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

[TerraN_EmpirE]

Progressively it appears to me based on high level statements that the framework for a NGF will revolve around the following product sets of systems :
1) A platform that will be B-21 like which in the past I have described as a B-21 lite. This shaping will provide multi spectrum stealth, valuable internal weapons storage space, range, and electrical power capacity for DEW and sensors;

Funny as originally B21 was B2 lite.
I don’t think this ends up as B21 alone. I am starting to see this as not one platform but many B21 being part of it. In particular it larger size and payload means it’s the natural mother ship of golden hordes. But B21 is decidedly subsonic. The article mentions speed. So I think a fast pointy nose fighter may be in the works here.

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Especially when we hear about this new century series.

2)Loyal wingman with the leading candidate being the Kratos XQ-58A Valkryrie;

There are a number of options here again with the five year Fighters talk I suspect that we might see more loyal wingmen than manned systems.

3)Attritable drones such as the "Goldern horde" program; and
4)Advanced missiles including hypersonics and long range missiles with AI and EW capabilities

The line between drone and missile seems blurred these days. Cheap drones make a ton of sense and will be critical for both training and operations. Decoys and Attack systems that can kamikaze threats or guide less destructive means.

Major makers are now pitching systems like the Cuda and Pelican (Above) these propose system lighter than a sidewinder smaller than one two with range on par with AMRAAM. F35 internally today can carry what? 4 AMRAAM with the refit coming that will make 6. Pelican would make that 8-12.
More with external carry.
On F22 it could go up to 14 assuming that they can squeeze into the sidewinder bays.
Then you get the AIM260 AMRAAM size what almost double range?

 

[Jura The idiot]

... The whole idea of system of systems was not to be bound by a shell by distributing the shell into multiple parts like the main body, loyal wingman and attritable drones.

... and if this "idea" represented anything real (and not just talking by appointees who may be gone tomorrow), it'd magnify concurrency issues to above-the-Pentagon proportions

 

[Brumby]

... and if this "idea" represented anything real (and not just talking by appointees who may be gone tomorrow), it'd magnify concurrency issues to above-the-Pentagon proportions

Concurrency risk is a function of technological adoption prior to maturity rather than the nature or quantity of the development. A distributed systems approach is meant to reduce technological adoption risk and hence concurrency through branching rather than centralizing.

 

[Brumby]

Funny as originally B21 was B2 lite.
I don’t think this ends up as B21 alone. I am starting to see this as not one platform but many B21 being part of it. In particular it larger size and payload means it’s the natural mother ship of golden hordes. But B21 is decidedly subsonic. The article mentions speed. So I think a fast pointy nose fighter may be in the works here.

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Especially when we hear about this new century series.

Are you referring to this type of pointy nose design?

There are a number of options here again with the five year Fighters talk I suspect that we might see more loyal wingmen than manned systems.

There probably will be other loyal wingman design besides Kratos which currently do have a head start. As for the 5 year fighter, I don't think it is fundamentally sound and I doubt it will have traction. We shall see.

The line between drone and missile seems blurred these days. Cheap drones make a ton of sense and will be critical for both training and operations. Decoys and Attack systems that can kamikaze threats or guide less destructive means.

The concept of attritable is not the same as expendable. Attritable drones allow more flexible operational planning including the pursuance of higher risk options that normally would not be a consideration to preserve the assets

Major makers are now pitching systems like the Cuda and Pelican (Above) these propose system lighter than a sidewinder smaller than one two with range on par with AMRAAM. F35 internally today can carry what? 4 AMRAAM with the refit coming that will make 6. Pelican would make that 8-12.
More with external carry.
On F22 it could go up to 14 assuming that they can squeeze into the sidewinder bays.
Then you get the AIM260 AMRAAM size what almost double range?

The development of smaller form factors in missiles is a recognition of the limited internal weapons bay to preserve VLO. In contrast, the developmental emphasis of more advanced missiles is to enable the penetration of less permissive future environment that would require accompanying missiles with EW and AI cooperative capabilities.

 

[Jura The idiot]

Concurrency risk is a function of technological adoption prior to maturity rather than the nature or quantity of the development. A distributed systems approach is meant to reduce technological adoption risk and hence concurrency through branching rather than centralizing.

sounds like a description of Operation Charlie Foxtrot

 

[Jura The idiot]

inside
US Air Force’s next-generation fighter inches forward with a new program head

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:
“Based on what industry thinks they can do and what my team will tell me, we will need to set a cadence of how fast we think we build a new airplane from scratch. Right now, my estimate is five years. I may be wrong,” Roper said in September.

has he ever heard of the Joint Strike Fighter?
LOL

 

[Air Force Brat]

inside
US Air Force’s next-generation fighter inches forward with a new program head

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:
“Based on what industry thinks they can do and what my team will tell me, we will need to set a cadence of how fast we think we build a new airplane from scratch. Right now, my estimate is five years. I may be wrong,” Roper said in September.

has he ever heard of the Joint Strike Fighter?
LOL

Will Roper is full of KRAP! we will end up with some jacked up piece of KRAP

 

[Brumby]

USAF future fighter plans in the latest edition of Combat Aircraft.

 

[Jura The idiot]

USAF future fighter plans in the latest edition of Combat Aircraft.
View attachment 55073

wondering where they'd find money for what's described in there, as
Fewer airmen, fewer bombs and delayed F-15s: Goldfein outlines effects of continuing resolution

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[Brumby]

Since we don't have a thread on RQ-180, I will stick it here.

AWST (24/10/2019) has recently reported that the RQ-180 has gone operational with the 427th Reconnaissance Sqdn.at Beale AFB, California. At least 7 units are known to exist. No pictures are currently available. The shaping is believe to be similar to the B-21 which of course we don't have any thing official as well. Anyway, a picture as illustrated by AWST.



and the B-21