The F-22 as I argued, is designed to be the best fighter in the USAF with upgrades to make it even more effective. Same as that current F-15s, SU-30s etc. are way more effective than their original variants. The F-22 and perhaps the F-35 are the only fighters that have stealth characteristics that are nessesary to fight the J-20 or the PAK-Fa, that is to survive the BVR engagement. Therefore, it's also the most effective figher to counter those threats compared to F-15s, F-16s, F-18s etc.
Easy or not or even how they apply the RAM coating is a mystery to me, but it is going to be applied to the Raptor so it should be better from a maintenance standpoint.
In my opinion they only need to "cut a hole, place the sensor and add a radar deflective cover". It shouldn't be that difficult if the space is there. Although it'd be more costly compared having it installed from day one. Adding an IR sensor to the MAWS instead of developing it as a seperate detection method like the PIRATE system may not necessarily mean that its current IR detection is "inferior", as it'd depend on your reference measure. Upgrading systems can be the result of advancing your technological lead compared to competitors and may not necessarily mean lagging behind. Second, it cannot be concluded that it's too cumbersome to add a dedicated IR sensor, as I can use the same argument to conclude that close range IR detection is irrelevant, because they didn't add it to the Raptor.
At this point in time I yet need to find a reliable source that says that an IR system will be deployed around 2017 that can track a stealthy target from 100km+. Don't forget, Raptors don't supercruise the entire flight. It's only when they acquire the target(s), they will accelerate to supersonic speeds and cruise at that speed to engage and disengage. Supercruising without any targets to pick a fight with is only a waste of fuel. Furthermore, advances in coating to minimize IR detections are developed and applied. An example is the TOPCOAT coating. So dismissing any advances in this area as "no matter what techniques are used" is a bit far fetched. Furthermore, atmospheric conditions can also interfere with IR sensors.
There's no way to know for sure that the RCS and radar detections are, but let's assume those figures are right. What that means is that at around 40 - 50 kms, a distance that can be closed very rapidly if both fighters are flying towards each other at (near) supersonic speeds, the fight is getting into a WVR fight. If both the J-20/PAK-Fa and the F-22 carries a HOBS missile (and assuming even pilot skill, similar HOBS missile performance etc.), it'll probably be a mutual kill situation. It'll only come to that because both fighters have stealth characteristics. So an F-15 wouldn't even get to use its aim-9x because it'll be shot down at BVR. So why wouldn't the F-22 be the most effective fighter to counter the J-20 and PAK-Fa? It only demonstrates that more of them should have been built and that the Raptor should have had the aim-9x from the beginning with the associated HMCS.
That only holds true if the 100km+ IR detection is accurate, which I respectfully dispute, and that the Raptor cannot detect the opposing aircraft using its own system at similar or longer ranges.
I'm not an aero-engineer, but classic numbers such as weight, wing-loading and thrust-to-weight ratio don't mean much. If I'm not mistaken, the F-22 has a higher weight, wing-loading and a slightly lower thrust-to-weight ratio compared to the F-15, yet it's kinematically much better. L/D ratio's is one of the many other variables that need to be taken into account. Furthermore, as I've said earlier, we currently know that a Raptor can sustain a turn rate of 28 degree per second. The instantaneous turn rate is unknown to me. Similarly, it's unclear what the instantaneous or sustained turn rate of the J-20 or the PAK-Fa is.
I agree with you that the J-20 and PAK-Fa will provide the Raptor with much more challenge than any 4th generation fighters would, but to state that the Raptor is absolutely useless, inferior or anything alike is just too extreme.[/QUOTE]
Inst has failed fighter 101 with his last few posts, he has no desire to be informed of the truth, only to propagate more negative nonsense about the worlds only fifth generation fighter aircraft, the F-22 Raptor. The F-35, J-20, PAK-FA and J-31 have all been built to a downgraded standard, because the one true criticism of the F-22, is that it is a Mega Bucks Babe, non of these other birds have two engines of the F-119 caliber, it is very doubtful that any of the follow on birds will be nearly as stealthy, super-cruise nearly as fast, or include supermaneuverability in a very stealthy platform. They will all be good at some things, they may be very agile, or fast, and have excellent L/O qualities, but not one of them will be the "total package" as the F-22 is, because the technology is NOT easily replicated, and if you are able to replicate the technology, it will be very very expensive. Piere Spey has gone from being a very bright credible man, to a member of the "clown club", the label given by the DT boys, for Sweetman, Spey, even Dr. Kopf??? just not able to accept the reality of the new century.
