Re: V/STOL Air Craft Carrier
MIGleader said:
if japan started operating jsf of a lpd, the chiense would counter with a full carrier. japanese lpd designs have shown themselves to be capable of handling jsf's.
the fighter has a combat radius of 600 nautical miles, twice that of the f-18.
600 nautical miles combat range for an F-18? Is that with a full load? Don't forget the USN ablity to refuel at will. They do it everyday.
Super Hornet range
Range: Combat: 1,275 nautical miles (2,346 kilometers), clean plus two AIM-9s
Ferry: 1,660 nautical miles (3,054 kilometers), two AIM-9s, three 480 gallon tanks retained
Hornet range
Range: Combat: 1,089 nautical miles (1252.4 miles/2,003 km), clean plus two AIM-9s
Ferry: 1,546 nautical miles (1777.9 miles/2,844 km), two AIM-9s plus three 330 gallon tanks.
As for the JMSDF V/STOL carrier. Will the JMSDF ships carry F-35's? Maybe. But that's way off in the future. I don't think the USN will have the JDF in service until 2008. I think the PRC would just continue on it's course of building a larger navy then eventually a blue water navy. We have yet to see any VSTOL aircraft from China. But you don't need a V/STOL to counter. J-10's will have to be the ones to do the job.