aerowar

War Aircraft: F-15

2010-08-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

Though the F-15 had originally been designed as a multi-role fighter, production models were never configured for ground attack duties. McDonnell Douglas then went ahead using corporate funds to illustrate the design's surface attack capabilities in the hope of securing an Air Force order. One of the original TF-15A airframes was chosen as a demonstration vehicle and modified to create the Strike Eagle. Sufficiently interested in the idea and needing a replacement for the F-111, the US Air Force submitted a requirement for an Enhanced Tactical Fighter (ETF) to industry. The competition pitted the Strike Eagle against the General Dynamics F-16XL version of the Fighting Falcon. McDonnell Douglas won the ETF contract and proceeded with design work on the new F-15E. The development phase utilized the original Strike Eagle as well as additional F-15C/D airframes modified for trials.

HISTORY:
First Flight 11 December 1986
Service Entry April 1988

CREW:
two: pilot, weapons systems officer

ESTIMATED COST:
F-15E, $43 million [1998$]
F-15K, $100 million [2006$]

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root NACA 64A(.055)5.9
Wing Tip NACA 64A203

DIMENSIONS:
Length 63.75 ft (19.43 m) Wingspan 42.81 ft (13.05 m) Height 18.46 ft (5.63 m) Wing Area 608 ft² (56.48 m²) Canard Area not applicable

WEIGHTS:
Empty 31,700 lb (14,380 kg) Normal Takeoff unknown Max Takeoff 81,000 lb (36,740 kg) Fuel Capacity internal: 13,125 lb (5,952 kg) external: 21,645 lb (9,820 kg) Max Payload 24,500 lb (11,115 kg)

PROPULSION:
Powerplant two Pratt & Whitney F100-220 afterburning turbofans or
two Pratt & Whitney F100-229 afterburning turbofans or
two General Electric F110-129 afterburning turbofans
Thrust (F100-220) 29,340 lb (125.52 kN)
(F100-220) 47,660 lb (212.0 kN) with afterburner
(F100-229) 35,600 lb (158.36 kN)
(F100-229) 58,200 lb (258.90 kN) with afterburner
(F110-129) 34,000 lb (151.24 kN)
(F110-129) 58,000 lb (258.0 kN) with afterburner

PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed at altitude: 1,665 mph (2,655 km/h) at 36,000 ft (10,975 m), Mach 2.5 at sea level: unknown cruise speed: 570 mph (915 km/h) Initial Climb Rate 50,000 ft (15,239 m) / min Service Ceiling 60,000 ft (18,290 m) Range typical: 1,370 nm (2,540 km) ferry: 3,100 nm (5,745 km) Endurance unknown g-Limits +9 / -3

ARMAMENT:
Gun one 20-mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon (512 rds)
Stations thirteen external hardpoints
Air-to-Air Missile up to eight AIM-7M Sparrow, AIM-9L/M/X Sidewinder, AIM-120A/C AMRAAM (F-15I) Python 4, Python 5
Air-to-Surface Missile AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-130, AGM-142 Raptor, AGM-154 JSOW, AGM-158 JASSM
(F-15K) AGM-84K SLAM-ER
Bomb GBU-10/12 Paveway II laser-guided, GBU-15 EO-guided, GBU-24/27/28 Paveway III laser-guided, GBU-31/32/38 JDAM, GBU-36/37 GAM, GBU-39 SDB, B57/61 nuclear, Mk 81/82/83/84 GP, BLU-109/110/111/116 GP, Mk 20 Rockeye, M 117, CBU-52/58/59/71/90/92/93/94 cluster, CBU-87/103 CEM, CBU-89/104 Gator, CBU-97/105 SFW
Other GAU-13 30-mm gun pod, GPU-5 pod, LAU-130/131 rocket pods, ECM pods

KNOWN VARIANTS:
F-15E Two-seat multi-role fighter with ground attack capability provided by a synthetic aperture radar, LANTIRN targeting pods containing FLIR and terrain-following radar equipment, and increased weapons load; 209 built
F-15F Proposed single-seat fighter based on the F-15E airframe incoporating the F-15E's new engines, radar, and cockpit displays, Saudi Arabia originally ordered 24 of these plus 48 two-seat combat-capable trainer models; not built
F-15H Version of the F-15E offered to Greece; not ordered in favor of the F-16C/D Advanced Block 52
F-15I Two-seat multi-role fighter similar to the F-15E purchased by Israel and equipped with F100-229 engines, night vision goggles, the Elisra SPS-2110 Integrated Electronic Warfare System, a helmet-mounted targeting system, conformal fuel tanks, and the ability to carry a variety of US and Israeli air-to-air missiles as well as air-to-surface weapons; 25 built
F-15K South Korean model similar to the F-15E but with improved avionics, an infrared search & tracking system, a helmet-mounted targeting system, structural strengthening, advanced cockpit displays, an improved APG-63 radar, and uprated F110-129 engines; 40 to be built by August 2008 and at least 20 more may be ordered
F-15S Two-seat multi-role model purchased by Saudi Arabia to supplement its 62 F-15C/D aircraft, similar to the F-15E but with a simplified radar; 72 built
F-15SG Two-seat multi-role model purchased by Singapore and similar to the F-15K but with an improved AESA radar, likely weapons to be carried include AIM-120C, AIM-9X, AGM-154A/C, and GBU-38; 24 ordered
F-15T Original designation for the F-15SG
F-15XP Designation originally given to the F-15F single-seat and two-seat aircraft ordered by Saudi Arabia

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:
Iraq - Operation Desert Storm (USAF, Saudi Arabia, 1991)
Iraq - Operation Provide Comfort (USAF, 1991-1996)
Iraq - Operation Southern Watch (USAF, 1992-2003)
Iraq - Operation Northern Watch (USAF, 1997-2003)
Bosnia - Operation Deny Flight (USAF, 1993-1995)
Bosnia - Operation Deliberate Force (USAF, 1995)
Iraq - Operation Desert Fox (USAF, 1998)
Kosovo - Operation Allied Force (USAF, 1999)
Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom (USAF, 2001-present)
Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom (USAF, 2003-present)
Lebanon - Hezbollah conflict (Israel, 2006)
Syria - nuclear strike (Israel, 2007)

KNOWN OPERATORS:
Israel, Tsvah Haganah le Israel - Heyl Ha'Avir (Israeli Defence Force - Air Force)
Saudi Arabia, Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Malakiya as Sa'udiya (Royal Saudi Air Force)
Singapore (Republic of Singapore Air Force)
South Korea, Han-guk Kong Goon (Republic of Korea Air Force)
United States (US Air Force)

Sukhoi Su-32

2010-08-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

The Su-32 plane is a special-purpose version of the Su-27; its production is being set up in Novosibirsk.

The two-seat Su-32 fighter-bomber is designed for tactical deployment against air, ground and naval targets (including small and mobile targets) on solo and group missions in daytime and at night, under favourable and adverse weather conditions and in a hostile environment with counter-fire and EW counter-measures deployed, as well as for air reconnaissance.

Aircraft performance
Normal takeoff mass, kg	38,240
Maximum ordnance, kg	8,000
Service ceiling (without external ordnance and stores), km	15
Maximum flight speed at sea level (without external ordnance and stores), km/h	1,400
Maximum flight speed at altitude (without external ordnance and stores), km/h	1,900
G-limit (operational)	9
Maximum range, km	1,100
Ferry range, km	4,000
Maximum airborne time (pilot-dependent), hours	10
Aeroplane dimensions:
- length, m	23.34
- wingspan, m	14.7
- height, m	6.09
Crew	2
In-flight refuelling system
Maximum flow rate (at entry pressure of 3.5 kg/cm²), l/min	1,100
Powerplant
Number and type of engines	2 x AL-31F
Thrust in afterburner, kgf	12,500^{-2 %}

Avionics
1. Avionics
1.1. Electronic countermeasures suite
1.2. Multi-purpose forward-looking PAA radar
2. Optical-electronic attack and navigation system
2.1. Information visualisation system
2.2. Onboard graphics station
2.3. Laser/TV station
3. Aeroplane control system
3.1. Autopilot system
3.2. Remote control system
4. Communications system
5. Integrated defensive aids suite
6. Kh-59ME missile preparation and telecommand homing equipment pod
7. Monitoring and recording system
7.1. Onboard automatic monitoring and display system
7.2. Unbiased monitoring equipment
7.3. Flight information recording equipment

Sukhoi Su 35 : A new aircraft with an old name

2010-08-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

The Su-35 has long been a brand name in the aviation world. Since 1992, an export version of the Su-27 fighter (created under the order of the Russian Air Force) has been demonstrated at international air shows. At the turn of the millennium, Su-35 fighters participated in the tenders of Korean and Brazilian air forces. By the mid-decade of the new century, a general concept emerged of a considerably modified Su-27 fighter, which retained the name of Su-35.

What is new in the Su-35? First off, the fighter will get an improved airframe, which will dramatically increase its service life to 6,000 hours, 30 years of operation (the time before the first test and recondition and the between-repairs period has been increased to 1,500 hours, or 10 years of operation). Aerodynamically it is similar to the Su-27. But unlike the Su-30MKI it will feature no canard fins. All the three channels will have electrically signaled control without mechanical cabling. The use of a new integrated control system (developed by MNPK Avionika Moscow-based Research and Production Association) simultaneously performing functions of several systems – remote control, automatic control, limiting signals system, air signals system, chassis wheels braking system – will enhance the fighter’s handling capability and maneuverability.

Among the Su-35 design features, worth of note is the absence of an overhead brake flap, a standard characteristic of the Su-27. Its functions are performed by an active rudder. The Su-35 chassis has been reinforced because of the increased takeoff and landing weight of the aircraft. For the same reason, the front bearing has two wheels. The improved radar stealth reduces the reflectance of the Su-35 in the X radio waveband and in the angle range of ±60°.

Attack Helicopter: AH-1W / AH-1Z Super Cobra

2010-08-09T10:23:00.000-07:00

The AH-1W Super Cobra is the US Marines' attack helicopter. It is supplied by Bell Helicopter Textron, and entered service in 1985. As well as the US Marine Corps, the Super Cobra is operational with the Turkish Land Forces and the armed forces of Taiwan. The AH-1W was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003.

The Super Cobra can carry both TOW and Hellfire anti-armour missiles and is being qualified to carry the Maverick missile. The Raytheon BGM-71 TOW missile has a range of more than 3km and semi-automatic command-to-line- of-sight guidance. The AGM-114 Hellfire missile is manufactured by Lockheed Martin. It is equipped with a semi-active laser seeker and has a range of 7km. The Super Cobra has fire-and-forget capability when firing the Hellfire missile in co-operative mode with laser target illumination.

The Super Cobra was the first attack helicopter to qualify both the Sidewinder air-to-air missile and the Sidearm anti-radiation missile. Both missiles can use the same LAU-7 rail launcher. Sidearm has a range of more than 15km. AIM-9L Sidewinder is an all-aspect, short-range, air-to-air missile produced by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. The missile has a range of 15km.

The Super Cobra can fire the Hydra family of unguided 70 mm rockets or the larger 127 mm Zuni rocket bombs. From 2008, it will be armed with the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), a guided version of the Hydra. The US Army re-opened the competition for the APKWS in September 2005 and a decision on contractor is expected in March 2006.

The Super Cobra carries a three-barrel, 20mm Gatling gun for close range (up to 2km) engagement and 750 rounds of ammunition. With the gun in a fixed forward position, the pilot can aim by manoeuvring the helicopter. Either crew member can slave the turret to the helmet-mounted sight and aim the gun by looking at the target.
"The Super Cobra carries a three-barrel, 20mm Gatling gun for close range engagement."

The AH-1Z for the USMC will be armed with: 16 Hellfire missiles, six AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, 70mm rocket pods (7- and 19-shot), and a 20mm gun.

Attack Helicopter: AH-64A/D Apache

2010-08-08T11:04:00.000-07:00

The Apache is a twin-engined army attack helicopter developed by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing). It entered service with the US Army in 1984 and has been exported to Egypt, Greece, Israel, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

The US Army has more than 800 Apaches in service, and more than 1,000 have been exported. The Apache was first used in combat in 1989 in the US military action in Panama. It was used in Operation Desert Storm and has supported low intensity and peacekeeping operations worldwide including Turkey, Bosnia and Kosovo.

The AH-64D Longbow has been deployed by the US Army in Afghanistan as part of Operation Anaconda, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and, from June 2003, in South Korea.

The AH-64D Longbow is fitted with the Longbow millimetre wave fire control radar and the Longbow Hellfire missile. 501 AH-64A Apaches upgraded to AH-64D standard have been delivered to the US Army. Deliveries completed in August 2006.

13 additional new-build Apaches have been ordered. A further 11 were ordered in November 2006. In January 2007, the US Army ordered 96 additional remanufactured helicopters and, in April 2007, 18 new-build helicopters. The first new-build AH-64D was delivered to the US Army in June 2007 and the first of the additional remanufactured helicopters in October 2007.

A 30mm automatic Boeing M230 chain gun is located under the fuselage. It provides a rate of fire of 625 rounds per minute. The helicopter has capacity for up to 1,200 rounds of ammunition.

The AH-64D is armed with the Lockheed Martin/Boeing AGM-114D Longbow Hellfire air-to-surface missile which has a millimetre wave seeker which allows the missile to perform in full fire and forget mode. Range is 8km to 12km.

The Apache can be equipped with air-to-air missiles (Stinger, AIM-9 Sidewinder, Mistral and Sidearm) and the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), formerly known as Hydra, family of guided and unguided 70mm rockets. From 2008, it will be armed with the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) II, a laser-guided version of the Hydra. The US Army awarded BAE Systems a contract for the APKWS II in April 2006.

British Army AH Mk 1 helicopters are armed with the CRV7 70mm rocket system from Bristol Aerospace of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The Longbow Apache carries the combination of armaments chosen for the particular mission. In the close support role, the helicopter carries 16 Hellfire missiles on four four-rail launchers and four air-to-air missiles.

War Aircraft : F - 35 Lighting II

2010-08-07T09:28:00.000-07:00

No fighter in the history of military aviation comes close to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter – a truly transformational weapon system that provides quantum leaps in survivability and lethality.

* Provides the United States and allied governments with an affordable, stealthy 5TH generation fighter for the 21st century
* Brings stealth capability that is integrated throughout the aircraft with embedded antennas, aligned edges and special coatings and materials
* Meets multiple service requirements with a single-engine supersonic multirole fighter
* Conducts air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions simultaneously with near impunity
* Carries a comprehensive sensor package that integrates vast amounts of battlespace information with allied forces in the air, on the ground, at sea or in space

The single-engine F-35 Lightning II will be manufactured in three variants:

* Conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) for the U.S. Air Force
* Carrier variant (CV) for the U.S. Navy
* Short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) for the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.K. Royal Air Force and Royal Navy

With greatly increased reliability and ease of maintenance, the F-35 joins the world’s only other 5TH generation fighter, the F-22 Raptor, in defining the ultimate in fighter performance.

The F-35 Lightning II’s successful first flight occurred Dec. 15, 2006. Flight testing continues to advance full development of this 5TH generation fighter. Flight testing of the STOVL variant begins in 2008. Deliveries to the armed services are scheduled to begin in 2010 and continue well beyond 2030.

C-130J Super Hercules

2010-08-06T09:01:00.000-07:00

The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules is the world’s most advanced tactical airlifter. Designed and developed with mission flexibility in mind – combat delivery, air-to-air refueling, special operations, disaster relief and humanitarian missions – the C-130J has a unique mix of agility and performance to consistently operate at very high tempo operations efficiently and reliably.

The C-130J Super Hercules is the only airlifter with the range and flexibility for emerging theaters and evolving concepts of operation. This tactical transport aircraft has already proven itself in many kinds of missions, many in the harshest operating conditions possible.

Crews from the United States, Australia, Denmark, Italy and the United Kingdom are now experiencing the high reliability, range, speed and payload-carrying capabilities of the C-130J firsthand. They will be joined soon by crews from Norway, Canada, and India.

F-16 Fighting Falcon

2010-08-05T08:58:00.000-07:00

The F-16 soars above all others as the world’s standard. Nations around the world have evaluated the variety of choices available and consistently selected the F-16, the world’s most capable multirole fighter. More than 4,300 F-16s have been produced for 24 countries with 52 follow-on buys by 14 customers – a key indicator of customer satisfaction. These customers have experienced the performance and reliability of the F-16 firsthand and reaffirm the high quality of the aircraft.

Nations who operate and will operate the F-16 have made an important commitment to its citizens: national defense. To that end, no other fighter can match the F-16’s record . . . because no other fighter comes close to offering all its strengths.

Bomber Aircraft: Myasishchev M-4 Molot ASCC codename: Bison Intercontinental Strategic Bomber

2010-08-04T11:49:00.000-07:00

Myasishchev Design Bureau is Russian State Unitary Enterprise, named after General Designer Vladimir Mikhailovich Myasishchev, and is the successor and continuer of the preceding design offices headed by the outstanding designer.

Myasishchev developed the design of a long-range, high altitude bomber DVB-102 and carried out its flight tests. DVB-102

Though one of the lesser known Soviet design bureaus, Myasishchev was responsible for producing the nation's first turbojet-powered strategic bomber, the M-4 Molot (hammer). The project began in the early 1950s when the Soviet government called for a long-range bomber capable of striking the United States. The aircraft was required to carry at least 11,000 lb (5,000 kg) over a range of 6,000 nm (11,120 km) at 560 mph (900 km/h).

The resulting M-4, known as the Bison in the West, featured a high-mounted swept wing and swept tail surfaces with four turbojet engines mounted in the wing leading edges. Like the American B-47 of the same time period, the landing gear consisted of two centerline main units balanced by small outrigger gear along the wing. The long fuselage followed traditional bomber design with pressurized crew compartments in the nose and a tail gun turret with a large internal bomb bay in between.

HISTORY:
First Flight (M-4/2M) 20 January 1953
(3M/M-6) 27 March 1956
Service Entry

(M-4/2M) 1956
(3M/M-6) 1958

CREW: (M-4/2M) 2 pilots, 6 others
(3M/M-6) 2 pilots, 5 others

ESTIMATED COST:

unknown

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root TsAGI S-12
Wing Tip

TsAGI R-7

DIMENSIONS:
Length (M-4/2M) 156.40 ft (47.67 m)
(3M/M-6) 169.63 ft (51.70 m)
Wingspan (M-4/2M) 165.79 ft (50.53 m)
(3M/M-6) 174.35 ft (53.14 m)
Height 37.73 ft (11.50 m)
Wing Area (M-4/2M) 3,513 ft2 (326.35 m2)
(3M/M-6) 3,786 ft2 (351.70 m2)
Canard Area

not applicable

WEIGHTS:
Empty (M-4/2M) 175,710 lb (79,700 kg)
(3M/M-6) 164,090 lb (74,430 kg)
Typical Load 352,740 lb (160,000 kg)
Max Takeoff (M-4/2M) 365,745 lb (165,900 kg)
(3M/M-6) 400,800 lb (181,800 kg)
Fuel Capacity internal:
(M-4/2M) 29,500 gal (111,655 L)
(3M/M-6) 34,000 gal (128,690 L)
external: unknown
Max Payload

(M-4/2M) 39,685 lb (18,000 kg)
(3M/M-6) 52,910 lb (24,000 kg)

PROPULSION:
Powerplant (M-4/2M) four Mikulin AM-3D or PD-3M-500/500A turbojets
(3M/M-6) four VD-7 turbojets
Thrust (M-4/2M) 92,595 lb (412 kN) [PM-3D-500A]
(3M/M-6) 97,005 lb (432 kN)

PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed at altitude:
(M-4/2M) 575 mph (930 km/h)
(3M/M-6) 585 mph (940 km/h)
at sea level: unknown
cruise speed: 495 mph (800 km/h)
Initial Climb Rate unknown
Service Ceiling 41,010 ft (12,500 m)
Range typical:
(M-4/2M) 4,370 nm (8,100 km)
(3M/M-6) 6,395 nm (11,850 km)
ferry: unknown
g-Limits unknown

ARMAMENT:
Gun up to ten GSh-23 23-mm cannons
Stations one internal weapons bay
Air-to-Surface Missile none
Bomb up to 19,840 lb (9,000 kg) of free-fall bombs or one to two nuclear bombs
Other none

KNOWN VARIANTS:
M-4/2M 'Bison-A' First production bomber
3M/M-6 'Bison-B' Improved model with a larger wing, longer nose, increased fuel load, new engines, an improved navigation system, and in-flight refueling capability; primarily a bomber armed with free-fall bombs but could also be used as a tanker with the installation of a refueling package in the bomb bay or for maritime reconnaissance
3MS/M-6 'Bison-B' 3M/M-6 airframes retrofitted with a new engine of greater reliability
3MS-2/M-6 'Bison-B' Tanker variant of the 3MS/M-6 with a refueling drogue extended from the bomb bay
3MD/M-6 'Bison-C' New build model with an enlarged wing, new in-flight refueling gear, a larger more pointed nose containing a new radar, and a larger radome in the tail; primary mission was as a bomber with secondary tanker and maritime reconnaissance capabilities
3MN/M-6 'Bison-C' 3MD/M-6 airframes fitted with new more fuel-efficient engines
3MN-2/M-6 'Bison-C' 3M 'Bison-B' bombers converted into dedicated tankers but also including modifications of the 3MN 'Bison-C'
201-M Test aircraft equipped with high-thrust engines
Project 28 Proposed new model for a two-deck military cargo transport based on the 3M and able to carry vehicles and cargo pallets, also proposed as a civil version carrying up to 380 passengers; both concepts cancelled and not built
3M-T or VM-T Atlant

Heavily modified 'Bison-C' aircraft rebuilt to carry outsize cargo externally above the fuselage, used primarily to ferry rocket components between manufacturing and assembly facilities, able to transport cargos up to 110,320 lb (50,000 kg); 2 converted

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:

none

KNOWN OPERATORS:

Russia, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Russian Air Force)
Russia, Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskoyo Flota (Russian Naval Aviation)
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Soviet Air Force)
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskoyo Flota (Soviet Naval Aviation)

Bomber Aircraft: B-2 Spirit

2010-08-03T10:53:00.000-07:00

The B-2 Spirit, or stealth bomber, was developed and built by an industry team consisting of Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and Vought Aircraft Industries. Capable of delivering nuclear and conventional munitions, the B-2's primary mission is to attack time-critical targets early in a conflict to minimize an enemy's war-making potential. Twenty-one B-2 aircraft are assigned to the U.S Air Force 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.

Capabilities

The B-2 supplies the following capabilities to its two-member crew:

Power plant: four General Electric F118-GE-100 engines
Speed and flight range: high-subsonic speeds and long flight range
Armaments: nuclear and conventional, including gravity bombs and maritime weapons
Stealthy design: low-observability characteristics to avoid radar detection

B-2 Design

The B-2 bomber has the ability to elude radar-guided air defenses due to its low-observable characteristics, and has sufficient structural capacity to deliver large payloads at long range. The aircraft incorporates the following features:

Advanced designs and technologies that make unprecedented use of composite materials
Product assembly and finishing that meet extraordinary tolerances and quality standards
Final production tooling implemented directly from the computer-aided design (CAD) system without the use of development tooling

Boeing's Role

Boeing in Seattle is currently doing work on the B-2's smart bomb rack and SATCOM radio. Boeing previously provided the following components:

Primary structural components -- the outboard wing and aft-center sections
Fuel systems
Weapons-delivery system
Landing gear

Milestones

1988: the first B-2 was completed
1989: made its first flight July 17
1991: the Air Force and B-2 industry team received the Collier Trophy
1993: the B-2 entered the U.S. Air Force operational fleet

HISTORY	:	First Flight,17 July 1989
		Service Entry April 1997

CREW:	two: pilot, co-pilot/mission commander

ESTIMATED COST:		$1.157 billion [1998$]

AIRFOIL SECTIONS	:	Wing Root unknown
		Wing Tip unknown

DIMENSIONS	:	Length 69.00 ft (21.03 m)
		Wingspan 172.00 ft (52.43 m)
		Height 17.00 ft (5.18 m)
		Wing Area 5,000 ft2 (465.5 m2)
		Canard Area, not applicable

WEIGHTS:
Empty 150,000 to 160,000 lb (68,040 to 72,575 kg)
Normal Takeoff 336,500 lb (152,635 kg)
Max Takeoff 376,000 lb (170,550 kg)
Fuel Capacity internal: 200,000 lb (90,720 kg)
external: none
Max Payload

40,000 lb (18,145 kg)

PROPULSION:
Powerplant four General Electric F118-110 turbofans
Thrust

76,000 lb (338 kN)

PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed at altitude: 530 mph (850 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m), Mach 0.8
at sea level: 485 mph (780 km/h), Mach 0.65
cruise speed: 515 mph (830 km/h) at 37,000 ft (11,275 m), Mach 0.78
Initial Climb Rate 3,000 ft (915 m) / min
Service Ceiling 50,000 ft (15,240 m)
Range typical: 6,000 nm (11,110 km)
w/1 aerial refueling: 10,000 nm (18,520 km)
g-Limits +2.0

ARMAMENT:
Gun none
Stations two internal bomb bays
Air-to-Surface Missile up to 16 AGM-69 SRAM II, up to 16 AGM-129 ACM, AGM-154 JSOW
Bomb up to 16 B61/B83 nuclear bombs, up to 80 Mk 82 500-lb GP, up to 16 Mk 84 2,000-lb GP, up to 36 M117 750-lb GP, up to 16 GBU-31 JDAM, up to 16 GBU-36, up to 8 GBU-37 (GAM-113), up to 36 CBU-87/89/97/98 cluster
Other up to 80 Mk 36 or Mk 62 500-lb sea mines

KNOWN VARIANTS:
B-2A Original bomber operating from Whitman AFB, Missiouri; 22 built

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD: Kosovo - Operation Allied Force (USAF, 1999)
Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom (USAF, 2001)
Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom (USAF, 2003)

KNOWN OPERATORS: United States (US Air Force)

Bomber Aircraft: SR-71 Blackbird

2010-07-29T11:46:00.000-07:00

SR-71 BlackbirdFor 24 years, from 1966 through the 1980s, American leaders from field commanders to the President of the United States relied on data gathered by SR 71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft. Flying missions around the globe at speeds above Mach 3 and altitudes of 85,000 feet (26,000 m) or more, Blackbirds became a vital tool of international decision-making as their advanced photographic and electronic sensor systems collected intelligence for the Air Force and other federal agencies.

A congressional appropriation approved in late 1994 provided funds to return two or more SR-71s to reconnaissance flying. Subsequently, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works was awarded an Air Force contract to refurbish Blackbirds that had been kept in storage since 1990.

Program History

Origins of the SR 71 date back to the late 1950s when legendary Lockheed designer and Skunk Works founder Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson proposed a high speed, high altitude alternative to supplement the Lockheed-built U-2 subsonic reconnaissance plane that would soon become vulnerable to Soviet missiles. As a result, the Blackbird family was initiated with the A 12, which first flew in April 1962. The single-seat A-12s were the smallest of the Blackbird series. Designed for reconnaissance missions, the A-12 spawned a two-place, armed version designated YF-12A, which was proposed as an interceptor. Although never adopted for this role, the YF-12s made important contributions as research aircraft, serving for more than a decade with NASA. It was the first aircraft capable of sustaining speeds above Mach 3.

A limited number of A 12 and YF 12 aircraft were produced before the design evolved into the SR-71, which first flew in 1964 and entered operational service in January 1966. Slightly larger than its predecessors, the SR-71 carried more fuel and featured chines that extended forward to the tip of the nose.

Blackbird Design
The aircraft remains a technological marvel. Practically every area of design required new approaches or breakthroughs in technology. To withstand high temperatures generated by friction in the upper atmosphere during sustained Mach 3 flight, the Blackbird required an array of specially developed materials including high temperature fuel, sealants, lubricants, wiring and other components. Ninety-three percent of the Blackbird's airframe consists of titanium alloy that allows the aircraft to operate in a regime where temperatures range from 450 degrees Fahrenheit at its aft midsection to 950 degrees Fahrenheit near the engine exhaust. The cockpit canopy, made of special heat resistant glass, must withstand surface temperatures as high as 640 degrees Fahrenheit.

Two Pratt & Whitney J58 turbojet engines with afterburners, each supplying more than 35,000 pounds of thrust, are housed in wing nacelles with diameters larger than the fuselage itself. Virtually every part of these complex powerplants had to be fabricated from special materials to meet the demands of triple-sonic flight. A translating (moveable) spike in each inlet controls airflow, retracting at speeds above Mach 1.6 to capture more air for the engines.

Accomplishments
Although its many contributions to national security will never be fully revealed to the public, the SR-71 holds many world aviation records for speed and altitude.

In 1971 an Air Force crew demonstrated the SR-71's extended supersonic capabilities on a non-stop, 15,000-mile (24,140 km) flight -- the equivalent of a non-stop trip from San Francisco to Paris and back -- in 10-1/2 hours. Slowing to subsonic speeds for periodic aerial refueling, the Blackbird still averaged nearly 1,500 mph. For this feat the crew was awarded the 1971 Mackay trophy for "most meritorious flight of the year" and the 1972 Harmon International Trophy for the "most outstanding international achievement in the art/science of aeronautics."

On Sept. 1, 1974, an SR-71 flew from New York to London in 1 hour, 54 minutes, 56 seconds, smashing the previous trans-Atlantic speed record by nearly three hours! Returning to the U.S. on Sept. 13, 1974, the same aircraft established a world speed record of 3 hours, 47 minutes, 36 seconds for the 5,463 mile (8,790 km) flight from London to Los Angeles. It literally outraced the sun, landing some four hours before the time of day it took off.

Three SR-71s flown by three different crews set seven world speed and altitude records on July 27 and 28, 1976. They captured three records previously held by a specially modified Russian MiG 25 Foxbat and bettered four records held by the Lockheed/USAF YF-12. The new marks included absolute and class records of 2,193 mph (3,530 kph) for speed over a straight course and 85,069 feet (25,930 m) for altitude in sustained level flight.

Specifications: (SR-71)
Span: 55’ 7”
Length: 107’ 5”
Height: 18’ 6”
Weight: 170,000 lb.
Max Speed: 2,000 + mph
Rate of Climb: 1,140 ft/min
Service Ceiling: 85, 000 + ft
Range: 2,900 + miles

In achieving these milestones the SR-71 was never extended to its ultimate capabilities. The aircraft used were stock, operational SR-71s, unlike the specially prepared aircraft commonly used to set such records. Air Force crews always stayed well within the SR-71's normal operational envelope.

In January 1990 the Air Force officially retired its fleet of SR-71s from service. On March 6, 1990, aircraft number 17972, the same aircraft that had set the 1974 records, was delivered to the Smithsonian Institution for permanent display at Dulles International Airport. Enroute, flying at "normal" operating speeds, this SR-71 set four more world records including a Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., flight time of 64 minutes, 2 seconds, averaging 2,144 mph (3,452 kph). That was the last SR-71 mission flown by an Air Force crew until the spring of 1995, when the crew retraining program began.

Between 1990 and 1995, NASA crews at the Dryden Flight Research Facility at Edwards AFB flew two SR-71s for training and scientific flights, and kept a third in storage. Those Blackbirds had been loaned to NASA by the Air Force when the military flying ceased.

The Skunk Works received funding to refurbish two Blackbirds to operational capability -- they were delivered to the U.S. Air Force in 1995.

For more SR-71 Blackbird photos visit the SR-71 set of Flickr collection

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Bomber Aircraft: Boeing B-52 Stratofortress Intercontinental Strategic Bomber

2010-07-27T01:25:00.000-07:00

The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, strategic heavy bomber capable of dropping or launching the widest array of weapons in the U.S. inventory. The latest version, the B-52H, can carry up to 20 air-launched cruise missiles.

Used for strategic attack, air interdiction, offensive counter-air and maritime operations, its capabilities include:

Carrying nuclear or precision-guided conventional ordnance, including gravity bombs, cluster bombs, precision guided missiles and joint direct attack munitions
Delivering approximately 70,000 pounds of mixed payload, both internally and on external pylons
Combat range exceeding 8,800 miles (7,652 nautical miles) unrefueled -- can be refueled aerially
High subsonic speeds up to 650 miles per hour, or Mach 0.86
Flying at altitudes up to 50,000 feet (15,166.6 meters)
Low-altitude flight capability, augmented by its electro-optical viewing system

The B-52 entered military service in 1954. Ongoing updates have included new avionics, data-link communications, electronic defense and offensive systems, and more powerful, fuel-efficient turbofan engines. Used in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the B-52 has been the longest-serving bomber U.S. military history.

HISTORY:
First Flight 15 April 1952 Service Entry February 1955
Retirement B-52D 1983, B-52G 1994, B-52H not planned until at least 2020

CREW:
Five: aircraft commander, pilot, radar navigator, navigator, electronic warfare officer

ESTIMATED COST:
$53.4 million [1998$]

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root NACA 63A219.3 mod Wing Tip NACA 65A209.5 mod

DIMENSIONS:
Length 160.92 ft (49.05 m) Wingspan 185.00 ft (56.39 m) Height 40.67 ft (12.40 m) Wing Area 4,000 ft2 (371.6 m2)
Canard Area not applicable

WEIGHTS:
Empty 195,000 lb (88,450 kg) Normal Takeoff unknown
Max Takeoff B-52A-F = 452,000 lb (205,025 kg),
B-52G/H = 488,000 lb (219,600 kg) Fuel Capacity internal: unknown
external: unknown Max Payload 70,000 lb (31,500 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant eight Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3/103 turbofans
Thrust 136,000 lb (605.0 kN)

PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed at altitude: 595 mph (955 km/h) [B-52H] at sea level: 405 mph (650 km/h), Mach 0.53 cruise speed: 510 mph (820 km/h) Initial Climb Rate unknown Service Ceiling 50,000 ft (15,240 m) Range typical: 6,380 nm (11,800 km) ferry: 8,685 nm (16,090 km) g-Limits unknown

ARMAMENT:
Gun one 20-mm Vulcan cannon in tail (remotely controlled, but removed by 1991 to save money) Stations one internal bomb bay and four external hardpoints
Air-to-Surface Missile up to 20 AGM-69 SRAM or AGM-86 ALCM, up to 8 AGM-84 Harpoon, up to 4 AGM-142 Popeye
(B-52H) up to 20 AGM-86C CALCM, up to 20 AGM-129 ACM, AGM-154 JSOW, AGM-158 JASSM
Bomb up to 8 B61/B83 nuclear bombs, up to 51 Mk 82 500-lb GP, Mk 84 2000-lb GP, up to 51 M117 750-lb GP, GBU-30 JDAM, CBU-87/89/97 cluster, CBU-103/104/105 WCMD
(B-52D) up to 108 conventional bombs Other maritime mines

KNOWN VARIANTS:
XB-52 and YB-52 Prototypes B-52A Boeing test and development aircraft; 3 built B-52B First operational model for the USAF; 50 built
RB-52B Reconnaissance version based on the B-52B model; 27 converted B-52C Improved model with better equipment and greater performance; 35 built
B-52D New fire-control system for four 0.5-in. machine gun assembly in tail; 170 built, retired from service in 1983 B-52E Improved navigation and weapons systems, new flight deck layout to accomodate improved displays, improved engine; 100 built B-52G Lighter airframe and greater fuel capacity; originally designed to operate AGM-28 Hound Dog missile and also equipped with 'Quail' decoy aircraft; 193 built B-52H Improved engine, better low-level performance, new tail gun; 102 built EB-52 Proposal to fit B-52 airframes with electronic warfare equipment for use as stand-off jammers

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:
Vietnam War (USAF, 1965-1972)
Iraq - Operation Desert Storm (USAF, 1991)
Iraq - Operation Southern Watch (USAF, 1991-2003)
Iraq - Operation Desert Strike (USAF, 1996)
Iraq - Operation Desert Fox (USAF, 1998)
Kosovo - Operation Allied Force (USAF, 1999)
Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom (USAF, 2001)
Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom (USAF, 2003)

KNOWN OPERATORS: United States (US Air Force),
United States (US Air Force Reserves)

Bomber Aircraft: Rockwell B-1B Lancer Intercontinental Strategic Bomber

2010-07-26T11:04:00.000-07:00

Based on the B-1A bomber, the B-1B was developed by Rockwell International in the 1980s, when 100 of the aircraft were produced to support a nuclear mission and were stationed at Strategic Air Command (SAC) bases. In the 1990s, the B-1B was transitioned to a conventional-weapons mission.

Nuclear Mission Capabilities

From 1985 to 1997, the B-1B supported a nuclear mission with the following capabilities:

* High-speed flight of Mach 1.25
* Gross takeoff weight of 477,000 pounds
* The AGM-69A nuclear short-range attack missile (SRAM)
* Westinghouse synthetic aperture radar and offensive-defensive avionics systems

Conventional Mission Capabilities

With the end of the cold war, the B-1Bs were converted to support conventional munitions, and 32 of them were retired beginning in 2001 The 68 remaining B-1Bs retain the speed, payload and targeting capabilities along with the following new conventional enhancements, which were introduced in phases by Boeing:

Hardware and software enhancements to accommodate a broad range of conventional gravity weapons such as 24 Mk84 bombs, 84 Mk82 bombs or 30 conventional bomb units.
Global positioning system (GPS) navigation, joint direct attack munitions (JDAM), anti-jam radios, and the ALE-50 towed decoy countermeasure
New mission computers, wind compensated munitions dispensers (WCMDs), the joint stand-off weapon (JSOW), the joint air-to-surface stand-off missile (JASSM), and the ability to employ multiple types of weapons simultaneously from the three weapons bays.

Future capabilities include new digital radios, cockpit display and sensor improvements improved electronic countermeasures systems, radar warning receivers, external carriage capability and new weapons.
Combat Service and Awards

The B-1B has been distinguished by the following combat activity and awards:

Combat operations including Desert Fox (Iraq, 1998), Allied Force (Kosovo, 1999), Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan, 2001+), Iraqi Freedom (2003+)
A very high ratio of precision guided munitions dropped per combat sortie -- from a maximum ratio of 1% of sorties delivering 22% of the guided weapons in Iraqi Freedom (1:22) to a minimum ratio of 5% of sorties delivering 70% of the JDAM weapons in Afghanistan (5:70)
100 world records for speed, payload, and distance

HISTORY:
First Flight (B-1A) 23 December 1974
(B-1B) 18 October 1984
Service Entry 1 October 1986

CREW:
four: pilot, copilot, 2 electronic warfare/weapon systems officers

ESTIMATED COST:
$283 million [1998$]

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root unknown
Wing Tip unknown

DIMENSIONS:Length: 147.00 ft (44.81 m)Wingspan unswept: 136.71 ft (41.67 m)swept: 78.21 ft (23.84 m)Height: 34.83 ft (10.36 m)Wing Area 1,950 ft² (181.2 m²)Canard Area: unknown

WEIGHTS:
Empty:192,000 lb (87,090 kg)Normal Takeoff unknown Max Takeoff: 477,000 lb (216,365 kg)Fuel Capacity internal: unknown external: unknown Max Payload 80,000 lb (36,290 kg)

PROPULSION: Powerplant four General Electric F101-102 afterburning turbofans Thrust 123,120 lb (547.7 kN) with afterburner

PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed at altitude: 1,000 mph (1,600 km/h) at 36,090 ft (11,000 m), Mach 1.5 at sea level: 750 mph (1,205 km/h), Mach 0.99
low-level mission: 600 mph (965 km/h) at 200 ft (61 m)
Initial Climb Rate unknown
Service Ceiling unknown
Range 6,090 nm (11,265 km)
g-Limits unknown

ARMAMENT:
Gun none Stations three internal weapons bays and fourteen external hardpoints Air-to-Surface Missile originally up to 38 AGM-69 SRAM or 22 AGM-86 ALCM [no longer permitted under START] up to 12 AGM-154 JSOW, up to 24 AGM-158 JASSM Bomb originally up to 26 B28/B43 or 24 B61/B83 nuclear bombs [no longer permitted under START], up to 84 Mk 82 GP, up to 24 Mk 84 GP, up to 24 GBU-31 JDAM, up to 30 CBU-87/89/97 cluster, up to 30 CBU-103/104/105 WCMD Other up to 84 Mk 36 or Mk 62 500-lb sea mines, up to 8 Mk 85 sea mines

KNOWN VARIANTS:
B-1A Original design with less-refined aerodynamics but capable of Mach 2 at altitude, was cancelled in 1977 in favor of rearming the B-52 with cruise missiles; 4 prototypes built
B-1B Production model with an improved shape for greater stealth and better flight performance at low altitudes; 100 built
EB-1B Proposal to modify B-1B airframes as stand-off electronic warfare jamming platforms to replace the EA-6B Prowler jamming aircraft
B-1R Boeing proposal to rebuild the existing B-1B fleet as a "regional" fighter bomber force by replacing the F101 engines with the F119 turbofan used in the F-22 to increase speed to Mach 2.2 but at the cost of reduced range, the rebuilt bomber would carry an AESA radar for improved targeting and would serve as a "truck" carrying a large payload of bombs, air-to-ground missiles, and air-to-air missiles

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:

Iraq - Operation Southern Watch (USAF, 1998-2003)

Iraq - Operation Desert Fox (USAF, 1998)

Kosovo - Operation Allied Force (USAF, 1999)

Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom (USAF, 2001-present)

Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom (USAF, 2003-present)

KNOWN OPERATORS:

United States (US Air Force)

United States (US Air National Guard)

US AIRCRAFT CARRIER

2010-07-26T09:28:00.000-07:00

Aircraft carriers provide a wide range of possible response for the National Command Authority.

The aircraft carrier continues to be the centerpiece of the forces necessary for forward presence. Whenever there has been a crisis, the first question has been: "Where are the carriers?" Carriers support and operate aircraft that engage in attacks on airborne, afloat, and ashore targets that threaten free use of the sea; and engage in sustained operations in support of other forces.

Aircraft carriers are deployed worldwide in support of U.S. interests and commitments. They can respond to global crises in ways ranging from peacetime presence to full-scale war. Together with their on-board air wings, the carriers have vital roles across the full spectrum of conflict.

The Nimitz-class carriers, nine operational and one under construction, are the largest warships in the world. USS Nimitz (CVN 68) was the first to undergo its initial refueling during a 33-month Refueling Complex Overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va., in 1998. The next generation of carrier, the GERALD R. FORD Class (the lead ship hull number will be CVN 78), is programmed to start construction in 2007 and is slated to be delivered in 2015 to replace USS Enterprise (CVN 65). CVN 79 is programmed to begin construction in 2012 and to be placed in commission in 2018.

The Carrier Mission is:

To provide a credible, sustainable, independent forward presence and conventional deterrence in peacetime,
To operate as the cornerstone of joint/allied maritime expeditionary forces in times of crisis, and
To operate and support aircraft attacks on enemies, protect friendly forces and engage in sustained independent operations in war.

THREE OF THE US AIRCRAFT CARRIER

General Characteristics, Nimitz Class
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, VA.
Date Deployed: May 3, 1975 (USS Nimitz).
Unit Cost: About $4.5 billion each.
Propulsion: Two nuclear reactors, four shafts.
Length: 1,092 feet (332.85 meters).
Beam: 134 feet (40.84 meters); Flight Deck Width: 252 feet (76.8 meters).
Displacement: Approximately 97,000 tons (87,996.9 metric tons) full load.Speed: 30+ knots (34.5+ miles per hour).
Crew: Ship's Company: 3,200 - Air Wing: 2,480.
Armament: Two or three (depending on modification) NATO Sea Sparrow launchers, 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts: (3 on Nimitz and Dwight D. Eisenhower and 4 on Vinson and later ships of the class.).
Aircraft: 85.
Ships:USS Nimitz (CVN 68), San Diego, CAUSS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), Norfolk, VAUSS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Newport News, VAUSS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Norfolk, VAUSS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Everett, WAUSS George Washington (CVN 73), Norfolk, VAUSS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), Bremerton, WAUSS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Norfolk, VAUSS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), San Diego, CAGeorge H.W. Bush (CVN 77) - (Christened 7 October 2006)

General Characteristics, Enterprise Class
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, VA. Date Deployed: November 25, 1961 (USS Enterprise). Propulsion: Eight nuclear reactors, four shafts.Length: 1,101 feet 2 inches (335.64 meters).Beam: 133 feet (39.9 meters); 252 feet (75.6 meters).Displacement: 89,600 tons ( 81,283.8 metric tons) full load. Speed: 30+ knots (34.5 miles per hour).Crew: Ship's Company: 3,350 - Air Wing 2,480. Armament: Two Sea Sparrow missile launchers, three Phalanx 20 mm CIWS mounts. Aircraft: 85. Ships:USS Enterprise (CVN 65), Norfolk, VA

General Characteristics, Kitty Hawk Class
Builder: New York Ship Building Corp., Camden, NJ.Date Deployed: April 29, 1961 (USS Kitty Hawk).Propulsion: Eight boilers, four geared steam turbines, four shafts, 280,000 shaft horsepower.Length: 1062.5 feet (323.8 meters).Beam: 130 feet (39 meters); Flight Deck Width: 252 feet (76.8 meters).Displacement: Approx. 80,800 tons (73,300.5 metric tons) full load.Speed: 30+ knots (34.5+ miles per hour).Crew: Ship's Company: 3,150 - Air Wing: 2,480.Armament: Sea Sparrow launchers, 3 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts.Aircraft: 85.Ships:USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), Yokosuka, Japan

War Aircraft: F-22

2010-07-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the era of the F-22 Raptor – the world’s premier 5TH generation fighter.

The F-22 is the only fighter capable of simultaneously conducting air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions with near impunity. This is accomplished with a never-before-seen standard of survivability even while facing large numbers of sophisticated airborne and ground-based threats.

In addition to being America’s most prominent air-superiority fighter, the F-22 evolved from its original concept to become a lethal, survivable and flexible multimission fighter. By taking advantage of emerging technologies the F-22 has emerged as a superior platform for many diverse missions including intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic attack.

The Raptor is operational today, protecting our homeland and combat ready for worldwide deployment. Two squadrons of F-22s are assigned to Air Combat Command’s 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Va. And two squadrons are assigned to the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Raptor pilots and maintainers train at Tyndall AFB, Fla., while operational testing is conducted at Edwards AFB, Calif., and Nellis AFB, Nev. New F-22s continue to roll from the production line and will soon operate out of Holloman AFB, N.M., and Hickam AFB, Hawaii.