Steel God Wrote:Well, yes Ian, actually it does have after burners, but it can (and has) achieved speeds in excess of Mach 1.7 without them. But they're there if needed. Top speed with the burners has not been released.
It is highly maneuverable in a dog fighting situation, partially because of it's design and partially because of vectored thrust.
As for testing against F-15s and others...yes, I've heard the stories of 8 and 10 to 1 odds being overcome, but have nothing to substantiate that. I do know that it's record is unblemished, meaning it has not yet lost a test engagement, no matter what the odds. It also has the ability to function as a mini-AWACS, using it's radar to designate targets for other aircraft, acting as a force multiplier for F-15s and F-16s. And what impressed me the most, it has scored hits with 1000lb JDAMs,on moving ground targets, from 50K feet, at a distance of 24 miles, while traveling at Mach 1.5.
Good luck to the poor AA crews trying to track this baby.
A very very impressive piece of kit. I'm sure I read they are thinking of closing the production line (due the ruinously high unit price) unless some more orders are forthcoming, so it looks like the F15s and F16s are going to be around for some time to come.
Any thoughts on how the J35 will shape up compared to it ?
Talking of the J35, the STOVOL variant with that heavy lift fan looks a real goat to me.
I suppose we in the UK will buy some, although given that our two new carriers will be both big enough for conventional landings, the rational escapes me. The extra space / weight saving on the ship (for not having a catapult) seems a poor trade compared to the shortfalls the STOVOL variant will have...
Vulture
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