+NeverEnough 78 Posted June 18, 2009 This bit of news seemed timely, as we await the release of Del's latest and greatest model! http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUS...0090615?sp=true Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheStig 39 Posted June 19, 2009 Why I think it balances things out! We also didn't wanna scare the French with our new weapon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cali 6 Posted June 23, 2009 Of course they and everyone else will try to get as much info as they can from it. That's what other countries do, try to get info. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slartibartfast 153 Posted June 23, 2009 I remember the outcry at Farnborough when the BAe Rapier tracked either the Stealth Fighter or B-2 as they went over... and not just optically but with the Blindfire radar system... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Dave 2,322 Posted June 23, 2009 I remember the outcry at Farnborough when the BAe Rapier tracked either the Stealth Fighter or B-2 as they went over... and not just optically but with the Blindfire radar system... Wow big deal, lets think how close it was to that Rapier. There is a thing called burn through range. In a stealth aircraft you will eventually get close enough to a radar that it can pick you up. So this is a non event. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JediMaster 451 Posted June 23, 2009 Yeah, tracking a plane with a radar at a range of under 1 mile is probably the most useless ability there is. It needs to track them OUTSIDE rifle range! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slartibartfast 153 Posted June 23, 2009 The range was greater than 1 mile it was in order of over the range of the missile which granted isnt that great anyway... only 6km's... but it gave the system the ability to track it to get the missile's away... granted the system might be turned to mush before they hit the jet... lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Dave 2,322 Posted June 23, 2009 The range was greater than 1 mile it was in order of over the range of the missile which granted isnt that great anyway... only 6km's... but it gave the system the ability to track it to get the missile's away... granted the system might be turned to mush before they hit the jet... lol 6 klicks is nothing, well within burn through range. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
macelena 1,070 Posted June 23, 2009 Yeah, tracking a plane with a radar at a range of under 1 mile is probably the most useless ability there is. It needs to track them OUTSIDE rifle range! Wasn't the Raptor simulatedly hit by an AMRAAM shot by a Growler? Perhaps the F-22 was bays open this time, but seems possible that fighters with modern and powerful and advanced radars such as SuperHornet, the 4.5 gen european fighters and Su-30s to be able to engage a Raptor using effectively its radar. But the advantage is that the Raptor would see them first. Even if Stealth is compromised, the USAF doctrine in overwhelming the enemy in all the areas of air combat will make the enemy blind. That´s the way that aircraft such as Eagle had achieved results wich hadn´t been expected. As allways, the one who sees first kills first, and despite the possibility of killing a Raptor, he will be allways in advantage. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JediMaster 451 Posted June 23, 2009 6km is under 4 miles, and I seriously doubt a B-2 would overfly a target that close in a threat environment anyway. Besides, quite often stealth planes have very NONstealthy transponders going in friendly airspace to enable them to be tracked by ATC while also keeping allies from getting a look at the "true stealth" abilities. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
column5 63 Posted June 23, 2009 I remember the outcry at Farnborough when the BAe Rapier tracked either the Stealth Fighter or B-2 as they went over... and not just optically but with the Blindfire radar system... I've never understood why people get excited about this. Both aircraft have radar reflectors that would be deployed any time they were under ground control, and especially in a high-traffic area such as around an air show. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites