F-22A Raptor

Hooch · Post by **Hooch** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 11:49 pm

Neither should have them. I think both would sell them. I have a feeling that Iran would "lose" a few suitcase nukes and not bother to say anything until it has been detonated in Tel Aviv.

Saevrok · Post by **Saevrok** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 1:59 am

Korea sells to the highest bidder, terrorist cell gets em. Nukes a city. Iran builds nukes, terrorist cell gets em. Nukes a city.

Same result just different "Made in" lables.

CroinctheNeoCon · Post by **CroinctheNeoCon** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 4:00 am

Ummm, I think you guys n gals are forgeting a few history lessons. Iran would never nuke Isreal b/c they believe that the land is holy land.

Basically, both countries use the threat of nukes to try to flex their muscle and get what they want.

N.K. is held in check by China. Iran could be held in check with a blockade. I say we starve them both out and let them die.

Embar Angylwrath · Post by **Embar Angylwrath** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 11:10 am

Ddrak wrote:So, on the scale of danger who do you think would be worse with nukes? North Korea or Iran?

Dd

That's like asking what your favorite flavor of puke is.

Post by **Ddrak** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 12:40 pm

Yep, Embar. That's what makes it such an interesting question.

I agree with Croinc. The real problem with both Iran and NK getting nukes isn't that they'll use them (that scenario is very unlikely). It's that they use the fact they have them and we don't want them to in getting whatever they want from negotiations. This is more dangerous from NK simply because they don't have an alternate source of income the way Iran does from oil, so their demands tend to be much higher.

Dd

UltraBurz · Post by **UltraBurz** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 2:18 pm

THE FIRST 12 COMBAT-READY F-22 RAPTORS WILL DEPLOY in June to Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska. (Aviation Week & Space Technology, 12/19, Pg. 22; Defense Today, 12/16, Pg. 1)

I'm a little suprised at this. I guess maybe it's for the close proximity to N. Korea and the Chi-Coms.

Fallakin Kuvari · Post by **Fallakin Kuvari** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 2:36 pm

I'm just glad we're finally getting in on the F-22 action.

UltraBurz · Post by **UltraBurz** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 2:53 pm

Some interesting tidbits (Click the pictures for higher resolutions)

Operation Combat Hammer - First Deployment
Link 2

Lt. Col. James Hecker (front) and Lt. Col. Evan Dertein line up their F/A-22 Raptor aircraft behind a KC-10 Extender to refuel while en route to Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Colonel Hecker commands the first operational Raptor squadron -- the 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va. The unit went to Hill for operation Combat Hammer, the squadron's first deployment, Oct. 15. The deployment has a twofold goal: complete a deployment and generate a combat-effective sortie rate away from home.

F/A-22 reaches IOC (video included)

In reaching initial operational capability, the Raptor is certified ready for operational use.

The first combat-ready Raptors are flying with the 27th Fighter Squadron of the 1st Fighter Wing here. The squadron’s deployment capability is a 12-ship package designed to execute air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

“If we go to war tomorrow, the Raptor will go with us,” said Gen. Ronald E. Keys, commander of Air Combat Command.

Declaring the transformational stealth fighter “IOC” means the Raptor’s proven capabilities are available for combat and supported by a properly trained and equipped force.

It also means the aircraft is qualified to fly homeland defense missions.

Reaching the IOC milestone culminates a collaborative 25-year effort between various Air Force organizations and industry partners. The road to the IOC included was a step-by-step process. The F-22A System Program Office first turned Air Force requirements into a successful acquisition program. Then there was developmental flight test and evaluation, simulation and ground testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and Eglin AFB, Fla. There was engine testing at Arnold AFB, Tenn., and missile testing at Holloman AFB, N.M., and over the Pacific Test Range. Also, there was tactics development at Nellis AFB, Nev., pilot and maintenance training at Tyndall AFB, Fla., and deployability here.

The general said, “To add to what we learned on our successful first operational deployment to the Utah Test and Training Range to drop JDAMs (joint direct attack munition), fly against double-digit SAMs (surface-to-air missiles) at Nellis and work (close air support) with F-16 FAC-As, we will conduct our first routine peacetime exercise deployment by taking 12 Raptors to Alaska in June for Northern Edge.”

Post by **Ddrak** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 3:56 pm

Payload is nothing spectacular. The real advantage is the stealth capability, and I expect the "40 years" estimate to be radically overestimated as it assumes current detection technology.

Dd

Embar Angylwrath · Post by **Embar Angylwrath** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:02 pm

I concur. The second some country is able to figure out how to use the earth's magetic feild as a metal detector, our stealth capability will be nullified. (Metal moving through a magetic feild produces a current, all they need to do is track the magentic feild disruptions that travel in somewhat of a straight line. Use radar to verify stealth or non-stealth, correct for signals that occur both in the magnetic feild disruption and radar echos, and viola... stealth plane identified.)

Post by **Ddrak** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:26 pm

The other avenue is satellite detection, or "over the horizon" radar. Stealth aircraft are designed to counter the effects of ground radar, optimising their reflections upwards. A radar scan from a higher altitude, or reflected from the ionosphere (like the radar facility at Pine Gap does) will detect them without problems.

It was apparently rather amusing for the facilities at Pine Gap to be able to watch the bombers flying over Iraq in real time while the Iraqi radars themselves had no visibility of them.

Of course, making something efficient in terms of radar signals doesn't make it efficient in other areas of the EM spectrum. Something as simple as a change of frequencies could render current stealth technology trivially visible.

Dd