The F-22 is considered the best fighter in the world. It was cancelled after about 200 were built because of the cost to build them. However, the F-35 has turned out to be even more expensive for the first few hundred planes and the F-35 still has almost 1,000 major and serious flaws.
There have been some advancements with improved engine technology since the F-35 was designed.
However, there does not seem to be enough technological advancement for a breakthrough sixth
The F-22 first flew 20 years ago in 1997 and the first planes were delivered in 2005.
The electronics, sensors and computers have been vastly improved. Lockheed built both the F-22 and the F35. They would want to take modern systems from the F-35 (make any fixes) and put them into a new upgraded hybrid F-22 / F-35 version.
Japan was also offered a new hybrid of the F-22 / F-35. Japan was going to invest about ten billion into developing their own stealth fighter but is interested in a joint project where the US would agree to share Lockheed technology.
Advanced engines about 25% more fuel efficient and 10% more thrust
The Adaptive Engine Transition Program will be delivering jet engines with about 45,000-pound-thrust turbofan engine prototypes. The engine’s fuel efficiency is improved by about 25% and thrust is increased by 10% with reduced engine heating.
AETP adds a third stream of cooled air around the outside of the engine that can be opened or closed to switch from fuel-efficient mode to high-performance mode and back again as the need arises. Variable cycle or adaptive cycle engines, will be able to switch between functioning as a turbojet with high-velocity thrust for supersonic performance and the lower speeds of airliner engines designed to reduce fuel consumption.
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It’s not a bad idea to evolve this airframe… Ruskies have made at least 6 good derivatives of Su27.
It’s not a bad idea to evolve this airframe… Ruskies have made at least 6 good derivatives of Su27.
True. While the F-35 has been a bit of a hangar queen, they fact that so many branches of the military have F-35’s, plus foreign countries, it’s a bird that HAS to be fixed, properly. So I am against this hybrid idea, and instead they should focus on fixing the F-35, and Lockheed should foot the bill…or lose out on any military funding for the foreseeable future.
True. While the F-35 has been a bit of a hangar queen they fact that so many branches of the military have F-35’s plus foreign countries it’s a bird that HAS to be fixed properly. So I am against this hybrid idea and instead they should focus on fixing the F-35 and Lockheed should foot the bill…or lose out on any military funding for the foreseeable future.
It’s not a bad idea to evolve this airframe… Ruskies have made at least 6 good derivatives of Su27.
An F-22 with uprated engines and avionics would be an incredibly terrifying machine to have to fight against. IMO, the marginal improvement path with the F-22 is a logical step forward. I don’t doubt that sixth gen fighter prototypes are doing their rounds at Groom Lake but it might be prudent to hold those back for the time being to see what development path China takes rather than fully commit.
An F-22 with uprated engines and avionics would be an incredibly terrifying machine to have to fight against. IMO the marginal improvement path with the F-22 is a logical step forward. I don’t doubt that sixth gen fighter prototypes are doing their rounds at Groom Lake but it might be prudent to hold those back for the time being to see what development path China takes rather than fully commit.
Incremental improvements, yah! It is stupid to cancel a current program because of cost because any future program is going to cost more. The last jets coming off the assembly lines are the cheapest.
Incremental improvements yah! It is stupid to cancel a current program because of cost because any future program is going to cost more. The last jets coming off the assembly lines are the cheapest.
True. While the F-35 has been a bit of a hangar queen, they fact that so many branches of the military have F-35’s, plus foreign countries, it’s a bird that HAS to be fixed, properly. So I am against this hybrid idea, and instead they should focus on fixing the F-35, and Lockheed should foot the bill…or lose out on any military funding for the foreseeable future.
An F-22 with uprated engines and avionics would be an incredibly terrifying machine to have to fight against. IMO, the marginal improvement path with the F-22 is a logical step forward. I don’t doubt that sixth gen fighter prototypes are doing their rounds at Groom Lake but it might be prudent to hold those back for the time being to see what development path China takes rather than fully commit.
Incremental improvements, yah! It is stupid to cancel a current program because of cost because any future program is going to cost more. The last jets coming off the assembly lines are the cheapest.