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usafphantom2 · 9 months ago

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IMAGES: USAF sends B-52 bombers to Indian Ocean base

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 03/26/2024 - 16:00 in Military, War Zones

U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortresses bombers were deployed on March 22 at the Diego Garcia Naval Support Center in the Indian Ocean.

The Bomber Task Force deployment offers the U.S. Air Force Global Attack Command a presence in the Indo-Pacific, with relatively easy access to the Middle East as well.

The B-52s fled to Diego Garcia from Barksdale Air Base, Louisiana, after a 30-hour direct flight. This is the first time that USAF announces a Bomber Task Force for Diego Garcia - a small island that is part of the British Indian Ocean Territory that serves as a fundamental base for the U.S. and UK military, which has hosted American troops since the 1970s. The B-1 landed there in 2021, and the last time a B-52 landed there was in 2020.

"This deployment aims to improve the readiness and training needed to respond to any potential crisis or challenge around the world, demonstrating the credibility of our forces to face a global security environment that is more diverse and uncertain than at any other time in recent history," the Pacific Air Forces Command (PACAF) said in a statement.

Although the island is in the area of responsibility of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the U.S. Air Force used the island in the past as a base to send bombers to the U.S. Central Command's area of operations.

This latest deployment of PACAF bombers follows in the footsteps of the B-52 of Minot Air Base, North Dakota, deployed in Guam at the end of January and operating there until March 6.

Tags: Military AviationBoeing B-52H StratofortressBTFUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air ForceWar Zones - Indo-Asia-Pacific

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Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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emily0976 · 11 months ago

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Unleashing Power in the Skies: Exploring the Best Fighter Aircraft in the World

Mastering the art of aviation, the world of fighter aircraft has witnessed remarkable technological leaps over the years. As nations strive to maintain air superiority, the race to develop the best fighter aircraft intensifies. In this exploration, we delve into the elite league of airborne warriors, examining the technological marvels that stand as the epitome of excellence in the dynamic realm of aerial combat.

The Evolution of Aerial Dominance: A Historical Perspective

To understand the current landscape of fighter aircraft, it's crucial to trace the evolution of these airborne warriors. From the legendary World War I biplanes to the supersonic jets of the Cold War era, each era has left an indelible mark on aviation history. Today, the focus has shifted towards cutting-edge technology, stealth capabilities, and unmatched versatility.

F-35 Lightning II: The Unrivaled Stealth Marvel

When it comes to contemporary fighter aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II unquestionably takes center stage. Developed by Lockheed Martin, this fifth-generation multi-role fighter has redefined the parameters of aerial warfare. Its standout feature is its stealth capability, achieved through a combination of advanced radar-absorbing materials and a sleek design. The F-35's ability to operate undetected provides a significant advantage in a modern battlefield scenario.

The F-35 is not just a one-trick pony; it boasts a comprehensive suite of sensors and avionics, making it equally formidable in air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Its adaptability to various roles makes it a force to be reckoned with, as it seamlessly transitions from reconnaissance to ground-attack missions.

Su-57: Russia's Pinnacle of Aerial Prowess

Russia, with its rich history in aviation, has produced some of the world's most iconic fighter aircraft. The Su-57, also known as the PAK FA, represents the latest chapter in this legacy. As a fifth-generation stealth fighter, the Su-57 combines agility, speed, and advanced sensor capabilities. Its supercruise ability allows it to sustain supersonic speeds without the need for afterburners, giving it a strategic edge in both offensive and defensive operations.

The Su-57's radar system is a technological marvel, providing unparalleled situational awareness. It can track multiple targets simultaneously and engage them with precision-guided weapons. The combination of stealth and advanced radar makes the Su-57 a formidable adversary in contested airspace.

Rafale: Europe's Exemplar of Versatility

Dassault Aviation's Rafale stands out as a symbol of European ingenuity and versatility. This fourth-generation multi-role fighter has proven its mettle in various conflicts and has become the backbone of several air forces, including the French and Indian. The Rafale's strength lies in its adaptability – it excels in air-to-air combat, ground-attack, and reconnaissance missions.

The aircraft's advanced avionics, including an AESA radar and integrated electronic warfare systems, contribute to its exceptional situational awareness and survivability. Its ability to carry a wide array of precision-guided munitions enhances its effectiveness in modern warfare scenarios.

Chengdu J-20: China's Leap into Fifth-Generation Excellence

China's entry into the fifth-generation fighter club comes in the form of the Chengdu J-20. As the country's flagship stealth fighter, the J-20 represents a significant leap in China's aerospace capabilities. With a sleek design and advanced stealth features, the J-20 aims to challenge the air superiority of its contemporaries.

The J-20's emphasis on long-range strike capabilities and electronic warfare makes it a versatile platform for various mission profiles. While China's foray into fifth-generation aviation is relatively recent, the J-20 signifies the nation's commitment to technological innovation and military modernization.

Eurofighter Typhoon: The Collaborative European Triumph

In the spirit of collaboration, the Eurofighter Typhoon emerges as a joint effort by multiple European nations. This multi-role fighter combines the expertise of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain, showcasing the strength of unified technological prowess. The Typhoon, with its delta-wing design and advanced aerodynamics, delivers exceptional agility and performance.

Equipped with the latest avionics and radar systems, the Typhoon excels in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Its interoperability with NATO systems enhances its role in collective defense efforts. As a testament to European collaboration, the Typhoon continues to evolve with upgrade programs to maintain its competitiveness on the global stage.

Conclusion: Navigating the Future of Aerial Warfare

In the ever-evolving landscape of aerial warfare, the quest for the best fighter aircraft remains a dynamic and relentless pursuit. The F-35 Lightning II, Su-57, Rafale, Chengdu J-20, and Eurofighter Typhoon stand as the vanguards of innovation and capability in the world of aviation.

As technological advancements continue to shape the future, the next generation of fighter aircraft will likely push the boundaries even further. From hypersonic capabilities to artificial intelligence integration, the future promises new frontiers in aerial dominance. The best fighter aircraft in the world will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the security landscape, ensuring nations maintain supremacy in the vast expanse of the skies.

#fighter aircraft #supersonic aircraft

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iamsiddharthanilnair · 5 years ago

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UCAV Programs Around the World & their Development in India.

Drones - both, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAV) – have become part-and-parcel of 21st century warfare. They provide the user with an incredible amount of firepower and battlefield information without endangering human lives. Over the years, most military powers have created a space for drones in offensive airstrike, ground support and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles. However, the novelty of the Predator and Global Hawk programmes have in many ways worn off, and the next level of drone-human interoperability comes in active function, i.e. developing units made up of both piloted and unmanned platforms. These new prototypes are attempting to incorporate 4th Gen. fighter aircraft technology with existing network-information systems in order to minimise the risks posed to human pilots, while simultaneously enhancing overall air superiority.

Current Developments

There are a variety of programs taking place around the world that are dedicated to developing such interoperable air units – the Boeing X-45 in the US and the Dassault nEUROn in Europe (developed by a consortium of France, Italy, Switzerland etc.) being the most famous. Russia too is in the running, with its Sukhoi Okhtonik-B (or, Su-70) program which had its maiden flight last year; many speculate its design is derived from ongoing western prototypes pioneered by Boeing, General Dynamics and the like. Even China is reported to have developed a similar concept – the Gongji-11 (or, “Sharp Sword”).

Many of these programs date back to the early 2000s when the aviation industry was developing testbeds for low-observable platforms, whose technology and design would then be incorporated into the 5th Gen. fighter aircraft we know today – the F-35 and the Su-57 for example.

Uses of Interoperable UCAVs

In fact many of the specifications displayed by these UCAV prototypes – particularly their stealth qualities are directly appropriated from these fighter aircraft programs. The main aim of these projects is to develop a tighter informational loop that affords greater tactical advantages to the piloted vehicle, which is why along with the technical development of the UCAV, the industry is doing its best to improve the system interoperability between the drone and its designated partner aircraft; in the case of the nEUROn, it is the Rafale M, and as for the Su-70 it is reportedly Russia’s latest 5th Gen. aircraft, the Su-57 PAKFA. Along with a heightened level of interoperability for tactical advantages in the battlefield, the testbeds are also used to inform Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programs. However, the development of stealth UCAVs are also regarded as the future of aerial combat, resulting in the complete removal of piloted aircraft.

India’s Use of UAVs

India does operate a small number of UAVs, particularly in surveillance and reconnaissance roles; these are the Searcher Mark I and II, and the Heron purchased from the Israel Aerospace Industries’ Malat Division. Recent purchases of the Harop allow for a wider array of missions in electronic warfare and hunter-killer roles. Absent in this procurement is the development of high-tech, multirole UCAVs such as those outlined above. This is mainly because a vast majority of military missions in India are directed towards border security and counter-insurgency operations in the North and Northeast. However, India’s recent capacity building initiative in terms of air superiority and air defence, shows a rekindling of the type of conventional superiority required of a military power of its stature.

In that vein, India’s multiple defence public sector undertakings (DPSU), specifically the Defence Research and Development Organisations (DRDO), Defence Electronic Applications Laboratory (DEAL), Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), Defence Avionics and Research Establishment (DARE) and Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) have been on course to develop indigenous UAVs and UCAVs; most notably the Nishant, Rustom and the mini-UAV, Suchan. The indigenous line of UAVs are to be used in ISR, targeting, weapon guidance, battle damage assessment, artillery fire correction, weather data collection, search-and-rescue missions and more.

The DRDO Ghatak

More recently, India’s UAV development program has grown beyond mini-UAVs to High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) vehicles, and even projects similar to those such as the FCAS programs undertaken in the West. Of these, is the DRDO Ghatak, or in its departmental parlance the Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft (AURA).

Still in the testing phase, the stealth wing flying testbed (SWiFT), is the design definition being conducted at the aeronautical department of IIT Kanpur. With a fruition date set for 2032, the flying prototype is said to have the ability to maintain a low-radar cross section, drop laser-guided munitions, conduct electronic and signal intelligence missions etc. The program is also apparently based on the erstwhile Kaveri jet-engine program, and now runs parallel to India’s development of the Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) – the next step after Tejas programme. With work still being defined in terms of design and aeronautics, IIT Kanpur had reportedly run a flight test using a 1:1 prototype fitted with a Russian NOP Saturn 36MT engine in early 2019.

Conclusion

While India still has ways to go before it operationalises and reaches the level of technological innovation of the West, Russia or even China, it is important to note that it is keeping an eye on global developments as it searches to build its own cutting edge air-superiority technology. Furthermore, recent acquisitions such as the Rafale, additional Su-30MKIs and the MQ-9B Guardian will give India the intermittent leg-up it needs; more interesting is the joint-development MOU signed by DRDO and the US’ Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to design air-launched drones. Hopefully, with complete squadron strength following the induction of the Tejas, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be able to induct UCAVs that augment the country’s conventional superiority, both tactically and strategically. These developments will in many ways actualise the IAF’s change in posture from denial, to punishment.

Written by Siddharth Anil Nair.

#India #UCAV #Drones #Vehicles #Weaponry

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newsnigeria · 7 years ago

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Check out New Post published on Ọmọ Oòduà

New Post has been published on http://ooduarere.com/news-from-nigeria/world-news/russian-5th-generation-fighters/

Making sense of the Russian 5th generation fighters in Syria

[This article was written for the Unz Review]

When I got an email from a friend telling me that a pair of Su-57s was seen landing at the Russian Aerospace Forces base in Kheimim, Syria, I immediately dismissed it as a fake. The list of reasons why this could not be true would run for pages. I knew that, so I simply replied: “that’s a fake” and forgot about it. Over the next couple of days, however, this story was picked up by various websites and bloggers, but it still made no sense. Still, what kept me feeling really puzzled was that the Russian official sources did not dismiss the story, but chose to remain silent. Then another two Su-57s were reported. And then, suddenly, the Russian media was flooded with stories about how the Su-57s were sent to Syria as an act of “revenge” for the killing of Russian PMCs by the US; that the Su-57s had basically flattened eastern Ghouta while killing about “2000 Americans“. This was truly some crazy nonsense so I decided to find out what really happened and, so far, here is what I found out.

First, amazingly enough, the reports of the Su-57 in Syria are true. Some say 2 aircraft, some say 4 (out of a current total of 13). It doesn’t really matter, what matters is that the deployment of a few Su-57s in Syria is a fact and that this represents a dramatic departure from normal Russian (and Soviet) practice.

Introducing the Sukhoi 57 5th generation multi-role fighter

The Su-57 (aka “PAK-FA” aka “T-50”) is the first real 5th generation multi-role aircraft produced by Russia. All the other Russian multi-role and air superiority aircraft previously deployed in Syria (such as the Su-30SM and the Su-35S) are 4++ aircraft, not true 5th generation. One might be forgiven for thinking that 4++ is awfully close to 5, but it really is not. 4++ generation aircraft are really 4th generation aircraft upgraded with a number of systems and capabilities typically associated with a 5th generation, but they all lack several key components of a true 5th generation aircraft such as:

a low radar cross-section (“stealth”),

the capability to fly at supersonic speeds without using afterburners,

the ability to carry weapons inside a special weapons bay (as opposed to outside, under its wings or body)

an advanced “situational awareness” (network-centric) capability (sensor and external data fusion).

To make a long story short, the difference between 4th and 5th generation aircraft is really huge and requires not one, but several very complex “technological jumps” especially in the integrations of numerous complex systems.

The only country which currently has a deployed real 5th generation fighter is the USA with its F-22. In theory, the USA also has another 5th generation fighter, the F-35, but the latter is such a terrible design and has such immense problems that for our purposes we can pretty much dismiss it. As for now, the F-22 is the only “real deal”: thoroughly tested and fully deployed in substantial numbers. The Russian Su-57 is still years away from being able to make such a claim as it has not been thoroughly tested or deployed in substantial numbers. That is not to say that the Russians are not catching up really fast, they are, but as of right now, the Su-57 has only completed the first phase of testing. The normal Soviet/Russian procedure should have been at this time to send a few aircraft to the Russian Aerospace Forces (RAF) base in Lipetsk to familiarize the military crews with the aircraft and continue the testing while getting the feedback, not from test pilots but from actual air combat instructors. This second phase of testing could easily last 6 months or more and reveal a very large number of “minor” problems many of which could actually have very severe consequences in an actual combat deployment. In other words, the Su-57 is still very “raw” and probably needs a lot of tuning before it can be deployed in combat. How “raw”? Just one example: as of today, only one of the currently existing Su-57 flies with the new supercruise-capable engines, all the others use a 4th generation type engine. This is no big deal, but it goes to show that a lot of work still needs to be done on this aircraft before it becomes fully operational.

The notion that the Russians sent the Su-57 to Syria to somehow compete with the F-22s or otherwise participate in actual combat is ludicrous. While, on paper, the Su-57 is even more advanced and capable than the F-22, in reality, the Su-57 presents no credible threat to the US forces in Syria (if the Russians really wanted to freak out the Americans, they could have, for example, decided to keep a pair of MiG-31BMs on 24/7 combat air patrol over Syria). The Russian reports about these aircraft flattening Ghouta or killing thousands of Americans are nothing more than cheap and inflammatory propaganda from ignorant Russian nationalists who don’t seem to realize that flattening urban centers is not even the theoretical mission of the Su-57. In fact, as soon as these crazy reports surfaced, Russians analysts immediately dismissed them as nonsense.

Utter nonsense is hardly the monopoly of Russian nationalists, however. The folks at the National Interest reposted an article (initially posted on the blog The War is Boring) which basically dismissed the Su-57 as a failed and dead project and its deployment in Syria as a “farce” (I should tip my hat off to the commentators at the National Interest who immediately saw through the total ridiculous nature of this article and wondered if Lockheed had paid for it). On the other hand, in the western insanity spectrum, we have the UK’s Daily Express which wrote about Vladimir Putin sending his “fearsome new state-of-the-art Su-57” into the Syrian war zone. Just like with the Kuznetsov, the Ziomedia can’t decide if the Russian hardware is an antiquated, useless pile of scrap metal or a terrifying threat which ought to keep the entire world up at night. Maybe both at the same time? With paranoid narcissists, you can’t tell. Finally, the notion that Putin (personally?) sent these 4 aircraft to Syria to help him in his re-election campaign (peddled by the Russophobes at Ha’aretz) is also devoid of all truth and makes me wonder if those who write that kind of crap are even aware of Putin’s popularity numbers.

So what is really going on?

Well, frankly, that is hard to say, and Russian officials are being tight-lipped about it. Still, various well informed Russian analysts have offered some educated guesses as to what is taking place. The short version is this: the Su-57s were only sent to Syria to test their avionics in a rich combat-like electromagnetic environment. The more detailed version would be something like this:

The Su-57 features an extremely complex and fully integrated avionics suite which will include three X band active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar (one main, two side-looking), another two L band active electronically scanned array radars in the wing’s leading edge extensions, plus an integrated electro-optical system location system (working in infra-red, visible and ultra-violet frequencies). All these sensors are fused (5 radars, 2 bands, plus passive optics) and they are then combined with the data received by the Su-57’s advanced electronic warfare suite and a high-speed encrypted datalink, connecting the aircraft to other airborne, space, as well as ground-based sensors. This is not unlike what the USA is trying to achieve with the F-35, but on an even more complex level (even in theory, the F-35 is a comparatively simpler, and much less capable, aircraft). One could see how it would be interesting to test all this gear in a radiation-rich environment like the Syrian skies where the Russians have advanced systems (S-400, A-50U, etc.) and where the USA and Israel also provide a lot of very interesting signals (including US and Israeli AWACS, F-22s and F-35s, etc.). To re-create such a radiation-rich environment in Russia would be very hard and maybe even impossible. The question whether this is worth the risk?

The risks of this deployment in Syria are very real and very serious. As far as I know, there are still no bombproof shelters built (yet) and Russia recently lost a number of aircraft (some not totally, some totally) when the “good terrorists” used mortars against the Khmeimim base. So now we have FOUR Su-57s (out of how many total, maybe 12 or 13?!), each worth 50-100 million dollars under an open sky in a war zone?! What about operational security? What about base security?

There is also a political risk. It is well known that the USA has been putting an immense political pressure on India to withdraw from the joint development between Russia and India of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) or Perspective Multi-role Fighter (PMF) program. To make things worse, India currently has too many parallel aircraft programs and there are, reportedly, disagreements between the Russians and the Indians on design features. With the apparently never-ending disaster of the F-35, the very last thing the USA needs is a successful Russian 5th generation competitor showing up anywhere on the planet (especially one which has the clear potential to far outclass both the successful F-22 and the disastrous F-35). One can easily imagine what the AngloZionist propaganda machine will do should even a minor problem happen to the Su-57 while in Syria (just read the National Interest article quoted above to see what the mindset is in the West)!

The Su-57 also has formidable competitors inside Russia: the 4++ generation aircraft mentioned above, especially the Su-35S. Here we have a similar dynamic as with the F-22: while on paper the Su-57 is clearly superior to the Su-35S, in the real world the Su-35S is a well tested and deployed system which, unlike the F-22, also happens to be much cheaper than the Su-57 (the F-22 being at least twice as expensive than the Su-57). This issue is especially relevant for the internal, Russian market. So the real question for the RAF is simple: does Russia really need the Su-57 and, if yes, in what numbers?

This is a very complex question, both technically and politically and to even attempt to answer it, a lot of very debatable assumptions have to be made about what kind of threats the RAF will face in the future and what kind of missions it will be given. The biggest problem for the Russians is that they already have an array of extremely successful combat aircraft, especially the Su-35S and the formidable Su-34. Should Russia deploy more of these or should she place huge resources into a new very complex and advanced aircraft? Most Russian analysts would probably agree that Russia needs to be able to deploy some minimal number of real 5th generation combat aircraft, but they would probably disagree on what exactly that minimal number ought to be. The current 4++ generation aircraft are very successful and more than a match for their western counterparts, with the possible exception of the F-22. But how likely is it that Russians and US Americans will really start a shooting war?

Furthermore, the real outcome from a theoretical Su-35S vs F-22 (which so many bloggers love to speculate about) would most likely depend much more on tactics and engagement scenarios than on the actual capabilities of these aircraft. Besides, should the Su-35s and F-22s even be used in anger against each other, a lot would also depend on what else is actually happening around them and where exactly this engagement would take place. Furthermore, to even look at this issue theoretically, we would need to compare not only the actual aircraft but also their weapons. I submit that the outcome of any Su-35S vs F-22 engagement would be impossible to predict (unless you are a flag-waving patriot, in which case you will, of course, be absolutely certain that “your” side will win). If I am correct, then this means that there is no compelling case to be made that Russia needs to deploy Su-57s in large numbers and that the Su-30SM+Su-35S air superiority combo is more than enough to deter the Americans.

[Sidebar: this is a recurrent problem for Russian weapons and weapon systems: being so good that there is little incentive to produce something new. The best example of that is the famous AK-47 Kalashnikov which was modernized a few times, such as the AKM-74, but which has yet to be replaced with a fundamentally new and truly different assault rifle. There are plenty of good candidates out there, but each time one has to wonder if the difference in price is worth the effort. The original Su-27 (introduced in 1985) was such an immense success that it served as a basis for a long series of immensely successful variants including the ones we now see in Syria, the Su-30SM, the Su-35S and even the amazing Su-34 (which still has no equivalent anywhere in the world). Sometimes a weapon, or weapon system, can be even “too successful” and create a problem for future modernization efforts.]

Whatever may be the case, the future of the Su-57 is far from being secured and this might also, in part, explain the decision to send a few of them to Syria: not only to test its avionics suite, but also to score a PR success by raising the visibility and, especially, the symbolical role of the aircraft. Russian officials admitted that the deployment to Syria was scheduled to coincide with the celebration of the “Defender of the Fatherland” day. This kind of move breaks with normal Soviet/Russian procedures and I have to admit that I am most uncomfortable with this development and while I would not go as far as to call it a “farce” (like the article in the National Interest did), it does look like a PR stunt to me. And I wonder: if the Russians are taking such a risk, what is it that drives such a sense of urgency? I don’t believe that anybody in Russia seriously thinks that the US will be deterred, or even be impressed by this, frankly, hasty deployment. So I suspect that this development is linked to the uncertainty of the future of the Su-57 procurement program. Hopefully, the risks will pay-off and the Su-57 will get all the avionics testing it requires and all the funding and export contracts it needs.

Addendum:

Just as I was writing these words, the Russians have announced (see here and here) that the Israeli satellite images were fakes, that the the Su-57 stayed only two days in Syria and that they have been flown back to Russia. Two days? Frankly, I don’t buy it. What this looks like to me is that what looks like a PR stunt has now backfired, including in the Russian social media, and that Russia decided to bring these aircraft back home. Now *that* sounds like a good idea to me.

The Saker

#russia #Syria

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rakeshkrishnansimha · 7 years ago

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Why the Indian Air Force Should Not Rush Into Stealth

India must buy greater numbers of cheaper, non-stealthy planes until such time Indian industry is able to master stealth technology.

If there’s one area in which China has acquired a massive lead over India it is in the development of stealth fighters. While India’s Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) venture with Russia is far from being combat ready, China claimed in March that its Chengdu J-20 had entered service with the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). It tallies with an assessment by the US Defence Department that the J-20 could be inducted in 2018. The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington DC-based security think tank, concurs the J-20 could enter service in a similar time frame.

China’s stealth programme is unique because it is the only country that has two concurrent programmes. Alongside the J-20, a stripped-down export version, the Shengyang J-31, is also in the final stage of development. Its first customer could well be Pakistan, which is Beijing’s test market.

A scenario in which the Chinese are armed with stealth fighters may look alarming in the backdrop of worsening India-China relations. However, the thing to note is that the initial batches of the J-20 and J-31 are still experimental and years away from being fully battle ready. At best they are at the initial operational capability (IOC) phase. (IOC is the state achieved when a capability is available in its minimum usefully available form.)

A peculiar aspect of the Chinese defence industry is its achievements tend to multiply in March because it coincides with the annual meeting of the National People’s Congress in Beijing. The meeting is often used by the Chinese defence industry as a platform for advertising its military and technological achievements before party bosses.

The available information on the two programmes is both the Chinese stealth fighter concepts remain works in progress. The reality is that only small numbers of the aircraft have been produced to date. These aircraft are therefore technology demonstrators and it could take years before the Chinese military leadership has the confidence to use them against rival air forces.

In this backdrop, there is no need for India to press the panic button although it is imperative that work on the indigenous stealth programme is speeded up. The country should not end up in a wasteful arms race but instead learn from the experiences of the US, Russia, China, Japan and South Korea in developing stealth aircraft as well as anti-stealth missiles and radars.

A short history of stealth

A quick recap of aerial stealth warfare will help illustrate the problems and pitfalls that await countries that deploy stealth technology.

In the 1980s the US built the F-117 Nighthawk that was supposed to be invisible to radar. It was such a closely guarded secret that the F-117 was only flown at night. First used in the 1991 Iraq War, it was an extremely trouble prone aircraft that also lacked the capability to dominate the air. It was quietly retired after a Serbian air defence team used brilliant tactics to identify, isolate and shoot down an F-117 raider over the former Yugoslavia. The weapon used was a Russian made S-125 missile manufactured in the 1960s. The US Air Force (USAF) has kept the first stealth jet’s combat abilities and records classified.

It was the Russians who first conceived the concept of stealth aircraft, but despite their huge achievements in weapons during the Cold War, they never ventured into stealth aircraft. Perhaps they knew stealth wasn’t an invisibility cloak – which the US military has led the world to believe.

In recent years, several American aerospace engineers such as Pierre Sprey have exposed stealth technology as a lie. They say no aircraft can ever be 100 percent stealthy because there is no such thing as one radar in war. “There are lots of radars,” Sprey said in an interview to Dutch television. “And you can’t be nose-on or dead-level to every radar in the theatre. There are always going to be radars that are going to be shining up (from below) or looking from above – they can all see you.”

The Russians went ahead and quietly built a range of VHF radars and surface to air missiles that can detect and bring down stealth fighters.

The Russian strategy of counter stealth measures seems to be winding up the US defence establishment. According to a former US Air Force pilot who flew the latest F-35 stealth jet, just because Russian VHF radars can detect the F-35 doesn't mean they can also target and bring it down. Anti-aircraft defences comprise several links – command, control, communication, ground radar, missiles and airborne radar – in a long “kill chain”. The F-35 will seek to snap one of these links, and thereby disrupt the detection ability.

Meanwhile, Russia and China are upping the ante and building a new generation of anti-aircraft missiles that can be fired from an extremely long range. These new radars can detect stealth aircraft in much better resolution as well. This will seek to nullify the biggest advantage of the American stealth fighters – the ability to detect enemy aircraft from extremely long ranges.

Limitations of stealth aircraft

That the situation in the stealth world wasn’t on cruise control was evident when it was revealed in 2014 that the US Navy planned to buy 22 additional EA-18G Growler electronic warfare (EW) aircraft for $2.14 billion.

The US Navy uses the Growler EW aircraft kitted out with advanced radar jamming equipment to protect its fleet of F/A-18 aircraft during missions. Now, the F-35 is fitted with its own EW capabilities and its supporters say a separate jamming aircraft is not needed because of this technology. But according to others in the US Navy and industry, the F-35's stealth and EW capabilities are simply not enough.

It is a tacit admission that the US Navy is not entirely comfortable with the F-35's capabilities in anti-access/area denial environments.

The purchase of more Growlers is seen as the US Navy's "escape hatch" from the unpopular F-35 programme, which has historically received a lukewarm reception from some sections of the service.

The Russian experience has been similar. After promising to buy hundreds of Sukhoi stealth fighters, recently named as the Su-57, and accepting hundreds of millions of developmental dollars from India, Russia has decided to scale back its plans. Instead of a largely stealthy fleet, the Russian Air Force will rely more on 4+ generation aircraft such as the Su-35 Super Flanker – also known as the stealth killer. Russia will build only a handful of Su-57s while continuing work on the aircraft.

Meanwhile, in China despite the manufacturers’ claims, the PLAAF last year acquired 24 advanced Super Flankers from Russia. This is a tacit admission that the Chinese military is not confident about the capabilities of its stealth jets. Despite the Chinese showing off their stealth jets, the doggedness with which they have pursued the Su-35 and begged and cajoled the Russians to sell them the Super Flanker points to serious shortcomings in their twin programmes. Since both the J-20 and J-31 are based on designs stolen from the US, the flaws in the Americans designs (such as lack of aerodynamic shape, poor manoeuvrability, short range and oxygen supply failures) may have penetrated into the Chinese jets as well.

Lessons for India

With the Su-57 experiencing developmental bottlenecks, there isn’t much India can do other than to push the Russians harder. If the project goes ahead, the IAF should insist on getting stealth aircraft that have protection from new generation anti-stealth missiles. If the Russians don't provide what the IAF wants, India should go in for a limited number of Su-57s and acquire the technology for use in its own fifth generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.

With the benefit of hindsight, India should ensure the AMCA does not travel the same trajectory as current stealth programmes. Instead of packing everything into one aircraft (as the Americans did in the F-35), India should go for 'honest' aircraft with robust offensive and defensive capabilities, without too many bells and whistles.

While the AMCA’s stealth aspects will allow it to plunge straight into battle without worrying about enemy air defences, the Aeronautical Design Agency’s decision to pick a design layout similar to the F-22 severely underestimates the amount of equipment required to carry out true 5th-generation warfare, say Abhijit Iyer-Mitra and Pushan Das in a report prepared for the Observer Research Foundation.

According to the report, while stealth is just one aspect of a 5th-generation fighter, “the most critical aspects are in fact sensor fusion, man-machine interface and the integration of the aircraft with other land, sea and air forces, and as part of a broader fleet of aircraft comprising a totality of air power. An elaboration of these aspects has been notably absent from the design phases”.

If the AMCA becomes mired in the quicksand of compromise, it could turn out to be India’s F-35. The American jet’s stealth has been significantly compromised, prompting several commentators to reclassify the fighter from very low observable (VLO) to merely the low observable (LO) category.

Failure is not an option for India. With 3300 combat jets in various branches of its military, the US can fall back on older fourth generation aircraft to finish the job. Deep pockets (a defence budget of over $500 billion) and a large industrial base allow America to go back to the drawing board and undo its mistakes or produce a new fighter. Even when it flies inferior fighters, no country in the world will dare attack the US.

India with a $57 billion defence budget and less than 800 combat jets can’t afford to produce a dud FGFA. A wise general once said: “A mistake in strategy cannot be undone in the same war.” With the Chinese and Pakistanis increasingly envious of rising India, a war could be thrust upon us in the near future. India simply cannot let its guard down.

Options for the IAF

The IAF must continue to invest in 4+ generation aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Rafale as these will be the air dominance fighters that will kick in the door and allow secondary fighters such as the Mirage-2000, MiG-29s, MiG-21 and even the rookie Tejas to enter the battlefield. The US, Russia and China are all buying 4+ generation aircraft or upgrading existing ones to the 4++ generation standard. The American F-15 and the Russian MiG-31 are likely to keep flying well into the 2040s and beyond.

Stealth fighters are not only hard to build but it is a fact that air forces have oversold them to the public. In view of the growing pains being experienced by the industry, the fail safe option or Plan B is to buy greater numbers of cheaper, non-stealthy planes. As the Russians used to say in World War II, quantity is quality.

The huge expense of developing, buying and maintaining stealth jets means they will – at least in the next couple of decades – be used sparingly, perhaps at night and escorted by plenty of non-stealth aircraft. This scenario has completely upended predictions that stealth fighters would play a dominant role in air combat by the early part of the 21st century.

There is no need for India to rush into buying stealth aircraft when the world’s leading powers have chosen the sensible way of falling back on 4th generation jets.

(This article was first published in Geopolitics magazine.)

#amca #sukhoi #f-35 lightning ii #su-57 #rafale #flanker #stealth #airforce #aircombat #fighter #jet

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igmp-indiasgrowingpower · 8 days ago

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#AMCA #India Russia Defence Partnership #Indian Air Force needs Su-57 #Russian Su-57 stealth fighter #Su-57 #Su-57 Felon stealth fighter #Su-57 new 2D thrust vectoring nozzle

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usafphantom2 · 1 year ago

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Software problem delays TR-3 updates of US F-35 jets

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 08/09/2023 - 11:00am Military

The Pentagon withheld payments of $28 million to Lockheed Martin for the first four F-35 combat aircraft with the Technology Refresh (TR-3) update.

These updated jets are currently stored until the test shows that their software offers new features, Bloomberg reported on Monday.

Lockheed has a contract to deliver 45 more TR-3 jets by December 31.

The aircraft needs this update to work fully with the new cockpit hardware before it can carry more accurate weapons and collect more information about enemy aircraft and air defenses. The "TR-3" update will increase the processing power 37 times and the memory 20 times compared to the current features of the F-35.

The TR-3 is necessary before the F-35 can receive a more expansive modernization known as Block 4, which will allow it to carry more long-range precision weapons, improve its electronic warfare capability and provide better target recognition.

First test flight of an F-35A with the TR-3 update package.

Last month, the Pentagon said it would not accept updated F-35s until the software problems were fixed.

The first flight test of the TR-3 took place in January. According to a recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the F-35 program began integrating the new hardware into production in February and marked the first delivery of a TR-3-equipped jet for July.

The spokesman for the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO), Russell Goemaere, said in a statement that the office and Lockheed will “ensure that all these aircraft are stored safely” until they are formally accepted.

Lockheed Martin said it will continue to produce F-35s at the pace scheduled for this year and added that 77 TR-3 test flights were completed on July 31.

Tags: Military AviationF-35 Lightning IILockheed MartinUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air Force

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Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Daytona Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work around the world of aviation.