tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3098674444128189886.post4619060464299161635..comments2023-11-03T04:00:20.994-05:00Comments on SNAFU!: I'm calling BS on that Aviationist.Solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05980277484445749796noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3098674444128189886.post-61856181329770871432012-09-01T21:19:18.043-05:002012-09-01T21:19:18.043-05:00The WildWeasel/IronHand role done by a single mode...The WildWeasel/IronHand role done by a single model of plane will disaper in the future...all planes(F-22,F-35 and 4th genaration)will be abble to perform that role whitout any special training/equipementAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10433559321704976627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3098674444128189886.post-70550514945855004122012-08-31T16:59:29.749-05:002012-08-31T16:59:29.749-05:00F--35's are not scheduled to get AARGM till Bl...F--35's are not scheduled to get AARGM till Blk6 (2020-2022 timeframe).<br /><br />Besides, the WildWeasel role has always been done by older aircraft:<br /><br />F-100/105 in the age of the F-4<br />F-4 in the age of F-16/15<br />F-16 in the age of F-22/35<br />SpudmanWPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13808856347047254385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3098674444128189886.post-10179435640975810082012-08-31T14:58:19.589-05:002012-08-31T14:58:19.589-05:00I have two thoughts on this, given the power of to...I have two thoughts on this, given the power of today's radar, I would assume it's going to take a lot more than paint to make an F-16 remotely stealthy. For example during the F-117 development they discovered the pilots helmet to be a huge source of return; that's why the windows on the Nighthawk are gold by the way. <br /><br />Second, as I believe Solomon already pointed out, as soon as you strap one non-stealthy missile to the wings all that RAM might as well still be back at the base. Hence the F-22 carries its missiles internally.<br /><br />Finally, I'd like to pose a new question. If you're the US Air Force wouldn't one of the first squadrons you upgrade to the F-35 be the Wild Weasels? I mean, who is the most likely to need stealth anyway? The guy flying straight toward the radar!! Before immediately calling bullshit on me consider that the current US Air Force in Air-to-Air combat, even without F-35s, is still light years ahead of our current foes (eg Iran and they're ancient unmaintained F-14As).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10828078358470043245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3098674444128189886.post-1832718133973912262012-08-31T08:23:09.160-05:002012-08-31T08:23:09.160-05:00It goes back to what Sweetman said: the point is n...It goes back to what Sweetman said: the point is not a 'silent F-16' in the sense that it avoids detection like the F-117, F-35, X-47, it's about avoiding being hit.<br /><br />If you put just HARMs into the mix stealth is out the window anyway, never mind active jamming, and given that, the issue is to avoid being hit rather than to avoid being detected. For this lowering the F-16s signature is going to increase the effectiveness of jamming, towed decoys etc. etc.BB1984https://www.blogger.com/profile/07300650597167960839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3098674444128189886.post-62729075181430562912012-08-30T23:00:12.265-05:002012-08-30T23:00:12.265-05:00i could see a silent F-16 if someone had low obser...i could see a silent F-16 if someone had low observable pylon mounts and "bomb bags" but without them its gonna be hard to fix the F-16...the intake leads directly to the blades....the plane carrys eything externally....its short legged already....i just don't see it.<br /><br />much better to just wait for the X-47 and not waste money on the dream that is a stealth F-16Solomonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05980277484445749796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3098674444128189886.post-65383956187413618352012-08-30T22:51:54.512-05:002012-08-30T22:51:54.512-05:00Have Glass is evidently a stealth project that mak...Have Glass is evidently a stealth project that makes multiple changes. The paint seems logical but still haven't found something definitive about that.<br /><br />Reference to Have Glass II for Taiwan F-16 upgrades that specifically mentions canopy changes and "other treatments" here: http://defense-update.com/20110921_taiwan-air-force-modernization.html<br /><br />Reference to Have Glass project doing signature reduction on the radar installation for the F-16 way back in 2009 (Have Glass II again) here: http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogscript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%253A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%253Adff8783a-1885-4567-9cc7-340a81179c86<br /><br />BTW: Aviationist said that only "wild weasels" were getting the paint. DEW Line was, I believe, talking about a bulk upgrade of regular squadron F-16s. Ergo I don't think DEW Line not talking about this is a contradiction with the Aviationist article.<br /><br />Silent F-16 anyone?<br /><br />BB1984https://www.blogger.com/profile/07300650597167960839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3098674444128189886.post-67805187507771266072012-08-30T22:38:35.253-05:002012-08-30T22:38:35.253-05:00that sounds about right but this guy is trpping so...that sounds about right but this guy is trpping so my radar is up on this one. trust me i'm googling my ass off to find out what the real deal is with this.Solomonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05980277484445749796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3098674444128189886.post-24012721456188912412012-08-30T22:30:41.092-05:002012-08-30T22:30:41.092-05:00I think you both may be right, and here is why.
W...I think you both may be right, and here is why.<br /><br />What the F-16CM's might be getting is the actual paint used on the F-35. That paint might also have some affect on radar reflective too.<br /><br />That being said, the majority of the F-35's RAM is actually part of the composite structure (called fiber mat) and cannot be simply painted on the F-16.SpudmanWPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13808856347047254385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3098674444128189886.post-1446296946398599042012-08-30T20:53:40.971-05:002012-08-30T20:53:40.971-05:00i followed your links...followed the links that an... i followed your links...followed the links that another guy sent and all i see is a bunch of guys mixing issues. "the aviationist" is stating that the F-16 is getting the F=35's paint....like i said. thats news. but if i actually wanted to be cynical and if i wanted to throw the aviationist under the bus what i would say is that he took a photo with a f-16 that had a darker paint color to it which looks like that which goes on the f-35 and came up with the idea that its getting the f-35's paint treatment. of course that would be worse than saying that the story is bullshit, that owuld be syaing that he pulled the story out of his ass.<br /><br />i didn't do that but his reaction is starting to make me wonder.Solomonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05980277484445749796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3098674444128189886.post-36300466728734267052012-08-30T19:39:07.022-05:002012-08-30T19:39:07.022-05:00On F-16 dot net they are talking about it like its...On F-16 dot net they are talking about it like its a done deal; no one is calling BS on it, they're just talking about how to model it and how widely it's deployed. Proof? No, but we've all quoted that site from time to time:<br />http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-9561-postdays-0-postorder-asc.html<br /><br />Conformal tanks have been flying on F-16s for years but my assumption is that you can't retrofit them because they require some different plumbing, so not an option for the USAF, which is avoiding upgraded F-16 purchases like the plague in order to maintain the 'burning platform' that supports their F-35 procurement politics.<br /> <br />Finally, AFAIK no stealth plane can carry the HARM internally, so nothing is going to be particularly stealthy in this role; you do what you can.BB1984https://www.blogger.com/profile/07300650597167960839noreply@blogger.com