OT: F-22A Raptor scores direct hit in JDAM testing!

[BladeLWS]

Yea yea, another JDAM test. But this time the Raptor was a 50,000 feet, at mach 1.5, and dropped from 24 miles away! Nice standoff capability for a freefall bomb... :D

 

 

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060612/dam039.html?.v=68

[23rd_SATAN]

Very Cool.

[Force_Feedback]

Finally they start testing the weapons that will matter.

[ARM505]

Er, shouldn't that read: JDAM scores direct hit in JDAM testing?

 

ie What did the F22 have to do that was so special? Although going M1.5 at 50K, I suppose anything one step above a brick would make it that far....they need to add little wings for even more SO range!

[britgliderpilot]

Er, shouldn't that read: JDAM scores direct hit in JDAM testing?

 

ie What did the F22 have to do that was so special? Although going M1.5 at 50K, I suppose anything one step above a brick would make it that far....they need to add little wings for even more SO range!

 

 

Having a bomb separate and drop cleanly from an internal bay at Mach 1.5 is an interesting qualification . . . . the fact that you're cruising at Mach 1.5 without AB is the icing on the cake.

 

Possibly a more capable strike aircraft than the Nighthawk, then? ;)

[Cobra360]

And when the JDAM-ER comes out, it can drop the bomb from further away again. Impressive.

[BladeLWS]

Er, shouldn't that read: JDAM scores direct hit in JDAM testing?

 

ie What did the F22 have to do that was so special? Although going M1.5 at 50K, I suppose anything one step above a brick would make it that far....they need to add little wings for even more SO range!

Whats so special is that it went at m1.5, at 50k, dropped a freefall bomb 24 miles from its target, and made a direct hit.

 

SO bascially the Raptor will be able to stay over friendly skys, and hit targets 24 miles behind enemy lines, while staying out of enemy airdefenses. Even though it won't matter because the Raptor has stealth...

 

I wonder what kind of range they could get with a JSOW?

[ARM505]

Yes, I can see the obvious, thanks guys. So, if an SR71 dropped one, would that be somehow cooler? My point is that we all know the F22 is fast etc, and that the JDAM, if projected that far, can hit a target. Since the weapon bays were, by obvious deduction, designed to launch weapons, it's not extra special. It's like saying "Look, a Trident SLBM managed to launch some MIRV's through the stratosphere, and they did exactly what they were supposed to!" I'm being silly though. My apologies. It's impressive, just obvious I thought.

[GGTharos]

How special was the R-73 with TVC and HMS?

 

Some claim it was pretty darned special!

[ALDEGA]

How special was the R-73 with TVC and HMS?

 

Some claim it was pretty darned special!

Please.

[Guest IguanaKing]

Well, its not quite what I would call a "free-fall" bomb. The fact that the target data was successfully transferred to the weapon prior to release is something to celebrate. I don't think the subject of this thread implied that the F-22A was necessarily better at this than other aircraft...just that it has proven its capability with a successful test. Just like the Trident reference, there is always a great deal of tension and anxiety the first time a weapons system is tested. When it works as advertised, that relieves the tension, and those involved have cause to celebrate. That's just like the Javelin Mk10 prototype...we all knew the damn thing would fly, but actually seeing it fly was an incredible high. :D

[tflash]

Yes, I can see the obvious, thanks guys. So, if an SR71 dropped one, would that be somehow cooler? My point is that we all know the F22 is fast etc, and that the JDAM, if projected that far, can hit a target. Since the weapon bays were, by obvious deduction, designed to launch weapons, it's not extra special. It's like saying "Look, a Trident SLBM managed to launch some MIRV's through the stratosphere, and they did exactly what they were supposed to!" I'm being silly though. My apologies. It's impressive, just obvious I thought.

 

It's your views on engineering that strike me as very impressive indeed.

 

Since it all is obvious, why test it at all?

 

I guess those that most shit in the pants viewing this article must be the US Navy. Are they lucky they are on the same side as the Raptor, otherwise they would have to consider mothballing some 13 carriers, no?

 

If a stealth plane can throw a big explosive at them from that altitude and speed, they'd be happy to buy some of the über-Tunguska gunnery in Lockon to protect their ships.

[ARM505]

I was actually a mechanical engineer before I became a pilot. Perhaps I am being too casual about it - as IguanaKing says, a succesful test is certainly fantastic to see for all involved, and is one more step on the road to successful deployment of the Raptor and it's associated weapons. But, my perhaps well hidden point is that dropping an unpowered bomb from an internal weapons bay, albeit at M1.5, is nothing particularly new (whatever the bomb might do after launch - all credit to the bomb in this case as well) - I would have imagined it's all relatively proven principles by now, a successful test would seem to back me up. Sure, it needs testing, sure, if I was a project engineer there I'd be very happy indeed, data being passed properly to the bomb etc etc. But by now, I would imagine it's more along the lines of a formality (as much as these things can get). Getting a complex system to function first time is indeed an achievement - but it's not like they just broke the sound barrier for the first time is it?

 

I'm aware of the implications - it's a relatively cheap way to gain some stand off distance, while still maintaining the ability to strike precisely, and will no doubt save American pilots from a greater amount of risk - it's all good. But for me, this was kind of a 2+2=4 sort of thing, in terms of 'new things done.' I shouldn't have commented though, I apologise.

 

I actually still find the SLBM thing ultra impressive though!

[efs2]

It's your views on engineering that strike me as very impressive indeed.

 

Since it all is obvious, why test it at all?

 

I guess those that most shit in the pants viewing this article must be the US Navy. Are they lucky they are on the same side as the Raptor, otherwise they would have to consider mothballing some 13 carriers, no?

 

If a stealth plane can throw a big explosive at them from that altitude and speed, they'd be happy to buy some of the über-Tunguska gunnery in Lockon to protect their ships.

GPS-guided bombs are generally ineffective against ships, because they engage in the annoying tactic of moving when someone tries to bomb them.

 

I'm curious. Have F-15E Strike Eagles and F/A-18s dropped JDAMs from similar heights, distances and speeds?

[Rhen]

I'm curious. Have F-15E Strike Eagles and F/A-18s dropped JDAMs from similar heights, distances and speeds?

 

Not at 50,000ft, at M1.5.

 

Look, the bomb goes from static air inside of a container - the F-22, then gets ejected into a M1.5 slipstream without tumbling, or hitting the Raptor, or flying formation WITH the aircraft, is still a feat.

 

Yeh, big deal. A bomb was launched from an aircraft... oh wait, it was the F-22, so it means even less than if it was launched from a mudhen, which would be hard pressed to make it to 50k with 2 1k JDAMs, and M1.5 in afterburner, and have any combat range after this launch profile.

 

I've said it before so I'll say it again. It's NOT US weapons superiority vs European vs Russian - it's NEW tech vs OLD tech. The Raptor leverages integrated technology better than any other fighter aircraft - period.

[Guest IguanaKing]

I imagine they had to put some retractable baffles at the front of the F-22 weapons bays, like they did with the F-117. Can't imagine what their design would be like though, since this kind of thing hadn't really been attempted before. Maybe some design cues were taken from the old YF-12 and/or B-1A programs.

[D-Scythe]

A small step for the Raptor perhaps, but a giant leap forward in terms of possible implications on future offensive USAF operations.

 

I personally can't wait till they test the SDB and AIM-120D on the F-22 for real. If an unpowered JDAM, wingless can reach 24 miles, imagine how much range the Raptor would squeeze off with these new babies.

[peterj]

You can replicate this in lockon in a Su-27 with iron bombs, just aim well ;)

Or KAB-500, managed 8000m/13km

[GGTharos]

And you won't hit anything significant with it when WAFM is implemented, which is as it should be ;)

[tflash]

GPS-guided bombs are generally ineffective against ships, because they engage in the annoying tactic of moving when someone tries to bomb them.

 

 

Oops ... bummer, I missed something essential there ;) Seems it's bound to remain a very innovative fishing method after all ...

[TucksonSonny]

Yea yea, another JDAM test. But this time the Raptor was a 50,000 feet, at mach 1.5, and dropped from 24 miles away! Nice standoff capability for a freefall bomb... :D

 

 

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060612/dam039.html?.v=68

 

Except when it would go up against some 3th world country I think that the F-22 is very vulnerable against IR AAA systems. At 50000ft the temp is about -70°C. The 22's IR signature would light up like a Christmas tree.

[hitman]

Except when it would go up against some 3th world country I think that the F-22 is very vulnerable against IR AAA systems. At 50000ft the temp is about -70°C. The 22's IR signature would light up like a Christmas tree.

Yeah a 10 ft tall christmas tree at 9.5 miles away.

[D-Scythe]

Except when it would go up against some 3th world country I think that the F-22 is very vulnerable against IR AAA systems. At 50000ft the temp is about -70°C. The 22's IR signature would light up like a Christmas tree.

 

Um, what? The F-22 wouldn't be that "hot" - there is less friction up there as the air density is a lot less than at lower altitudes. Factor in the IR stealth and you don't get a very hot target to work with.

 

That being said, the only reason why the F-22 might be more vulnerable in such a profile to IR systems is that it's a look up situation. And when I say vulnerable, I'm speaking relative to the F-22.

[GGTharos]

Except when it would go up against some 3th world country I think that the F-22 is very vulnerable against IR AAA systems. At 50000ft the temp is about -70°C. The 22's IR signature would light up like a Christmas tree.

I haven't heard of any IR SAM that has even claimed to be able to reach 20000', let alone 50000' ... let alone intercept an aircraft that's 24nm away, moving at mach 1.5, previously undetected, at 50000'.

 

Have you? ;)

 

Try 'it will be invulnerable to existing IR AAA systems, more so than the radar ones'. ;)

[Guest IguanaKing]

IR AAA that can successfully intercept a target at 50,000'? :confused:

 

Edit: DOH!!! GG beat me to it. :D