US F/A-XX and F-X 6th Gen Aircraft News Thread

[Brumby]

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Another one throwing in their 2 cents into the pot. This one from skunk.

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

Lockheed reveals small self-defence weapon for fighters
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WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flightglobal.com
10 hours ago
The US Air Force is considering a

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proposal to adapt technology used for a ground-based missile defense system to protect fighters under attack in the air.

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has invited proposals for a miniature self-defense munition concept study, seeking to develop a concept for a weapon to be dispensed from a fighter jet, hone in on an incoming missile and destroy it with a direct hit.

By replacing chaff, flares and directional infrared lasers, the so-called miniature self defence munition (MSDM) could revolutionise the concept of defensive countermeasures for tactical aircraft, says Frank St. John, vice-president of tactical missiles and combat manoeuvre systems at Lockheed’s Missile and Fire Control division.

“To kinetically engage as a countermeasure something that’s fired at you is an attractive possibility,” St. John says, “rather than just confuse or jam something that’s been fired at you.”

Lockheed has been studying the concept using internal funding for about three to four years, St. John says.

It seeks to leverage the active millimetre wave radar developed for the PAC-3 missile segment enhancement (MSE) programme. It repackages the sensor in a miniature munition powered by a small rocket motor.

In Lockheed’s concept, the pilot is alerted to an incoming missile and dispenses an MSDM, which hones into the target using the radar sensor, St. John says. It is a hit-to-kill weapon, and so lacks a warhead.

The miniature interceptor could dramatically increase the internal load-outs of fighters such as the F-22 and

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, he says. It could replace the storage space now claimed for small diameter bombs. Alternatively, three of the miniature interceptors could replace one Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM, he says.

In addition to the PAC-3 MSE programme, Lockheed’s concept also comes out of two other internal projects, St. John says. One is a miniature, radar-guided missile called CUDA and the other programme is “KICM”.

Lockheed has worked on component-level hardware development and testing, along with performing operational analysis studies using internal funding. Last year, the AFRL contributed funding for more operational analyses, St. John says.

Although Lockheed has been studying the concept for four years, it may have competition for more AFRL funding. The AFRL on 5 February notified potential vendors that it is seeking proposals for a pair of concept studies on the MSDM itself and the munition’s seeker.

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[Equation]

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Miniature missiles that can be launched against an adversary oncoming missiles? Will it be for BVR incoming missiles are short range as well? It's interesting and I like the concept.

 

[Bernard]

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works Chief: U.S. Next Generation Fighters Need Stealth

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February 18, 2015 7:20 PM • Updated: February 19, 2015 10:23 AM

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This is a Lockheed Martin concept for a sixth-generation concept aircraft to replace the F-22 Raptor. Lockheed Martin Illustration
CRYSTAL CITY, VA. – Stealth – the technology that masks aircraft and ships from enemy radars – needs to be an integral part of the next generation of U.S. fighter aircraft, the head of Lockheed Martin’s secretive Skunk Works division told reporters on Wednesday.
The Navy and the Air Force both are conducting early developmental work into each service’s next fighters past their latest crop – the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) and the F-22 Raptor. Those new fighters – Navy’s F/A-XX and the Air Force’s F-X – will need stealth, Rob Weiss said during the Lockheed Martin Media Day.
“Stealth is and will remain foundational to any new airplane design and I will assert that based on the threat analysis we’ve done the technology assessments that we’re making,” he said.
“Anybody who would suggest that stealth is past its value really isn’t just looking at the data.”
Weiss was responding to a reporter’s questions on comments made by Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert who called into question the efficacy of stealth for fighters operating in contested environments.
“You know that stealth maybe overrated,” Greenert said during a keynote two weeks ago at the

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.
“I don’t want to necessarily say that it’s over but let’s face it, if something moves fast through the air and disrupts molecules in the air and puts out heat – I don’t care how cool the engine can be – it’s going to be detectable.”
The Navy has been slow to adopt stealth to protect its fighters in contested airspace, relying more on electronic warfare platforms like the Boeing EA-18G Growler with a concept of operations (CONOPs) based on suppressing enemy air defenses (SEAD) rather than evading enemy air defenses with stealth aircraft.
The F-35C carrier variant is the Navy’s first production carrier stealth fighter and the service has said it will be an important component in the Navy’s Naval Integrated Fire Control Counter Air (NIFC-CA) as a forward sensor node to relay targeting information back to shooters in a Carrier Strike Group
Though stealth will be important for the F-35’s NIFC-CA role, Greenert said stealth or speed may not be for the replacement to the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet – F/A-XX, Greenert said.
USNI News understands the Navy is looking for an aircraft that will be able to carry a significant weapons payload and work as a beefy anti-air warfare platform.
Stealth should be part of that design, Weiss said.
“That doesn’t mean that that is going to be everything that it brings to the game, electronic attack capability is going to be — and is — a critical part of survivability of airplanes today and will continue to be in the future. But there’s no scenarios I see where you’re going to design a new airplane to operate in a contested environment that’s not going to be grounded in stealth,” he said.
“The data clearly shows that an airplane designed to be stealthy will carry the day in lethality and survivability versus one that’s not.”
The Navy is currently in the analysis of alternatives (AoA) process for F/A-XX and the program is scheduled to enter the fleet around 2030.
Lockheed Martin and Super Hornet builder Boeing have both indicated they’ll likely compete for the business.

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[strehl]

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They may be refering to a variation of this:

The missile is very small (maybe 15" long and 1" diameter). The version in the video is passive radar guided but Lockheed was asked to revise the design recently to include an active sensor. It is competing for the Army's low cost interceptor program for CRAM.

 

[Dizasta1]

That tag line at the end of the video, Lockheed Martin : "We never forget who we are working for!"

 

[Air Force Brat]

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There ya go, the truth about air-power in highly contested environments, I would point out that as of today Feb 21st, 2015 that only the USAF has "operational 5th generation stealthy aircraft, that my friends give you a clue as to "desire"! If the Navy had desired??? it could have had a naval version of ATF, they instead chose to travel a different route. Admiral Greenert's comments should be seen as coming from a desire to protect that services core interests or "desire" pretty simple really.

 

[Jeff Head]

Well, the US Navy is developing the Bravo and Charlie F-35s for the US Marines and NAvy respectively and they are 5th generation stealth aircraft.

They are moving forward with the development of the X-47B UCLAS follow-on, and it is a stealth aircraft.

I believe the US Navy 6th generation aircraft will also be a stealth aircraft. There Is no doubt in my mind about this.

Will it be absolutely and totally exotic stealth? Like sci-fi stuff? Probably not...we'll save that for 8th, 9th or 10th gen aircraft in their time. But, will it be up to the task of addressing any peer threat for its time? I believe we can count on it.

 

[Silvestre]

The US is about to start official analysis and consideration of the F/A-XX 6th generation stealth aircraft for the US Navy.

This thread will be about the two following US military 6th generation stealth aircraft programs.

The US Navy F/A-XX 6th Generation Aircraft program
The US Air Force F-X 6th Generation Aircraft program

The US Air Force Program to replace the F-15C/D aircraft, and then later the F-22A aircraft is expected to meet roughly the same schedule, with the F-22s being replaced many years later of course, after the F-15s are all replaced.

F-15SE, Super Hornets and F-22s in the plannes. F-35s only for the sale.

The Navy is scheduled to make a selection for production by 2030 so that F/A-18E/F Super Hornets can begin to be replaced after 2035.

To 2070s Super Hornets goes to. Like older brother F-16 Falcon.

F-16 Falcon is from 1960s. And in 2020s they are replaced.

Near 60 year in service.

 

[Jeff Head]

To 2070s Super Hornets goes to. Like older brother F-16 Falcon.

F-16 Falcon is from 1960s. And in 2020s they are replaced.

Near 60 year in service.

Silvestre...please do more research before you post such things.

The F-16 was introduced into US Military service in 1978...NOT the 1960s.

The RFQ was in 1972. The first prototype flew in 1974. The production aircraft were introduced into service in 1978, as I say. I lived through all of that and saw them as they came out. Please do not make such ridiculous assertions. 1978 is not the 1960s.

It will begin to be retired from US service in the 2020s, after a little over 40 years of service.

As to the F-18s serving until the 2070s, MORE OF THE SAME. It was introduced into US Navy service in 1999. It will NOT Serve until the 2070s. Period.

Now, Boeing did fund what is known as the Advanced Super Hornet which has a 50% reduction in frontal radar cross-section, conformal fuel tanks, and an enclosed weapons pod. Flight tests for that aircraft began in August 2013. They tested the performance of CFTs, the enclosed weapons pod (EWP), and radar cross section. The U.S. Navy was apparently pretty pleased with it and may upgrade existing Super Hornets in the future.

But at the most, using the Advanced Super Hornet, it it may get to the 2050s. Without the Advanced Super Hornet, it is likely to begin being taken out of service in the late 2030s and early 2040s.