Imagining a Gen 7 Air Superiority Fighter

[cichlidfan]

I always wondered why we dont put our fighter gatlin/vulcan cannons on a gimble...even 10 or 15 degrees of computer control would stop you from having to be perfect "nose on lead" to score a kill shot....just get it within the gimble limits and let the computer do the rest....

 

Because when you fire that thing, while it is not aligned with the aicraft, you aren't going to hit your target, and you certainly aren't going to be aimed at your target anymore.

[Darkwolf]

With the popularity of small portable SAM, i don't even see the point of fitting a canon on a ground pounder.

 

30mm work well against rebels but I wonder how it would turn against a serious army with Manpads everywhere.

[TraxusIV]

With the popularity of small portable SAM, i don't even see the point of fitting a canon on a ground pounder.

 

30mm work well against rebels but I wonder how it would turn against a serious army with Manpads everywhere.

 

manpads are very expensive. My entire time in the US Army I never saw one. I was even in a ranger company at one point (as communications support). They're also big and heavy. So even against a large, serious opponent like Russia, China, or the EU, I think there would be plenty of opportunity for ground strikes without being swarmed by them.

[danilop]

Manpads are cheap - Russian igla on black market goes from $3-5,000 for an old 9K38 and up to $25,000 for the newest variant.

 

http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/asmp/issueareas/manpads/black_market_prices.pdf

 

The brand new iglas on regular market are $60.000-80.000. Very cheap considering what kind of damage it can do. And training and maintenance required is minimal and can be done in field conditions. It's ideal infantry AA weapon against dominant airforce which has total air control.

 

The reason why you haven't seen manpads in US Army is doctrine, not the price. There is a low expected threat to US forces from the air, especially in recent conflicts.

Edited January 17, 2014 by danilop

[Retsilf]

@Davies....

Beside of many technical reasons, Drones are attractive from financial point of view. A very important aspect! And if you look around in the aviation industry, there is no new fighter development program.

[EtherealN]

I fully share your view. In future Drones become multirole. And there will be no more manned fighters.

 

"No manned fighters" is not the same as "no fighters", though. ;)

 

The term "drone" simply means that there's no human in the aircraft. Drones already do a lot of jobs - recon and surveillance was the start, they're already (quite famously) doing strike missions. UCAV development is a highly active area of research, and we'll soon see unmanned aircraft (that is "drones") conduct missions against other aircraft.

Edited January 18, 2014 by EtherealN

[cichlidfan]

...and we'll soon see unmanned aircraft (that is "drones") conduct missions against other aircraft.

 

Yep, package-jacking drones attacking Amazon's fleet. :P

[docfu]

It's too bad this topic has been derailed...

 

To answer the OP's question: I think that a 7th generation fighter, if manned by a human, wouldn't be too different from the F-35 except that it would include some form of direct compatibility between human-drones. That is to say, a human fighter, surrounded by drones for additional defense.

 

Sort of like what AWACS are for fighters now, except the next level(for air to air missions) would be increasing sheer numbers of drones per fighter to increase the chance of winning in a large scale first-contact scenario.

 

Ironically, this brings back memories of that really ugly fat jet launched from the B-52's. I can't remember the name at the moment so maybe it'd be better to imagine the X series test planes as drones...

[EtherealN]

Personally, I feel it's less of a "hijack" and more an observation of the fact that we are currently undergoing a very radical transformation as far as combat aircarft goes. Trying to predict a 7th gen "fighter" is pointless on that account. :P

 

There were lots of planes launched from B-52's though.

 

Do you mean the X-15?

 

[Call911]

 

Upgraded redeveloped Mig 31 aka Firefox?:lol:

[TraxusIV]

Manpads are cheap - Russian igla on black market goes from $3-5,000 for an old 9K38 and up to $25,000 for the newest variant.

 

http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/asmp/issueareas/manpads/black_market_prices.pdf

 

The brand new iglas on regular market are $60.000-80.000. Very cheap considering what kind of damage it can do. And training and maintenance required is minimal and can be done in field conditions. It's ideal infantry AA weapon against dominant airforce which has total air control.

 

The reason why you haven't seen manpads in US Army is doctrine, not the price. There is a low expected threat to US forces from the air, especially in recent conflicts.

 

Wow, had no idea they were that cheap. Kinda scary.

[RIPTIDE]

With the popularity of small portable SAM, i don't even see the point of fitting a canon on a ground pounder.

 

30mm work well against rebels but I wonder how it would turn against a serious army with Manpads everywhere.

Because MANPADS are limited in what they can currently do. Their kinetics are such that they are limited to a few thousand feet and do find it difficult to reach out and touch a fast strike aircraft.