Introduction This article will compare upcoming Russian PAK FA with US F-22, since both air single-purpose heavyweight air-to-air fighters. However, since PAK FA is still in a prototype stage, article will by its nature be incomplete. I should also note that while some use the term "Raptorski" for PAK FA, it is entirely inaccurate. In … Continue reading PAK FA vs F-22
Tag: Raptor
Comparing modern fighter aircraft
Nature of air to air combat “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” ---G. Santayana Fighter aircraft exist to destroy other aircraft, and allow other aircraft to carry out their missions without interference from enemy fighter aircraft. That being said, there exists a colloqial - and incorrect - use of term … Continue reading Comparing modern fighter aircraft
On AviationIntel F-22 vs Typhoon article
http://aviationintel.com/2012/07/28/in-response-to-reports-of-simulated-f-22-raptor-kills-by-german-eurofighters/ While author is indeed correct that training sorties do not necessarily mean that one type of aircraft is superior, multiple sorties can, when analyzed properly and assuming that setup is known, provide some information about respective fighter's capabilities. Huge control surfaces and thrust vectoring are useful for high-altitude and low-speed maneuvers, not in … Continue reading On AviationIntel F-22 vs Typhoon article
Cleaning up Red Flag Alaska F-22 vs Typhoon debate (2)
http://zbigniewmazurak.wordpress.com/2012/11/10/about-that-july-raptor-vs-typhoon-exercise/ Author claims quite a few false things in the article linked above. I'll counter them one by one. Exercises were 1 on 1 WVR BFM sorties. There was no need for AWACS or AIM-120D, and F-22 had to use radar to try and achieve a lock on Typhoon. Thrust vectoring is effective at speeds … Continue reading Cleaning up Red Flag Alaska F-22 vs Typhoon debate (2)
Cleaning up Red Flag Alaska F-22 vs Typhoon debate
Since Eurofighter Typhoons defeated F-22s at Red Flag Alaska in June 2012, discussion has produced many claims. I will address some of them here: 1) WVR combat is only small spectrum of air combat. Yes, and no - it mainly depends on numbers, and who you are shooting at. As enemy numbers, as well as quality of … Continue reading Cleaning up Red Flag Alaska F-22 vs Typhoon debate
F-22 Analysis
Program history and military-industrial complex F22 program is a prime example of bad management – large developmental and production costs meant reduction in number of planes procured; that, in turn, increased per-aircraft cost even more, and led to further cuts. Result was that original number of airframes was cut from 750 to 680 during H. … Continue reading F-22 Analysis
History and War 