NationStates Jolt Archive


Development thread: F-22 to be upgraded to Bravo standard

Cotland
20-06-2005, 01:49
OOC: Writing in red is secret IC (not known to anyone but myself).

IC: The Imperial Cottish Armed Forces are highly pleased with the F-22, which is its primary air superiority fighter. However, after wargames and combat, we have come to realize that the F-22 isn't as close to perfection as some will have it to be. Therefore we have decided to do something about it. We will update all our F-22 airframes with the following updates, thus updating it from F-22A (alpha) status to F-22B (bravo) status.


- Change engines from Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 to Imperial Aeronautics F169-PW-650
- Improve fuel efficiency and manouverability by changing engines
- Update avionics and internal electronics
- Allow for using uplink to newly developed anti-stealth system
- Update radar to AN/APG-80 standard
- Allow for carrying the AIM-179A BVRAAM anti-aircraft missile
- Update internal chaingun to M61A3 standard
- Allow for more air-to-ground ordinance
- Increase max speed from Mach 2.2 (officially Mach 2.0) to Mach 2.55 (officially above Mach 2.4)
- Lower RCS from 0.1 to 0.0097


These developments are expected to cost the Cottish military a total of 850 Billion USD, and will be completed over a five-year period in our maintenance facilities and factories. We will update all 2600 airframes in the Air Force. When it is completed, we will have the absolutely best air superiority fighter known to the world. We shall update this as things progress.
Cotland
20-06-2005, 02:10
Air to Ground ordinance that the Bravo version will carry include


Missiles

AGM-65 Maverick (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/agm-65.htm)
AGM-84 Harpoon (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/agm-84.htm)
AGM-88 HARM (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/agm-88.htm)
AGM-154 JSOW (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/agm-154.htm)
AGM-158 JASSM (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/jassm.htm) (externally)


Bombs

GBU-12 500lb Paveway II (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/gbu-12.htm)
GBU-16 1000lb Paveway II (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/gbu-16.htm)
GBU-24 2000lb Paveway III (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/gbu-24.htm)
GBU-29 250lb JDAM (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/gbu-29.htm)
GBU-30 500lb JDAM (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/gbu-30.htm)
GBU-31 2000lb JDAM (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/gbu-31.htm)
GBU-32 1000lb JDAM (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/gbu-32.htm)

Mk-81 250lb (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/mk81.htm)
Mk-82 500lb (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/mk82.htm)
Mk-83 1000lb (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/mk83.htm)

CBU-59 APAM Rockeye II (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/cbu-59.htm)
Omz222
20-06-2005, 02:11
OOC: Max speed to Mach 2.7, and a sharp decrease in RCS? You are apparantly forgetting about the "speed-vs-stealth" tradeoff, since Mach 2.7 would mean that you'll have to enlargen the intakes, which allows enough airflow to be provided to generate said speed, while effectively exposing the inner workings of the engines to enemy radars and hindering the possibility of adding stealthy measures to the area, thus increasing your RCS. There's a reason why a lot of 5th generation stealthy "conventional" fighters (along with the B-1B) seen today does not have a very high speed, as a high speed requirement would require the deletion of many stealthy characteristics (especially around the engine and intake areas since the components of a turbofan are huge factors in RCS increase), and no matter how powerful the engines are). Though I seriously wouldn't count on a drastic RCS decrease and a drastic increase in top speed, I would instead advice you to go for the "trade-stealth-for-speed" pathway, as many NS radar/whatnot systems are more than capable of detecting stealthy targets anyways, and speed will give you many advantages in combat.
Cotland
20-06-2005, 02:18
OOC: I see. I'll edit the RCS bit then. But it is possible to increase both speed and decrease RCS at the same time. More efficient engines don't really require that much more air, thus no need to increase the RCS but still increasing speed. Or so I think...

Thanks for the comment though. I appreciate it.
Omz222
20-06-2005, 02:21
OOC: I see. I'll edit the RCS bit then. But it is possible to increase both speed and decrease RCS at the same time. More efficient engines don't really require that much more air, thus no need to increase the RCS but still increasing speed. Or so I think...

Thanks for the comment though. I appreciate it.
OOC: Not really, and you'll find that large, open intakes are a direct reason why a high top speed is possible, though it also corresponds to the increase in RCS. So I'd advise the tradeoff advised above. Other than that, it seems like a really nice aircraft - and if I weren't operating an upgraded variant of the F/A-22 myself, I would buy it if it is available for export :)
HailandKill
20-06-2005, 02:24
OOC: These seem to be good mods to a good plane, and i would be interested in IC funding and such to be able to mod my F-22's and such. Also i wouldnt mind research and such...lemme know.
Romulania
20-06-2005, 02:34
Ya know, the F-22A that the US Air Force is about to introduce have a top speed of Mach 2.2, and it is the stealthiest planes in the entire US arsenal. If the max speed is Mach 2.7, it could very well be a lower RCS than 0.0097.
Layarteb
20-06-2005, 02:45
Also, keep in mind that the SR-71A Blackbird has a low RCS and it is Mach 3+. The B-1B is Mach 1.2 and it's pretty stealthy, the F-117 and B-2 are both subsonic. The US F/A-22 is Mach 2.2 and it is the stealthiest plane in the US inventory. In fact, the DOD has cited that the F/A-22 is the fastest and stealthiest plane in the US inventory. The F-15C Eagle is Mach 2.5 so if the F/A-22 is technically faster than it is probably in that area anyway but you know top secret.
Roman Republic
20-06-2005, 02:56
very good. when you finish this errors, I would like to sell your aircraft in my storefront.
Cotland
20-06-2005, 03:28
very good. when you finish this errors, I would like to sell your aircraft in my storefront.
Sorry, no can do. This is stricktly for my own Air Force. Perhaps with a tiny exception to only a few of my closest allies, who number only two nations..
HailandKill
20-06-2005, 03:41
OOC: Would i be able to buy production rights, if the very high price was right?
Cotland
21-06-2005, 11:53
Nope