Ask anything Thread (Air Force)

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Wtf is that a manned X-47B refuelling JASSMs?
I believe that was an early FA-XX concept showing it being able to control and "shepherd" smart, stealthy drone missiles.

Since that time, FA-XX, which is the US Navy's 6th generation fighter/attack aircraft has morphed into something more like this:


navy_1.jpg

But, as with the F-35C, it will be expected to be able to control 2-3 UCLASS (the ultimate production version of the X-47B) unmanned drones.
 
Last edited:

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
I looks to me like a Northrop Grumman LRS-B turned refueler
The really early FA-XX looked sort of like the LRS-B does now...but they were smaller.

The one shown looks like a single seat aircraft, and it is relatively small compared to the LRS-B.

Anyhow, here are the two to scale:

Early FA-XX Concept
FA-XX strange - May 15.jpg

Grumman LRS-B Concept
LRS-B.jpg

Anyhow...we are getting well off topic now. Better reel it in.
 

Jovian

Junior Member
Just for curiosity sake...

Has there been any news or rumors or even murmurs of some sort of PLAAF program to produce a close air support aircraft like the A-10 or Su-25? Is CAS aircraft like the A-10 or Su-25 obsolete or otherwise?

Jovian
 

Ultra

Junior Member
Just for curiosity sake...

Has there been any news or rumors or even murmurs of some sort of PLAAF program to produce a close air support aircraft like the A-10 or Su-25? Is CAS aircraft like the A-10 or Su-25 obsolete or otherwise?

Jovian


China already have couple - currently the role is being filled by:
Xian JH-7
JH-7A-ASM-04.jpg

They are sort of like China's Panavia Tornado (without the variable-sweep wing as seen below) .
panavia_tornado_ids.jpg


There is also the Nanchang Q-5, which are quite old (circa 1965) and already out of production.
JH-7 was meant to replace the Q5, but because they built such great number of them, so they are still being used.
plaaf_q5_10368_crop.jpg
 

Ultra

Junior Member
They will continue to refine and improve the JH-7 for the foreseeable future but I don't expect them to bring in new airframe design as true CAS are probably going to be obsolete as the role being taking over by multi-role strike fighter such as Shenyang J-16 firing highly accurate GPS-guided munitions from stand-off range.

3OxTGcm.jpg


J-10 and J-31 could also possibly fill this role just like UK and US slowly replacing Harrier with F-35B.

J-31-new.jpg
 
Last edited:

plawolf

Lieutenant General
Actually that two largest missiles (C-802) let JF-17 cannot move its trailing edge flaps completely. After all, JF-17's size is not that large.:p

Well that's really a non-issue.

When you are carrying such heavy external loads, extreme manoeuvres are not really recommended.

To try and deploy flaps completely when carrying such missiles will probably see the wings ripped off your plane before the flaps comes close to the missiles.
 

Ashbringer_NEU

New Member
Registered Member
Well that's really a non-issue.

When you are carrying such heavy external loads, extreme manoeuvres are not really recommended.

To try and deploy flaps completely when carrying such missiles will probably see the wings ripped off your plane before the flaps comes close to the missiles.

Hi, plawolf, thanks for your reply, yes I agree with you, it is not a serious problem, it is caused by JF-17's small size, it is only a light fighter after all, I just thought this issue should be mentioned. I believe that JF-17 is a perfect fighter for nations like Pakistan, it is light but powerful, cheap but multifunctional. When JF-17 carry two C-802s to attack target like warships, its mission is just launching missiles, not dog fighting with other jets.
 
Top