On Sat, 15 Nov 2003 15:40:33 -0800, "Tarver Engineering"
wrote:


"Paul F Austin" wrote in message
.. .

"John R Weiss" wrote in message
news:OCutb.156437$mZ5.1066327@attbi_s54...
"Ed Rasimus" wrote...

In the ever-waning hope that some semblance of meaningful dialog might
be restored to this newsgroup, let me suggest that "range criteria" is
a nebulous concept at best. Certainly the basic concept requirement
for "supercruise" means exceptional range and the goals might be
optimistic. One would than have to address the question of
missions--how deep must the aircraft go? what profile? is this an
attack or a/a profile? if a/a is endurance or range predominant? There
aren't going to be simple answers.

Actually, in the military aircraft development process the technical
specifications and operational test criteria are VERY clear when it
comes
to
things like range and endurance. The various mission configurations and
profiles are described in enough detail so there is no question as to
what
is
expected.

OTOH, the willingness of the procurement agencies to adhere to those
specifications and criteria is often politically motivated and VERY
nebulous.

I think you mean "realistic". Many programs have killed themselves by
pursuing the best as an enemy of good enough.

The only mission for the F-22 is against the Eurofighter and I don't believe
that is a direction we should make politically viable.

The F-22 has a very high fuel fraction and very efficient engines. If the
CONOPS requires modification to allow e.g. external tanks during ingress
until the RWR goes off to increase radius, then There You Are.

Nope, you just blew stelth out the window. (ie pilons)

From what I've heard the external stuff is for after day one or in
ferry configuration. In fact some of the external missiles can't even
be fired when in ferry configuration. Four 600 gallon tanks witll get
you a lot more range but yeah, only if stealth isn't *required* ie.
IADs have been knocked out. Some would say "well we could just use
cheaper F-15s then instead of buying expensice F-22s" But that would
kill the option of even USING stealth not to mention all the other
benefits the F-22 brings to the table in addition to the fact that
F-15s won't last forever nor are they an adequate overmatch against a
likely advisary.