- Tactical nuclear weapons - B61 bombs with eight types of combat units of different power, for the destruction of highly protected targets.
Currently, X-NUMX F-219E fighter-bombers make up the combat core of attack aircraft of the US Air Force - Strike Needles have left their destructive mark in each of the local wars of the last 15 years.
Watching the successes of the Air Force, the US Navy also set about trying to transform the heavy F-14 interceptor into a multi-purpose strike fighter. Indeed, the situation looked strange - such a big, 30-ton “cat”, but it does not know how to bomb. Disorder!
F-14 "Tomcat" had unused reserves of tactical use, and the Yankees tried in a short time to eliminate this unfortunate drawback. Already in 1980, Tomkat's 49 was equipped with TARS (Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System) suspension containers with containers - the ability to integrate specific equipment into the design of the deck interceptor avionics was demonstrated.
The next step was taken in 1988, when tests of the Tomcat fighter, hung with clusters of bombs instead of missiles on full-time suspension, began at the China Lake test site.
F-14B Bombcat
The final decision matured after the operation “Desert Storm” - F-14, by analogy with F-15E, was equipped with LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infra-Red for Night) suspension units. As clearly follows from its name, the LANTIRN system allows you to fly at extremely low altitudes and use weapons on small ground targets at any time of the day.
The upgrade was relatively easy, and Tomkatas quickly turned into Bombkets - the first cars reached operational readiness for the 1994 year. In addition to the LANTIRN overhead containers, the “Bombcats” differed from the usual F-14 widescreen tactical display set in the cockpit. In total, the 1990 BombCatts were upgraded to the end of the 67s of the interceptors.
With the beginning of the XXI century, and the United States began the development of a new modification of the Strike Eagle strike fighter. The main feature of the new machine, which received the designation F-15SE “Silent Eagle”, is the widespread introduction of elements of the stealth technology — the keels deviated from the vertical axis, four internal compartments for the weapon suspension, a special radio absorbing body covering, zigzag-like joints of parts.
F-15SE
Stealth technology, the APG-82 radar with an active phased array antenna, a “glass cabin” and the most modern weapons in the body of the proven F-15E killer - the Silent Eagle fighter-bomber came close to the powerful F-22 “Raptor” , while the F-15SE was much more versatile, and its 2009 cost per year was estimated at 100 million dollars, almost 1,5 times lower than the odious Raptor.
The fate of the super-car was sad - despite the results achieved, the development of "Silent Eagle" was at an impasse - there were no customers on the plane. The US Air Force spent the entire budget on the purchase of F-22. And the most well-to-do of the US allies (South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore) prefer to acquire less advanced F-15E modifications - the usual “Strike Needles” capabilities fully satisfy customers, and no one wants to overpay for extra and unclaimed functions.
If the situation around “Silent Needle” is still covered with a veil of uncertainty - the machine can be resurrected, there is hardly a customer, then the fate of the F-22 base machine is finally and irrevocably resolved - the Strike Raptor project is on the dustbin of history.
All further plans of the Americans are now connected with the F-35 "Lightning II" - a promising fifth-generation aviation complex promises solid opportunities for work on both air and ground targets. It is planned that the F-35 will completely replace the "Strike Needles" in the ranks of the US Air Force by 2025 year.
As for the US Navy, F-35 faces tough competition from the F / A-18E and F Super Hornet fighter-bombers, as well as their promising version of the Silent Hornet. Obviously, the Lightnings and the new versions of the Hornets will serve shoulder to shoulder until the middle of the 21st century.
Finale
April 2013 of the year. Boston is in panic, SWAT armored cars are on the streets, a cordon is set up everywhere, the air is filled with the ringing roar of police helicopters. The names of the perpetrators of the state of emergency have already become known - the Tsarnaev brothers, both from Chechnya, were recognized as suspects in the organization of the terrorist attacks.
Where is this Chechnya that challenged the United States of America?
American media are filled with calls to strike back and bomb the CZECH REPUBLIC. An urgent refutation from the Czech consul follows: his small European country has nothing to do with Chechnya, Boston, or the Tsarnaev brothers.
The command to cancel the assignment came when the lights of sleeping Prague began to shine under the wing of the "Strike Needle" ...
In every joke there is a share of jokes. But it becomes scary when such destructive toys as F-35 and Strike Eagle turn out to be in the hands of those who skipped geography at school.
Moscow and Mogadishu also sound very similar. Although what difference does it make, the American pilot switched the LANTIRN to the aiming mode with a familiar movement ...
Cab F-111
This photo feels good gigantism F-111
F-111 versus B-52
F-105 fighter bomber and its arsenal
http://www.sukhoi.ru/
http://airwar.ru/
http://www.infuture.ru/
Information