Artist's approximation of the F-19, which was actually the F-117. |
Only Clint could steal a Soviet MiG capable of stealth, mach 5, and thought controlled weaponry. |
Not this. |
This. |
Why? Because stealth has been proven to work.
During the Gulf War, the F-117 represented a mere 2.5% of the allied aircraft flying over Iraq. Despite that small number, it was responsible for destroying 40% of the strategic targets. The F-117 flew 1,271 sorties, with an 80% success rate, and not a single loss. It's hard to argue with those numbers. The F-117 also flew during the second Iraq war, Afghanistan, and the former Yugoslavia, where it suffered its only combat loss (more on this later).
The F-117's much bigger brother, the B-2 "Spirit". |
ch farther range and a much higher payload, the B-2 has proven itself over Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Libya, and it was even considered as an alternative to the now famous Bin Laden raid.
The current "king of the sky" the F-22 "Raptor". |
With stealth's overwhelming advantage, it will undoubtedly become standard on nearly all military aircraft, much like the jet engine did in the late 1940s and 1950s. Right?
Not really. Why?
- STEALTH IS EXPENSIVE
The aborted RAH-66 "Comanche" stealth helicoptor. |
Even the successful designs aren't known for their affordability. F-22 production was recently halted by the U.S. government well ahead of the planned 750 aircraft due to high costs, listed as anywhere between $200-$350 million per copy. The B-2 stealth bomber actually actually holds the world record for the world's most expensive aircraft. The F-35 program is considered to be the most expensive weapon system program of all time.
- STEALTH REQUIRES MORE INTENSIVE MAINTENANCE
Extra special care: The B-2 gets a "once over". |
The B-2 bomber requires special climate controlled hangers to maintain its stealth skin. The F-22 is so expensive to fly that training hours have been cut to lower costs. Also, the adhesive used in in the F-22's stealth coating has been blamed for causing health problems and oxygen starvation of its pilots and ground crew.
- STEALTH REQUIRES DESIGN COMPROMISES
Now, the F-22 and the F-35 are both capable of mounting external fuel tanks and weapons. Doing so however, compromises the aircrafts' stealthy shape to the point where they can no longer be considered a "stealth" aircraft.
- STEALTH ISN'T MAGICAL CLOAKING DEVICE
It's not like this. |
Even in more modern stealth aircraft, care must be taken. Radar use is kept to a minimum. Ideally, radar lock would be achieved by one aircraft, while a closer aircraft uses a data link for targeting information. Even basic manoeuvres must be kept to a minimum to avoid exposing part of the aircraft that is not-so-stealthy, such as a metal engine nozzle, or altering the shape of the aircraft by moving its ailerons and elevators (this is one of the reasons why the F-22 has vectored thrust nozzles). Manoeuvring also increases the aircraft's heat signature, enabling it to be detected by infrared.
Imagine your typical submarine movie scene. Attempting to remain undetected by the enemy, the crew speaks in whispers, shuts down all non-essential gear, and slows down to a snail's pace. That's a more accurate depiction of stealth.
- STEALTH IS FALLIBLE
Part of the F-117 shot down by a 1960s era missile over the former Yugoslavia. |
In March of 1999, a F-117 was shot down over the former Yugoslavia with an antiquated 1960s era S-125 "Neva-M" surface to air missile. Reports state that the S-125 was able to detect the F-117 by using a longer wavelengths than the typically used (but more accurate) X-band radar. This was enough to fire two missiles at the F-117, with one exploding close enough to the aircraft to knock it down.
At an airshow, a EA-18G was displayed showing rather surprising "kill" artwork on its fuselage. When asked, the pilot stated it was there "Because this is the EA-18G that killed an F-22". What the details of the story are is anybody's guess, but it seems telling that an aircraft that focuses on electronic warfare rather than direct combat could get the jump on an aircraft said to be far superior to any other jet fighter in service.
- STEALTH HAS YET TO BE PROVEN IN REAL WORLD AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT
The F-22 has more experience battling Decepticons than actual enemy aircraft. |
Neither the F-117, nor the B-2 have air-to-air capabilities. The F-35 is still in development, as are foreign designs like the Sukhoi T-50, Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang J-31. This leaves the F-22 "Raptor" as the only stealth fighter currently in service.
Oddly enough, the F-22 has never seen actual combat service. This, despite it being active and combat ready during the U.S.A.'s involvement in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. Perhaps the F-22 is simply to expensive to risk in combat, or the enemy in those locations were not considered "worthy" of the USAF's flagship aircraft.
The F-22 does boast a rather impressive kill ratio in simulated combat. The rules of engagement of these mock battles isn't made clear, however, so it is hard to determine if these scenarios were in fact a "fair fight" or if conditions were skewed to favour the F-22's strengths (emphasis on BVR combat, AWACs support, etc).
What is interesting, however, is the tale of a German Luftwaffe pilot describing the F-22's weakness when it comes to WVR (within visual range) combat. The big, hot F-22 was considered "Raptor Salad" by the smaller, tighter turning and faster accelerating Eurofighter Typhoon, which was able to take advantage of its IRST (infrared search-and-track) and helmet mounted sight to keep the F-22 in its sights.
Given lesson's learned over Vietnam, where the missile-only equipped F-4 was supposed to own the skies over its more primitive dogfighting opponents, it would seem that technological superiority doesn't always win battles.
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