US Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Gloire_bb

Gloire_bb

Major
Registered Member
gelgoog said:
"all active" and "entire fleet" are certainly NOT the huge numbers you see in Wikipedia or Military Balance and the ilk.
And if the F-16 AESA radar retrofit is like I read, then power and space limitations mean it will have less radar range than a new build.
Click to expand...
It is what it is - about 1.1k aircraft in USAF are AESA platforms; largest non-AESA element is CAF F-16C fleet, which is getting updated.
Yes, SABR radar power isn't impressive (this isn't a metric it was bought for in the first place). It's still modern AESA.

At this point it's modern radar capability is below PLAAF, but not critically so. Furthermore, Navair active and deployable strength(i.e. decks) are many times over PLANAF, as is marine air.

Too early to cheer, modernization drive is going well for China, but established superiority isn't really there yet.
 
G

gelgoog

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
Gloire_bb said:
It is what it is - about 1.1k aircraft in USAF are AESA platforms
Click to expand...
:rolleyes:

I also used to believe all Rafales were upgraded to F3 standard with AESA radar. Until reality proved otherwise.

But yeah the F-35, F-22, F/A-18 E/F have it for sure. Somehow I doubt all the F-15Cs have it.

Gloire_bb said:
largest non-AESA element is CAF F-16C fleet, which is getting updated.
Yes, SABR radar power isn't impressive (this isn't a metric it was bought for in the first place). It's still modern AESA.
Click to expand...
Yep.

Gloire_bb said:
At this point it's modern radar capability is below PLAAF, but not critically so. Furthermore, Navair active and deployable strength(i.e. decks) are many times over PLANAF, as is marine air.
Click to expand...
Well the US has more and bigger carriers. That won't change anytime soon I think.

Gloire_bb said:
Too early to cheer, modernization drive is going well for China, but established superiority isn't really there yet.
Click to expand...
Actually I think we are way past that especially considering the AAM disparity.
 
Last edited:
Gloire_bb

Gloire_bb

Major
Registered Member
gelgoog said:
I also used to believe all Rafales were upgraded to F3 standard with AESA radar. Until reality proved otherwise.

But yeah the F-35, F-22, F/A-18 E/F have it for sure. Somehow I doubt all the F-15Cs have it.
Click to expand...
Feel free to correct me. I certainly track rafales %)
gelgoog said:
Actually I think we are way past that especially considering the AAM disparity.
Click to expand...
It isn't crucial yet(two dual burners - bigger is better, but known numbers are nowhere near enough for one-sided engagement), especially given that USAF has general advantage in both stealth (f-22 + f-35) and energy throw (f-22, f-15 series). For now.
Furthermore, raytheon is really trying to squeeze range out of AIM-120D, just to keep AIM-260 away from their precious bulk orders.
 
Gloire_bb

Gloire_bb

Major
Registered Member
gelgoog said:
The dual pulse is a big deal not just because of range but terminal velocity. And China has the sensor advantage here again.
Click to expand...
AIM-120D is dual pulse, i.e. it's fair. We truly live in interesting times where we seriously discuss USAF encountering an actual equal, but it is still that - equal.
PLAAF, as of now, has sensor(significant), weapon and age advantage; it's much better based, at least when fighting happens close to China.
USAF is simply larger (yet), has some stealth and high end kinematic edge; it's also undisputed world leader in drone intercept, which is potentially more urgent than even aerial fighting.
Finally, american bomber force, for now, is incomparably better.
 
Nevermore

Nevermore

Junior Member
Registered Member
Gloire_bb said:
AIM-120D is dual pulse, i.e. it's fair. We truly live in interesting times where we seriously discuss USAF encountering an actual equal, but it is still that - equal.
PLAAF, as of now, has sensor(significant), weapon and age advantage; it's much better based, at least when fighting happens close to China.
USAF is simply larger (yet), has some stealth and high end kinematic edge; it's also undisputed world leader in drone intercept, which is potentially more urgent than even aerial fighting.
Finally, american bomber force, for now, is incomparably better.
Click to expand...
How come the AIM-120D is a dual-pulse air-to-air missile?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top