EA/18G Growler

[sunjerem]

Adding IRST would make radar signature larger and could compromise stealth. F-35 has a retractable IRST in its EO package, I believe. F-22 I think would not have an IRST.

 

[Scorpion82]

Adding IRST would make radar signature larger and could compromise stealth. F-35 has a retractable IRST in its EO package, I believe. F-22 I think would not have an IRST.

You can develope IRST devices stealthy as well. LM has or is already experimenting around with such. There was a picture at ausairpower.net. And the F-35's DAS (IRST/FLIR/MAW) is not a retractable system.

 

[sunjerem]

You can develope IRST devices stealthy as well. LM has or is already experimenting around with such. There was a picture at ausairpower.net. And the F-35's DAS (IRST/FLIR/MAW) is not a retractable system.

So, the DAS is not retractable and yet has a low radar signature?

 

[Magoo]

The Super Hornet performing the airshow at the Avalon Air Show in Australia 2007 was a single seater, IIRC.

I know the SH's actually do their shows with representative "operational configurations" to show what they can do with stores, (clean isn't very useful operationally...) but I'm sure Boeing brings whatever it has available at a particular time...

No, it was an F model at Avalon. The main reason is because the majority of Super Hornets are F models (2-1, F-E), plus they tend to bring two seaters to airshows so they can give pax rides to VIPs etc whilst there.

Cheers

Magoo

 

[Magoo]

Adding IRST would make radar signature larger and could compromise stealth. F-35 has a retractable IRST in its EO package, I believe. F-22 I think would not have an IRST.

The F-35's IRST is NOT retractable - it is fixed set in a faceted window below the cockpit just behind the radome.

The Super Hornet's IRST will be mounted in the forward portion of a centreline aux fuel tank, and therefore will not be a fully integrated system within the airframe.

The Eurofighter's Pirate and the JSF's systems are both integrated within the airframe.

Cheers

Magoo

 

[Jezza]

I just seemed weired thats all.
Other airshows also use the f models.
I suppose they would have to entertain the VIPs
Thanks guys.

 

[Aussie Digger]

Adding IRST would make radar signature larger and could compromise stealth. F-35 has a retractable IRST in its EO package, I believe. F-22 I think would not have an IRST.

If you read the article, you would see the IRST sensor is built into a centreline fuel tank, which the Super Hornet would be carrying in an case.

It is not going to make ANY difference to the radar signature of the aircraft and as IRST are "passive" systems, ie: they do not emit signals of any kind they do not effect the emissions control of the aircraft.

How exactly does this then "compromise" the stealth of the aircraft?

 

[Aussie Digger]

So, the DAS is not retractable and yet has a low radar signature?

Yes.

DAS is actually the AN/AAQ-37 Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System designed by Northrop Grumman.

It is a series of 6x EO/IR sensors that are position 360 degrees around the airframe of the F-35 providing "spherical" EO/IR sensing around the aircraft. Each of these sensors is mounted internally inside the aircraft and "looks" through a "sapphire glass" cover.

 

[Aussie Digger]

No, it was an F model at Avalon. The main reason is because the majority of Super Hornets are F models (2-1, F-E), plus they tend to bring two seaters to airshows so they can give pax rides to VIPs etc whilst there.

Cheers

Magoo

VIP's and "defence experts"...

 

[Ozzy Blizzard]

EOTS is the F35's real IRST rather than the DAS which is more a WVR system, and it also acts as a PGM targeting pod ala LANTIRN/LIGNING/ATFLIR/whatever. It doesnt compromise the platforms VLO because because is it stealthilly mounted within the airframe, rather than a pod which is not i.e. the only bit that pokes out is the little window below the radar.

As for the tank mounted IRSt, it sound pretty clever. You probably could put one in any fighter if you had the platform wired for it. The only issue as i see it is the fact that you cant punch out your enpty tank if you need to scoot! Immagine how costly that would be!?! :eek2 The USN wasnt too happy about ditching AIM 54 loads when 'cats came home either, imagine loosing an IRST every time?

Happy new year everyone.:cheers

 

[icekid]

As far as I know SH are dual seater... where hornets are single seater... I might be wrong though

 

[AGRA]

There is no aerobatic performance difference between a modern fighter's dual and single seat versions. There certainly isn't for a twin seat Hornet or Super Hornet.

The Super Hornets displayed at air shows are provided by the US Navy, from one of their two operational training and conversion unit so are twin seaters with coupled cockpits. Though often Boeing IDS pays the operating bill as it is to support their marketing efforts. The USN will usually only send a single aircraft with two pilots to take it to and from the show and to fly the 'VIP' experience flights. Boeing's chief Super Hornet pilot, Riccardo, does the actual routine flying. The VIPs are local politicians, potential air force customers and journalists.

What is important to note about Super Hornet airshow displays is they do it with over a tonne of air to air weapons. At Paris it was eight AMRAAMs and two AIM-9Xs. The Rafales, F-16s, Eurorighters, MiG-29s, etc all do their flight performance routines without any extra weight at all. Which is total BS as representative of what they can actually do in combat...

 

[Aussie Digger]

As far as I know SH are dual seater... where hornets are single seater... I might be wrong though

Fraid so. Both Hornets and Super Hornets come in single seat and dual seat versions.

Their respective designations are:

Single seat:

F/A-18 - A/C/E

Dual seat:

F/A-18 - B/D/F

Regards

AD

 

[Salty Dog]

Actually the EA-18G.

Since the EF-111 fleet was decommed, the USAF has to rely on USN EA-6B for EW missions. I wonder if the USAF will eventually acquire the EA-18G. It would make sense so they could continue anti-IED COIN ops by jamming garage door openers and cellular phones in Afghanistan and Iraq.

 

[Atilla [TR]]

F-18 Super Hornet capability?

I am just curious in terms of maneuverability, avionics and so on. I went on air power Australia and apparently the Aussies are buying 24 Super Hornets, they are probably going to have to intercept Su-30MKI, and other SU-27 models how would the Super Hornet fare?

 

[F-15 Eagle]

I'd say the Super Hornet is very maneuverable, very fast, has good range and carriers a lot of weapons and has state of the art avionics. The Super Hornet is more than a match for the SU-30. And the F-35 Lightning II will be even better.

 

[Atilla [TR]]

I'd say the Super Hornet is very maneuverable, very fast, has good range and carriers a lot of weapons and has state of the art avionics. The Super Hornet is more than a match for the SU-30. And the F-35 Lightning II will be even better.

You think the F-35 is better, I disagree I think the only thing that the F-35 has over the is stealth, correct me if I am wrong. But against the SU-30 yeah both can kick some arss but what about the Su-30MKI? Maybe it might have been a smarter decision for the USN to get the Super Tomcat 21 instead?

 

[F-15 Eagle]

You think the F-35 is better, I disagree I think the only thing that the F-35 has over the is stealth, correct me if I am wrong. But against the SU-30 yeah both can kick some arss but what about the Su-30MKI? Maybe it might have been a smarter decision for the USN to get the Super Tomcat 21 instead?

What are you talking about? Why does everyone always say the F-35 is not a good fighter? The fact of the matter is the F-35 will be better than anything that goes up against it. Only the F-22 is better.

The SU-30(which is only a 2 seat SU-27....nothing special) will be no match against the F-35.

The F-35 is just as fast, just as maneuverable than any other fighter, but has more weapons, range and it has stealth. A single F-35 could take out up to 8 SU-30s at BVR and the SU-30 will never know the F-35 was there in the first place.

The F-14 is old and obsolete and it can't survive on todays battlefield. The F-18 and F-35 are way better.

The F-35 has a air superiority capability that is second only to the F-22 and it is 4 times more capable then todays fighters.

Plain and simple!

 

[Atilla [TR]]

What are you talking about? Why does everyone always say the F-35 is not a good fighter? The fact of the matter is the F-35 will be better than anything that goes up against it. Only the F-22 is better.

The SU-30(which is only a 2 seat SU-27....nothing special) will be no match against the F-35.

The F-35 is just as fast, just as maneuverable than any other fighter, but has more weapons, range and it has stealth. A single F-35 could take out up to 8 SU-30s at BVR and the SU-30 will never know the F-35 was there in the first place.

The F-14 is old and obsolete and it can't survive on todays battlefield. The F-18 and F-35 are way better.

The F-35 has a air superiority capability that is second only to the F-22 and it is 4 times more capable then todays fighters.

Plain and simple!

The biggest thing about the F-35 is that there are so many rumors that it is not maneuverable, but then again it would not matter and that the F-35 can lock on to target 360 degrees around it. But this all started when the Aussies had doubts about the F-35 that is why sooo many people have been in question of it. Right now I am very curious about the maneuverability of the F-35 the Lockheed videos on it's fight do not reveal anything at all.

 

[Scorpion82]

I'd say the Super Hornet is very maneuverable, very fast, has good range and carriers a lot of weapons and has state of the art avionics. The Super Hornet is more than a match for the SU-30. And the F-35 Lightning II will be even better.

Lol the Super Hornet and "very fast"? You obviously don't know what you are talking about here! Except for very low speeds it's also not that maneuvrable at all, the range is ok. Avionics and weapons are the Super Hornet's main strength.

The SU-30(which is only a 2 seat SU-27....nothing special)

Hardly just a "2 seat Su-27", especially not the export derivates based on the MKI.