Northrop Grumman has just launched a new ad that teases next generation fighter jets.
One year ago, Northrop Grumman, at that time competing with Lockheed Martin and Boeing for the LRS-B ( Long Range Strike-Bomber) released an interesting ad that teased the shape of the next generation bomber.
Earlier today, the aerospace giant released a new ad that clearly shows, along with a B-2 and some X-47B UCAVs, three 6th Gen. fighters: the new tailless concept, already exposed by some renderings last year, features the “cranked kite” design that’s in vogue with Northrop Grumman, which built the U.S. Air Force iconic B-2 stealth bombers the X-47B naval killer-drone demonstrator and the still much secret RQ-180 unmanned aerial vehicle surveillance aircraft.
The so-called Next Generation Air Dominance concept points towards a small and much agile plane, rumored to be supersonic, long-range, cyber-resilient against threats of the future interconnected world, and able to carry laser-weapons.
US tech has many problems, with F35 and even drones, 20 reapers dropped from sky last year. I dont think they are up for this. http://www.businessinsider.com/the-pentagons-most-advanced-drone-keeps-falling-out-of-the-sky-2016-1?IR=T
Better than the Russians, they can’t even make good planes…
that doesnt change substance,considering modern missiles: trust vectoring control is a bad idea nowdays: it could be useful just to shorten take off distance.In supersonic ( and both typhoon and f22 will engage just supersonic) trust vectoring is totally unuseful at best
Many other encounters took place between typhoon and f22 after langley 2006, and substance did not change: trust vectoring is a bad idea.
Again in a “classic” WVR dogfight, the ability to quickly point your nose and change the direction and heading of the aircraft is very important in BFM and in ACM. In a WVR engagement the aircraft that can get into position first and get the first shots off first generally wins. This means putting the defending aircraft into a proper weapons engagement envelope. Granted tactics have changed with missiles like the Archer, Sidewinder Xray, ASRAAM, and Python. Still all fighter pilots must learn and be proficient in the basics. Having a HOBS missile with an aircraft that can quickly maneuver in wide flight regimes is still good thing.
Though those missiles have impressive HOBS capability, simply having a HOBS missile is still no absolute guarantee for successful outcome in a dogfight. These missile just don’t come screaming off the rails at a target 45degrees high at 3 o’clock and always hit their mark. Yes these missiles have a much wider engagement envelope over their predecessors (Mike iteration of the Sidewinder with all aspect), they are not full proof as they can be spoofed (with the right techniques).
Thrust vectoring gives the aircraft the ability to maneuver better at lower speeds if the situation dictates it. Granted there are many caveats to ACM but thrust vectoring is just another tool in that tool box that the pilot can use. It is not the end all be all (I never expressed it to be) but it does give an advantage when used properly.
http://www.codeonemagazine.com/article.html?item_id=163
http://www.airrecognition.com/images/stories/analysis_focus/japan_atdx_demonstrator_640_001.jpg
http://aviationintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/SUK1.jpg
http://data3.primeportal.net/hangar/luc_colin3/x-31/images/x-31_01_of_24.jpg
Though one of the X-31s did crash, the program provided valuable insight into High AoA and post stall maneuvering.
This is an interesting X plane… the X-36
http://home.windstream.net/jmustain/x36.jpg
** The F-22’s thrust vectoring nozzles are mostly used at lower speeds but former test pilot Paul Metz said…
> “What is not widely known is that thrust-vectoring plays a big role in high speed, supersonic maneuvering. All aircraft experience a loss of control effectiveness at supersonic speeds. To generate the same maneuver supersonically as subsonically, the controls must be deflected further. This, in turn, results in a big increase in supersonic trim drag and a subsequent loss in acceleration and turn performance. The F-22 offsets this trim drag, not with the horizontal tails, which is the classic approach, but with the thrust vectoring. With a negligible change in forward thrust, the F-22 continues to have relatively low drag at supersonic maneuvering speed. . But drag is only part of the advantage gained from thrust vectoring. By using the thrust vector for pitch control during maneuvers the horizontal tails are free to be used to roll the airplane during the slow speed fight. This significantly increases roll performance and, in turn, point-and-shoot capability. This is one of the areas that really jumps out to us when we fly with the F-16 and F-15. The turn capability of the F-22 at high altitudes and high speeds is markedly superior to these older generation aircraft.”
IRIS-T has 180 degrees capability and estrem high self defensive capabilities vs incoming missiles.: your post is long and out of topic ; furthermore is you get wvr in a modern fighter that means that something has gone wrong.
F22 pilots said that using trust vectoring control vs eurofighter in simulate wvr encounter is last resort manouvre.
Trust vectoring in supersonic bvr is totally useless.
It certainly looks great. Though as pointed out in other comments, making something that flies is more important to making it super stealthy. The f35 we know has a very small radar return when kept in its hanger for servicing….