Canada's Next Fighter?
Canadian_Mind @ Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:28 pm
$1:
Simply stating that an aircraft won't work without explaining why and then suggesting another again without explanation won't persuade the reader to your opinion. First of all, why not the JAS 39 and secondly, why the Rafale instead?
I think comparing it to the F-5 is enough explination.
F-5 was an under-armed, underpowered, high-wing loaded, low ranged pest that could be spotted by Russian radar from hundreds of miles away.
All those charactaristics are bad, and similar too the JAS 39. It's dogfighting is mediocre at best, and while it does have a good radar and weapons suite, it has no stealth whatsoever, and as such will be shot down by stealthy Russian, Chiniese, Indian, or even American aircraft long before it even detects them, and unlike the Eurofighter, which also sticks out like a sore thumb, it can't outturn any missles that are shot at it.
Personally, I wouldn't take the Rafale either.
Canadian_Mind @ Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:44 pm
Don't know why this option wasn't on the poll, but the F-15E continues to be viable, now Boeing has produced a new version with some stealthier mods:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/03/17/323962/pictures-boeing-unveils-upgraded-f-15-silent-eagle-with-fifth-generation.html
Might be a more cost-effective solution than the Euro-fighter. It is slightly less manueverable, has slightly greater range, likely similar stealth characteristics, slower cruising speed but overall much greater top speed, to the point that it can outrun many Russian and Western Surface - Air and Air - Air missles. Eurofighter can't outrun the missles, but it can out-turn them. Combine this with the fact that the parts supplier is right next door rather than across the pond (not that it has helped much in the past), and we might have a viable alternative to last us to 2030-2040 until UAVs become more prevalent.
Could also have Pratt-whitney Canada design a more Fuel efficient engine, a more powerful engine, an engine with vectored thrust (either 2D or 3D), or a combination of the three to improve overall range, speed performance, both cruise and top end, and manueverability.
What Canada need to cover it's vast territory is an effective, long range intercetor. As I said above, both aircraft have fairly equivilent ranges, with the F-15SE winning out with conventional load-out. It would also depend on how we design and build the conforming fuel tanks, which is an option Boeing is giving to export customrs. Depending on how we re-design current engines or design whole new engines, if given the option, we could also extend the range.
With the general characteristics of interceptors being less-manueverable aircraft, more would be needed to overwhelm an enemy in a dogfight. Manueverbility could be helped somewhat by a change to vectored thrust for the engines, increased engine power, and minor airframe modifications to lower overall wing loading. But costs and manueverability increases mean overall less airframes.
With the inherint design of the original F-15Es based of an air-superiority fighter (and effective interceptor platform) converted to a multi-role aircraft, the single jack of all trades fighter would mean that we onyl need one fleet of aircraft to effectively serve all of Canada's needs; from interception and surveilance in the high artic to Combat Air Patrols and ground support missions domestically (god forbid) and abroad in support of Canadian and international operations.
Thats something I forgot to mention, a surveilance suit. While digging through the internet I couldn't find much info about it, the new redesign of the conforming fuel tanks has shown potential for surveilance radar to be fitted. Specific systems I haven't been able to cite, but even potential to have a ground warfare monitoring system or AWACS system installed within the confines of the aircraft, thusly not affecting any areodynamic or the limited stealth characteristics of the airframe.
Something I think should be looked at and considered, especially if it can provide more bang for the buck when compared to the F-35 of Eurofighter. No it isn't a full fledged stealth aircraft, but it's something that can handle anything thatany of our options could handle, the only obviously superior aircraft being the F-22, and possibly F-35, Eurofighter, and new Russian Stealth fighter.
Couple more pics demonstrating the internal carriage system, takign from Boeing site:
Arctic_Menace @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:05 am
That's a sexy F-15. Still would like to see Canada buy the Eurofighter though.
Canadian_Mind @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:51 am
Why the preference?