[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Upgrades for the Super Hornet (Silent Hornet in the works maybe?)

Posted: 7/21/2010 9:56:41 AM EDT

The bottom picture shows conformal fuel tanks and an
enclosed weapons bay. AIUI, these are also parts of the F-15 Silent
Eagle proposal. The F-18 E/F already uses a number of RCS reducing
features. Could something of a 'Silent Hornet' be in the works?
Stealth issues aside, how useful would conformal fuel tanks (greater
range is good) and an enclosed weapons bay be for a Super Hornet? Or
would it not really be worth the additional cost?
Val?.....
-K
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2010/07/farn10-boeing-does-strike-figh.html

FARN10:
Boeing does strike fighters

By
on

| Permalink

| Comments
(7)
| TrackBacks
(0)

|
ShareThis

The title of the briefing was "The Strike Fighter
Evolution", and the briefer was Boeing vice president and general
manager for global strike systems Shelley Lavender. In my experience, a
briefing with such a title is unpromising: Lots of generic information
and references to "generations", but little in the way of news.
But
this briefing was different, as shown by this tantalizing slide:

Don't
get too excited about the line on F-22. No, Boeing is not the prime
contractor for the F-22, but it's responsible for building one-third of
the fuselage and integrating the avionics. In the latter role, Boeing
expects a thriving business for F-22 modernization programs in the years
ahead.
But pay close attention to the last line on slide. It's
the one labeled "propietary" and indicates that it's in production
today. We don't know what "it" is, and, of course, Lavender declined to
elaborate or clarify.
And that may not have been the most
interesting slide in Boeing's brief. Take a look at the one below, and
note the bullet point for "enclosed weapons pod" and image.

Posted: 7/21/2010 9:59:50 AM EDT

[#1]

Sorry, something got screwed up there.....

Not sure how to fix it and I have go for a bit.

-K

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:01:47 AM EDT

[#2]

I think a light weight frame for a land version would be awesome.

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:04:23 AM EDT

[#3]

So let me guess, it gets another 300knots slower and loses another 300nm in range.

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:09:08 AM EDT

[#4]

Pretty slides. Lots of information, too.

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:15:55 AM EDT

[#5]

is it my imagination or is that a single seat

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:17:33 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
is it my imagination or is that a single seat

It damn well better be.

Bigger motors are always nice.
More gas is always nice. (I suggested putting conformal tanks in that spot years ago... doubt I'll see a dime.

)
Weapons pods are interesting...

Call me when they straighten the pylons.

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:19:21 AM EDT

[#7]

What do "TD" and "EMD" mean?

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:20:21 AM EDT

[#8]

So America is going to keep flying the same ol' fighters while Russia, China and India close the gap. So much for American innovation.

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:20:31 AM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
is it my imagination or is that a single seat

Why does it have a seat at all is the better question.

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:21:00 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:

Quoted:
is it my imagination or is that a single seat

Why does it have a seat at all is the better question.

Blasphemy.

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:22:49 AM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
So America is going to keep flying the same ol' fighters while Russia, China and India close the gap. So much for American innovation.

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:22:52 AM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:

Quoted:
is it my imagination or is that a single seat

Why does it have a seat at all is the better question.

Blasphemy.

Sorry, had to fuck with you.

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:23:53 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
What do "TD" and "EMD" mean?

Technology Development Phase

Engineering and Manufacturing Development Phase

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:24:03 AM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
So America is going to keep flying the same ol' fighters while Russia, China and India close the gap. So much for American innovation.

It is for the children!

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:25:22 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:

Quoted:
is it my imagination or is that a single seat

It damn well better be.

Bigger motors are always nice.
More gas is always nice. (I suggested putting conformal tanks in that spot years ago... doubt I'll see a dime.

)
Weapons pods are interesting...

Call me when they straighten the pylons.

The only time a fighter has too much gas is when?

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:26:29 AM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:

Quoted:
is it my imagination or is that a single seat

It damn well better be.

Bigger motors are always nice.
More gas is always nice. (I suggested putting conformal tanks in that spot years ago... doubt I'll see a dime.

)
Weapons pods are interesting...

Call me when they straighten the pylons.

The only time a fighter has too much gas is when?

When it keeps it from being able to do a split S and quickly go to guns!
(I actually have no idea what, if anything, that sentence means)

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:26:35 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:

Quoted:
is it my imagination or is that a single seat

It damn well better be.

Bigger motors are always nice.
More gas is always nice. (I suggested putting conformal tanks in that spot years ago... doubt I'll see a dime.

)
Weapons pods are interesting...

Call me when they straighten the pylons.

The only time a fighter has too much gas is when?

When it's on fire?

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:42:57 AM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:

Quoted:
...
The only time a fighter has too much gas is when?

When it's on fire?

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:47:58 AM EDT

[#19]

We used to call them "Lawn Darts"

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:53:03 AM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
We used to call them "Lawn Darts"

I thought that was the F-16.

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:54:30 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:

Quoted:
We used to call them "Lawn Darts"

I thought that was the F-16.

I used to turn wrenches on them and pick on the tech rep :)

Posted: 7/21/2010 10:55:16 AM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:

Quoted:

is it my imagination or is that a single seat

It damn well better be.

Bigger motors are always nice.

More gas is always nice. (I suggested putting conformal tanks in that spot years ago... doubt I'll see a dime.

)

Weapons pods are interesting...

Call me when they straighten the pylons.

Semi-serious question - would an 'Enclosed weapons pod' replace the canted pylons? Or would it suppliment them?
-K

Posted: 7/21/2010 11:02:30 AM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:

Quoted:
is it my imagination or is that a single seat

It damn well better be.

Bigger motors are always nice.
More gas is always nice. (I suggested putting conformal tanks in that spot years ago... doubt I'll see a dime.

)
Weapons pods are interesting...

Call me when they straighten the pylons.

Semi-serious question - would an 'Enclosed weapons pod' replace the canted pylons? Or would it suppliment them?

-K

I couldn't imagine attaching them without the pylons (otherwise you'd have a hard time getting the flaps and ailerons down).

Posted: 7/21/2010 11:20:36 AM EDT

[#24]

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp;AVNOWJSESSIONID=MF3qoJ19nPb8V7puIjGv8xh8GPqiEgK5rNpK9jN8ZIs1By9JurR0!756790295?specialEvent=farn10&id=news%2Fawx%2F2010%2F07%2F20%2Fawx_07_20_2010_p0-242414.xml&headline=Boeing+Claims+Secret+Strike+Weapon+Effort

Boeing Claims Secret Strike Weapon Effort

Jul 20, 2010

By Bill Sweetman
[email protected]

Farnborough

Boeing is in production on at least one "proprietary”
strike weapon system, claims Shelley Lavender, vice president and
general manager of global strike systems. But Lavender refused July 20
at the Farnborough International Airshow to provide more information
when pressed.

"I have nothing further for you on that,” the executive said.

More details were available on a new set of modifications to the
company’s workhorse F-18 Super Hornet, described as "a roadmap for the
international market” but designed to be retrofitted to any Block 2
aircraft. The most visible change is a stealth-configured weapon pod
designed to accommodate a range of weapons, including four Advanced
Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (Amraams), but other changes include
conformal fuel tanks and more powerful engines.

General Electric demonstrated an improved F414 engine core some
years ago, and the conformal tanks are expected to boost range by 10
percent. Other changes include a chin-mounted internal infrared
search-and-track system and an all-aspect missile and laser warning
system.

Boeing’s been quietly talking about a "beyond Block 2” Super Hornet
configuration since around 2005, and its low observable team has been
working on ways to reduce the signatures of conventional aircraft. The
latest disclosure, however, may indicate that slippage in the F-35
program has encouraged Boeing to be more aggressive, as expected.

Secret — or "proprietary” — programs were included on a chart
presented to reporters here, colored to indicate that they were in
production. The secret program or programs are unidentified, but could
well have emerged from Boeing’s history of ultra-stealthy tailless
configurations, including the Bird of Prey demonstrator unveiled in
2002.

That project was aimed at combining reduced radar cross section
with visual signature reduction, to achieve 24-hour stealth.

A little more information in this article. I'm (very) curious about the 'proprietary strike weapon system' program. I do hope this isn't more trouble for the F-35 though.
Another question: Without going into classified stuff, how much of an aircraft's RCS is caused by it's weapons? I guess in other words, how much difference would a stealthy weapons pod make? Maybe I'm inferring wrong, but would it be worth it if it limited you to only 4 AMRAAMs? And if it was limited to only 4 missiles, I would think that other weapons would also be limited too.

10% greater range is a good thing too.
-K