Mig-29 và F-16 qua con mắt phi công NATO

Chào bác,
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1- Khất bác về vụ này sau. Giờ bận quá. Hết giờ ăn trưa mất rồi


Le Van Le

Xin đính chính bác trangxinh một tí: S-37 đúng là flying lab. Trong bài của bác cũng nói "The Sukhoi's candidate for the Russian air force requirement for a Mnogo-funktsional'ny Frontovoy Istrebitel' ", có nghĩa là đây chỉ là candidate thôi.
Hơn nữa, bác Nga vẫn còn chưa xây dựng xong các tiêu chí kỹ thuật cho chương trình phát triển MB thế hệ 5.
Mời bác tham khảo mấy bài dưới đây tôi cắt dán được và dùng chức năng dịch tự động (dịch tự động xong thì mới phát hiện ra giọng văn giống trong mấy bài của bác lekien )
_______________
March, 6 2001
ÐÁÊ, Moscow 15:06:31

" Up to the end of this month taktiko-specifications for a fighter of the fifth generation will be
accepted ". It was declared today at a meeting with journalists by the Commander-in-chief of the Air
Forces Anatoly Kornukov. As he said, " in the future the Russian military aircraft will consist of
three types of planes. It is easy all-weather øòóðìîâèê, the front multipurpose plane and the
heavy plane deciding(solving) problems(tasks) of strategic aircraft ".
March,
6
2001
presscenter.ru,
15:17

"
Military air forces of Russia up to the end of March will ratify requirements to a fighter of the fifth
generation ". About it as informs ITAR-TASS, the commander-in-chief of the Air Forces of Russia
the general of army Anatoly Kornukov has declared today to journalists. " The Basic decision on
concepts of development of a fighter of the fifth generation and taktiko-technical
problems(tasks) weeks through two will be authorized ", - it(he) has emphasized. Now be tested
by the plane of the project "Golden eagle" which concerns to flying devices of new generation.
According to the commander-in-chief, to this plane military pilots have claims. " If it(he) flies, it does
not mean yet, that the plane will go to a series ", - Anatoly Kornukov has told. As he said,
"Golden eagle" - an experimental sample.
August, 7 2001
ÈÍÒ?.ÐÔÀÊ?'

In the near future the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation will declare the tender on creation
of the Russian warplane of the fifth generation. It has declared on Wednesday, replying "Èíòåðôàêñà"
vice-premier of the Russian Federation Ilya Klebanov.
It(he) has noted, that the warplane of the fifth generation should be ready to a batch production by
2008-2009 year.
According to vice-premier, on creation and manufacture of a warplane of the fifth generation " very
serious means " will be directed. Vice-premier has noted, that the Ministry of Defence of the Russian
Federation now finishes preparation for the tender.
I.Klebanov has refused to reply, on the basis of what airconcern - the Instant or "Dry" - will be created
the plane of the fifth generation. " It will define(determine) the Ministry of Defence ", -
vice-premier has told.
August, 9 2001
Sheets

The Russian Ministry of Defence will lead(carry out) in the near future the tender on creation of a
fighter of the fifth generation, vice-premier Ilya Klebanov has declared yesterday. As has informed the
informed source of "Sheets" in one of the largest Russian airbuilding companies, formation of con***ions
of the tender now comes to an end. Results of his(its) first stage - at a level àâàíïðîåêòà a fighter
(preliminary offers) - will be brought by an autumn of the next year. Own projects of the plane of the
following generation now develop ?ZÊÁ "Dry" (enters in ÀÂÏÊ "Dry") and Ð?'Ê "Instant".
In 2000 of various updatings ?'ó-27 it was exported more than on 0,5 billion dollars. And "Instant" in
2000 has not put abroad any machine. Officially representatives "Dry" avoid directly to
assert(approve), that the tender at so obvious financial superiority of one over his(its) participants to
carry out(spend) simply senselessly. Nevertheless, the newspaper writes, the Instant insists on the
tender. " Today the Russian legislation precisely orders to conduct any program only on
con***ions of the tender ", - head ?ZÊÁ speaks them. Mikojana Vladimir Barkovsky.
August, 7 2001
Prime - TASS

The batch production of the Russian fighter of the fifth generation can begin in 2009-2010 year. On the
competition declared now up to the end of year projects of the new plane should be submitted. The
winner will be determined in the first quarter 2002, general director Rosaviakosmosa Jury Koptev has
informed at press conference.
As he said, large domestic manufacturers of planes Su participate in competition and the Instant, but,
probably, in the project will participate and " foreign strategic partners of Russia ". To tell the truth,
J. Koptev has not named, which.
Creation of a new fighter will cost dearly enough. The basic part of expenses will fall to development of
the engine, has emphasized chapter Ðîñàâèàêîñìîñà. The first stage of this work - modernization of
the engine scarlet - 31 - will cost 1,2-1,5 billion dollar, then for works on the engine it is required
about 600-800 million dollars. J.Koptev has emphasized, that the similar project cannot be carried out
only due to the state budget, therefore on his(its) realization is planned to direct the means earned due
to commercial activity of branch.
As it is supposed, in 2002-2003 years development of the outline sketch of a fighter should be
finished. His(its) first sample can appear in the beginning of 2006 then will begin also it(him) ëåòíûå
tests.
August, 16 2001
ÐÁÊ

Two conducting Russian firms - manufacturers of fighters expect independently to carry out
technological break to fighting machines of the following generation.
Association of efforts for the sake of the decision of this problem(task) is not included into plans
neither Russian aircraft constructing corporation (Ð?'Ê) "Instant", nor Aviation military-industrial
complex (ÀÂÏÊ) "Dry". Their heads have declared it on international airinterior MAKS-2001 in
??óêîâñêîì.
In April of this year ÀÂÏÊ "Dry" has concluded with a number(line) of institutes and enterprises VPK
the agreement on association of efforts on creation of a fighter of the fifth generation. On airinterior the
first assistant to general designer Ð?'Ê "Instant" Vladimir Barkovsky has told about events previous to
these. As he said, in March the corporation has signed the similar agreement with Design office him(it).
?Yêîâëåâà and three aircraft factories: Nizhniy Novgorod "Falcon", Irkutsk and
Êîìñîìîëüñêèì-íà-Àìóðå aviation production associations. The invitation to participate in it(him)
was directed and ÀÂÏÊ "Dry". Áàðêîâñêèé has told, that "Dry" the invitation has not answered, and
month after on "Instant" with surprise have learned(found out), that the competitor has urgently created
an own alliance. General director Ð?'Ê "Instant" has declared Nikolay Nikitin yesterday, that the
watershed in approaches of two firms to the project of a fighter of the fifth generation lays in how to
define(determine) the best. " The instant " insists on realization of the tender. And "Dry", on words
Íèêèòèíà, wants to receive the order for development without competition, the governmental decree.
General director ÀÂÏÊ "Dry" Michael Pogosjan has told, that of the tender is not afraid, but in this
case does not see in his(its) realization of special sense. It(he) also has noted, that "Dry" operates in
strict conformity with orders of the government, and the government of Russia did not dispose to
lead(carry out) the tender on " a fighter of the fifth generation ". Ïîãîñÿí wanted was farther to give
reason for the position, but at this moment, muffling his(its) words, above exposition ÌÀÊ?'-2001 the
experimental plane with - 37 - the prototype of a fighter of the fifth generation, developed on "Dry"
was carried by. Therefore Ïîãîñÿí has simply given up as hopeless in the sky and has told, that all
interested persons can compare the eyes offers " the Instant "è" Dry " on the given subjects. {With -
37}
August, 16 2001
Hèêîëàé Hîâè÷êîâ, ITAR-TASS. ??óêîâñêèé (the Moscow area)

The first experimental fighter of new generation will be created and transferred(handed) on ëåòíûå
tests in 2005-2006 years, and in 2010 will act(arrive) on arms. It today at press conference on interior
MAKS-2001 was declared by the commander-in-chief of the Air Forces the general of army Anatoly
Kornukov. As he said, the taktiko-technical project on this plane is developed and authorized by
military - air forces. The industry started study so-called " technical shape " machines. Today it(he) is
not determined yet, but most likely will absorb in itself(himself) the best that managed to be
reached(achieved) under programs with - 37 " ?ZÊÁ Dry " and a multipurpose fighter of corporation "
instant ", the commander-in-chief has emphasized. In A.Kornukova's opinion, the fighter of the fifth
generation will be created by all Russian airbuilding ÊÁ at the leading part " ?ZÊÁ Dry ". Such position
is connected by what to collective " dry " most further was possible to promote in modernization of
fighters of the fourth generation.
August, 16 2001
Prime - TASS

Military - air forces of the Russian Federation expect, that the fighter of the fifth generation will be
taken advantage approximately in 2010. The commander-in-chief of the Air Forces Anatoly Kornukov
has informed about it at press conference.
According to the commander-in-chief of the Air Forces, on creation of fighters of the fifth generation it
is necessary about 1,5 billion dollars. On A.Kornukova's words, " it is real figure ".
As he said, it is expected, that the first flight of fighters of the fifth generation is held approximately in
A.Kornukov's 2006. has noted, that as prototypes of a new fighter the existing model of the plane with
- 37 "Golden eagle" with return ñòðåëîâèäíîñòüþ a wing can be used.
Concerning developers of a new fighter, A.Kornukov has noted, that consolidation of efforts of all
aircomplexes of Russia is necessary for works on creation of this fighter. In particular, an
aviatsionno-industrial complex of "Dry", Russian aircraft constructing corporation " the Instant and
others.
At the same time A.Kornukov has noted, that in this association the aircraft-industry complex "Dry"
could play a leaging role.
September, 18 2001
Alexey Rubtsov, ITAR-TASS

In October - November under orders of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation
competition on development and manufacture of warplanes of the fifth generation will be carried
out(spent). General director "Ðîñàâèàêîñìîñà" Jury Koptev has informed about it today in
conversation with journalists.
As he said, the priority as it is expected, will be given to the Russian aviation military-industrial complex
"Dry". This enterprise has significant receipts from foreign trade activities. Opportunities of the state on
financing development and manufactures of planes of the fifth generation are limited, Jury Koptev has
emphasized.
At the same time general director "Ðîñàâèàêîñìîñà" has not excluded, that other enterprises of an
aircraft-industry complex will participate in works also.
September, 26 2001
Èíòåðôàêñ. A business - review

In the Aviation military-industrial complex "Dry" do not exclude, that experimental fighter ?'ó-47 with
return ñòðåëîâèäíîñòüþ a wing can be offered on export to a class of heavy fighters. Such
assumption the head of department of a seal and information ÀÂÏÊ "Dry" Jury Chervakov has stated
in conversation with the correspondent " Interfaksa-agencies of military news ".
It(he) has noted, that recently considerably became more active ëåòíûå tests of the plane. Hà it(he)
has executed today already about 200 test flights that makes more than half of program. On
J.Chervakova's words, the machine completely confirms all declared characteristics.
To give more detailed information on structure of a power-plant and onboard radar-tracking complex
?'ó-47, terms and opportunities of realization of joint state tests, and also the countries where the plane
can be put, it(he) has refused.
Designing of plane Su-47 (earlier it(he) had designations with - 22, with - 32, with - 37 "Golden
eagle") began in 80th years under the program of creation of multipurpose front fighter (ÌÔÈ). Hà
Irkutsk an aviation production association conducted preparation for construction of three skilled
planes, including two ëåòíûõ. However these planes were not constructed, as military - air forces
have stopped financing the program. Further the firm Dry conducted development and construction of
the plane due to own means. {?'ó-47}
On the informal data, plane Su-47 is not completed yet with regular engines for him(it) (two are
established ?"-30Ô6), the onboard radio-electronic equipment, in particular, onboard Ð?
Le Van Le

Xin đính chính bác trangxinh một tí: S-37 đúng là flying lab. Trong bài của bác cũng nói "The Sukhoi's candidate for the Russian air force requirement for a Mnogo-funktsional'ny Frontovoy Istrebitel' ", có nghĩa là đây chỉ là candidate thôi.
Hơn nữa, bác Nga vẫn còn chưa xây dựng xong các tiêu chí kỹ thuật cho chương trình phát triển MB thế hệ 5.
Mời bác tham khảo mấy bài dưới đây tôi cắt dán được và dùng chức năng dịch tự động (dịch tự động xong thì mới phát hiện ra giọng văn giống trong mấy bài của bác lekien )
Thưa bác levanle, và các bác, "bác Nga" ở đây nên hiểu là Russian AirForce thì hợp lý hơn bác ạ, chứ đừng nghĩ đó là Russia Sukhoi OKB. Hơn nữa, cái "the fifthgeneration " chỉ là khái niệm được đưa ra để phân loại một cách tương đối, chứ chưa bao giờ khai niệm này trở thành một trong những tiêu chuẩn cụ thể để phân loại máy bay (như cấu tạo cánh, tỷ số lực nâng/diện tích cánh, hay tổng quát hơn nữa là tiêm kích/tiêm kích đa năng/tiêm kích bom/cường kích...), nên các " tiêu chí" đó chủ yếu dựa trên yếu tố hệ thống điều khiển - truyền tin-điện tử hàng không .. .là hệ thống số được điều khiển bằng máy tính (thế hệ thứ 4 cũng có hệ thống Fly-by-wire (bay bằng dây) nhưng đây vẫn là hệ thống tương tự) + cấu trúc hình học có khả năng tán xạ sóng ra đa (tàng hình) và vẫn giữ được các ưu điểm khí động học (không như anh cu Nighthawk) + vật hiệu chế tạo và sơn phủ hấp thụ sóng ra đa + more + more +....
Cho nên cái "candicate" này được hiểu là ứng cử viên cho thay thế các thế hệ máy bay đã lỗi thời trong Không quân Nga như Mig-21 Mig-23, Mig-25,..(mặc dù mấy anh này còn tốt với mình chán). Bác cũng thấy đấy, Su-47 được thiết kế với mục đích là một máy bay tiêm kích đa năng, thì lám sao có thể là "flying lab" được?? Bác cũng nghĩ J-10, F1C của Tàu, YF22, YF23, hay các ATF như X 39..cảu Mẽo cũng là flying lab sao??
Tiện đây xin được update một số thông tin về Su-47 , các bác cùng tham khảo.
Su-47 Design Details; Possibly to Be Exported :
Su-47 Being Built for Sales in Aircraft Market
The renaming of the S-37 "Berkut" experimental airplane which took place recently *****-47 (as for serial airplanes) speaks to the fact that its offer in the worldwide aviation marketplace in the class of heavy fighters is the final goal of the creation of this airplane. The fact of a substantial increase in the performance of the airplane's program of flight tests also speaks in favor of such an approach by AO Sukhoy OKB in the creation of the Su-47 - through today nearly 200 Su-47 test flights have been made.
At the present time flight tests of the Su-47 are being performed in accordance with the General Designer's program for the determination of the airplane's characteristics in all flight regimes.
The are declining to disclose an ad***ional details at the Sukhoy OKB of the Su-47 airplane - about the composition of the power plant, the on-board radar, the terms and possibilities of the performance of joint state tests, and the possible market distribution of the airplane.
The S-37 airplane belongs to the same type of fifth generation multirole tactical fighter (MFI) as the "Project 1.42" fighter project of the Mikoyan OKB. A large amount of work of TsAGI, SibNIIA and many scientific research institutes and design bureaus researching a forward swept wing (KOS) preceded the construction of the S-37 airplane. In particular, variants with a KOS were studied on models of the MiG-23 and Su-27.
The Su-47 has been executed in a "triplane" configuration - canard ((PGO)), a normal twin rudder tail and a forward swept wing (KOS) with a high sweep strake of up to 75 degrees from the fuselage ((S BOL'SHIM NAPLYVOM S PRYAMOY STRELOVIDNOST'YU DO 75 GRADUSOV U FYUSELAZHA.)) The airplane's wing has a reverse sweep along the leading edge in the extension ((V KONSOL'NOY CHASTI)) of 20 degrees. The airframe is covered with radar absorbing material. The following components from the Su-27 fighter were used on it for purposes of economy of means and time: ****pit canopy, landing gear, vertical tail, and also some on-board systems. The airplane was built with the use of technology developed at the Sukhoy OKB. The required production technique allows the manufacture of skin components in a flat form, after which their are reformed onto the surfaces of the double curved surface and attached to each other with high precision.
The basic fuselage construction materials are aluminum and titanium alloys. The share of composite materials according to airframe weight reaches 13 percent. The airplane's brackets ((KONSOLI)) are executed almost of 90 percent composite materials. The wide use of composites should assure an increased weight efficiency of 20 -25 percent, of lifetime of 1.5 - 3 times, and a metals utilization efficiency in production of 40 - 60 percent.
The General Designer of NPO Zvezda, G.I. Severin, has proposed a new adaptive ejection seat concept for the airplane.
Source: 01.10.01, Aerospace News
[side=10][pink]Trangxinh[/green][side=12]

Ờ hay nhỉ, tôi chưa biết cái đoạn được gọi là Su-47. Nếu được gọi là SU-xx thì có nghĩa là được chính thức hoá rồi.
Tuy nhiên đây không phải là máy bay thế hệ thứ 5 sắp tới của Nga. Hiện nay các specification của không quân Nga vẫn chưa hoàn thiện xong.

Le Van Le

Chính xác thì đây mới là thế hệ 4 1/2 thôi. Tuy vậy nó vẫn hơn hẳn F-22 , JFS của Mỹ bác nhỉ. Hệ thống radar (có khả năng phát hiện máy bay, tàu chiến "tàng hình", tương tự radar phòng không của hệ thống tên lửa S-400 ), hệ thống điều khiển hoả lực, máy tính trung tâm,.. tất thảy đều có tính năng vượt trội, đặt biệt cấu tạo hình học và kết cấu lảm mặt cắt phản xạ radar giảm chỉ còn 1/3 so với F-22, mà vẫn có khả năng cơ động tuyệt vời.
[side=10][pink]Trangxinh[/green][side=12]

F-22 Raptor â?" Air Dominance
for the 21st Century
No fighter in the world comes close to matching the F-22. By every measure, the Raptor represents extraordinary breakthroughs in maneuverability, stealth, sensor fusion â?" a wealth of parameters that define a new era in fighter capability.
The origins of the F-22 can be traced to the early 1970s, when the U.S. Air Force began studying concepts for replacement of its F-15 air superiority fighter. This became a formal program when the service requested proposals for an Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) in October 1985. The simple fact: New air and ground threats were looming that the F-15 would not be able to counter.
Now these threats will be defeated by the highly lethal and survivable F-22, with its balance of increased speed and range, enhanced offensive and defensive avionics, and reduced observability. The design of the F-22 also emphasizes reliability and maintainability of systems.
The F-22 is capable of flying and fighting against the most advanced integrated radar networks and dense surface-to-air missile environments in the world â?" now and in the future. A new generation of fighters is under development in several countries around the world today. The advent of these new fighters, as well as the continuing export of current air defense and adversary advanced fighter technology to the Third World, put the United Statesâ?T ability to gain and maintain air superiority, much less air dominance, at increasing risk. The F-22 will retain the competitive edge through innovations and technologies no one can match.
In early 2001, the U.S. Air Force introduced a concept called Global Strike Task Force in which the F-22 Raptor is the enabler for all other forces. The success of any major air-land operation â?" today and in the future â?" depends primarily on the United Statesâ?T preeminent ability to detect and destroy enemy fighters as well as attack high-value ground targets with precision weapons.
With the F-22, the era of U.S. air dominance â?" against all ground- and air-based threats â?" has begun.

Overview
The Joint Strike Fighter program is the principal focus of the U.S. Department of Defensê?Ts initiative to define cost-effective, next-generation strike aircraft weapon systems for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marines, and U.S. allies. Reducing the development, production, and ownership costs of the JSF family of aircraft enhances affordability, a primary objective of the program. Significant economies in production and ownership are realized through extensive commonality among the variants, and sharing development costs decreases the expense for each branch.
All flight test parameters were met in the X-35A (U.S. Air Force), X-35B (U.S. Marine Corps and British Royal Navy) and X-35C (U.S. Navy).
An essential program requirement is the demonstration of key leveraging technologies and operational concepts before the start of the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase in 2001. Current plans indicate the program will be operational in 2008.

February 2001
Raptor 4005 Airborne
The new year got off to a flying start for the F-22 Raptor program as double "firsts" were recorded January 5. Boeing test pilot Randy Neville made the first flight of Raptor 4005 from Lockheed Martin's facility in Marietta, Ga., which also marked the first time an F-22 equipped with a combat-capable avionics system had been flown. The flight lasted nearly an hour. The Block 3.0 software in the Raptor 4005's avionics provide functions such as radar processing and sensor fusion, electronic warfare and countermeasures, and communication, navigation and identification.
"Flying Raptor 4005 with the Block 3.0 represented the program's current most technically demanding challenge," said Brig. Gen. Jay Jabour, the F-22 system program director at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. "This successful flight, in ad***ion to our other recent achievements, demonstrates that the program is ready for low-rate production." Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company F-22 avionics program mangager Tom McDermott added, "Block 3.0 is the software that provides and controls the 'first look, first shot, first kill' warfighting capability of the Raptor. It provides the multi-sensor fusion F-22 pilots will need to accurately acquire, track, identify and engage multiple targets."
In ad***ion to Block 3.0's ability to launch and guide multiple weapons - such as AIM-120 and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles - this software package enables the aircraft to automatically detect and defeat incoming missiles by initiating the Raptor's countermeasures. Boeing integrates and tests the Raptor's avionics at the Avionics Integration Lab (AIL) in Seattle, Wash., and on the Flying Test Bed (FTB.) Both the AIL and FTB are helping reduce avionics risks and contain development costs by enabling extensive evaluation and troubleshooting before full avionics are installed on the F-22.
Eleven major subsystem suppliers from across the country developed the Block 3.0 software.

F-22 Raptor Home > Products




DESCRIPTION:
The F-22 Raptor is a new breed of super-fighter for the 21st century. With its stealth, supersonic cruise, agility and advanced integrated avionics, it will dominate the skies over any future battlefield and bring unequaled capability into the hands of Americâ?Ts Air Force fighter pilots.
Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Pratt & Whitney have joined with the U.S. Air Force to develop and produce the revolutionary F-22. The world??Ts first stealth air-to-air fighter, the F-22 will be unseen and deadly at long range and unmatched at close-in dogfighting. As a true multimission fighter, it will also have superb, precision-strike ground attack capability. A multimode electronically scanned radar, internal weapons carriage, vectored thrust and a sophisticated fully integrated sensor array are only some of the revolutionary advantages that Raptor brings to the air combat arena. Slated to be operational early in the next century, F-22 will replace the U.S. Air Forcê?Ts aging fleet of F-15 Eagle fighters.
The F-22 is the first production aircraft with the ability *****percruise ??" flying at supersonic speeds without the use of afterburners. The Raptor achieves this by combining efficient aerodynamic design with two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 engines, rated in the 35,000-lb thrust category.
Designed and built with reliability and maintainability in mind, the F-22 offers new capability to deploy and fight on day one. Twice as reliable and capable as its predecessors, it will allow the Air Force to get to the fight faster, stay longer and fly more missions than any conventional fighter aircraft.
The F-22 is proving itself today through a rigorous flight test program in the skies above Edwards Air Force Base, California, and the results have been outstanding. Air Force and F-22 Contractor Team test pilots are putting the Raptor through its paces, and the aircraft, engines and avionics will be thoroughly tested before the F-22 enters active duty.
The Raptor will carry existing and planned air-to-air weapons, including a full complement of AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) and AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range missiles, along with an internal M61A2 Vulcan 20mm cannon. Multimission air-to-surface weaponry includes the new GBU-32, 1,000-lb joint direct attack munition (JDAM) for precision, all-weather attack

http://birch.family.tripod.com/landen_jsf.html
http://www.f22-raptor.com
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The Air Force Rethinks Global Strategy
Issue Brief
November 16, 2000
By Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D.
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While the political system has been distracted by a seemingly interminable presidential campaign over the last several months, the U.S. Air Force has begun a transformation of its global warfighting strategy. It's a safe bet the defense advisors to Bush and Gore are barely aware of the change, but it has the potential to rewrite Pentagon war plans and spending priorities.
The new concept is called "Global Reconnaissance Strike," and it is designed to deal with the danger that future adversaries will deny U.S. forces access to overseas bases in wartime. Drawing on the experience of the Kosovo air war, the strategy shifts (or "inverts") the main weight of bombing campaigns from in- theater fighter-bombers such as the F-15 and F-16 to long-range bombers originating outside the theater of operations. The planned theater force during the early days of conflict would be reduced (or "distilled") to a small complement of very capable fighters -- F-22 Raptors -- able to protect bombers and long-range surveillance planes in hostile airspace.
This is a complete reversal of the Air Force's strategy since Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990's. That strategy (which was widely interpreted as the triumph of the service's "fighter mafia" over the bomber community) assumed hundreds of short-range fighter-bombers could be sent to war zones in the early days of an air campaign. Now the Air Force has decided the necessary bases might not be available, either because they are put off limits by local governments or because enemies destroy them. So it is reserving what bases exist for its most advanced air-superiority fighter, the stealthy F-22, while looking outside the theater for strike assets.
The implications for Pentagon spending priorities are profound. First, the need to bolster the long-range bomber force -- which today contains only 21 stealthy B-2's -- increases. Second, the F-22 becomes pivotal in enabling the whole air campaign, raising the number of Raptors required. Third, the Air Force version of the hugely expensive ($200 billion+) Joint Strike Fighter ends up looking like a plane in search of a mission. The new strategy thus continues the erosion of service support for the controversial JSF.
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