The FA-18 E/F/G versions won't be replaced by the F-35. F-35 will mostly be a replacement for older model F-18s, while the Super Hornets are seen as replacements for the F-14s and the EA-6 Prowlers (F-18G Growler is the EW version currently undergoing operational development). There isn't exactly a one to one replacment strategy here, but in the end the USN will have two modern A/C types to replace three, saving maintenance costs. Of course both types are also designed with better maintainability in mind than ealier A/C, so when the transformation is complete the USN will have lower operational costs and not need as many airmen to service the fleet of aircraft, also saving money.
Air war: F18s vs. PLAAF
- Thread starter Totoro
- Start date
If we say that by the time J-XX comes out, F-18 will be phased out, then we can't really say anything, for that's really a long time from now. But I doubt the J-XX will take thaat long to come out. Also, as of now, 5G has not reached naval AFs yet.
About EA-6 being replaced, what problems other than logistics is causing it to be replaced?
About EA-6 being replaced, what problems other than logistics is causing it to be replaced?
Sumdud! Dude..enjoying your vacation??
I think the main reason the E/A-6B is being replaced is simply the age of the basic airframe of that plane. It's old. The first squadron was comissioned in 1971. Another reason is that the USN/USMC want a common aircraft to work on thereby making logistics and maintainence easier.
As for the F-35 I don't think they will immeditley repace anything. They will probaly just be added to the airwing. There will be plenty of space on CVN's because the S-3's are being phased out by 2008.
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MIGleader
Banned Idiot
with all these budget cuts and cancellations, its safe to say the f-35 will not replace the entire hornet fleet. more likely just sumplement it
as for the f-18s biggest threat, it probably comes from sams. doznes of batteries of various missles and radars will line the shores. trying to avoid being hit by a sam is stressful enough. now throw in doznes of small fighters such as j-10 and j-8. not to mention j-6 drones.
i still think the su-27 is the greatest threat to the f-18. the j-10 is only deployed near the indian border. also if its engine cut out over the sea, there would be no back up. on the other hand, su-27s based at areas such as suxui can reach the strait(or any other shore) within a few minutes.
if the j-8 is used in an interceptor role, it would be quite deadly for the f-18. dont discount the j-8 yet.
conclusion: never send in a small group of f-18s in alone. at least make sure theres a destroyer nearby, or an awacs.
as for the f-18s biggest threat, it probably comes from sams. doznes of batteries of various missles and radars will line the shores. trying to avoid being hit by a sam is stressful enough. now throw in doznes of small fighters such as j-10 and j-8. not to mention j-6 drones.
i still think the su-27 is the greatest threat to the f-18. the j-10 is only deployed near the indian border. also if its engine cut out over the sea, there would be no back up. on the other hand, su-27s based at areas such as suxui can reach the strait(or any other shore) within a few minutes.
if the j-8 is used in an interceptor role, it would be quite deadly for the f-18. dont discount the j-8 yet.
conclusion: never send in a small group of f-18s in alone. at least make sure theres a destroyer nearby, or an awacs.
??? I kinda doubt the J-6(and 5)s would do anything against a Hornet other than being a decoy while it is going to its target. (And I really doubt it's worth it to crash 1 aircraft that size into another one.)
As for EA-6B, I doubt it's because of the airframe. The thing is stable and require not too much in fuel. I don't know how much of its tail can come off before it loses control and crash, but it doesn't seem to me it needs a lot. Plus, you have its weight, which is smaller, meaning less stress on the arrestor wires. So it's like the AK, old but reliable. So maybe it is the maintence problem.
If the Growler is to be made, it seems to me that the original 4 crew needs to be reduced to 2, and the other 2 men needs to be replaced by electronics. The cockpit can't be expanded and I doubt they will put 3/4 people in tandem.
But that's for the other Hornets. As for those fighting China, yes, the Su-27 is the biggest threat now. The J-8Bs, on the other hand, is pretty much nothing. It can't dodge missiles at 4.7Gs, but if the 8Bs are the upgraded ones, then the Hornet might need to dodge a couple of Pl-11s and 12s itself. (Missile dodging ability not confirmed, I'd probably stick more to chaffs out in the sea. Actually, the MiG-29 isn't very manuverable/agile when you just pitched it and it's going stright up, at least according to a sim.) I don't know about what the Su-27s will do against the F-18s. (The Russians said that the Chinese were very inexperienced in BVR warfare during the exercise.) But the number of hits a Hornet can achieve might be very limited.
To popeye: Vacation is wet, as the storms are here, but hey, at least garden is flourishing in the rain.
As for EA-6B, I doubt it's because of the airframe. The thing is stable and require not too much in fuel. I don't know how much of its tail can come off before it loses control and crash, but it doesn't seem to me it needs a lot. Plus, you have its weight, which is smaller, meaning less stress on the arrestor wires. So it's like the AK, old but reliable. So maybe it is the maintence problem.
If the Growler is to be made, it seems to me that the original 4 crew needs to be reduced to 2, and the other 2 men needs to be replaced by electronics. The cockpit can't be expanded and I doubt they will put 3/4 people in tandem.
But that's for the other Hornets. As for those fighting China, yes, the Su-27 is the biggest threat now. The J-8Bs, on the other hand, is pretty much nothing. It can't dodge missiles at 4.7Gs, but if the 8Bs are the upgraded ones, then the Hornet might need to dodge a couple of Pl-11s and 12s itself. (Missile dodging ability not confirmed, I'd probably stick more to chaffs out in the sea. Actually, the MiG-29 isn't very manuverable/agile when you just pitched it and it's going stright up, at least according to a sim.) I don't know about what the Su-27s will do against the F-18s. (The Russians said that the Chinese were very inexperienced in BVR warfare during the exercise.) But the number of hits a Hornet can achieve might be very limited.
To popeye: Vacation is wet, as the storms are here, but hey, at least garden is flourishing in the rain.
Seacraft
New Member
MIGleader said:
The first notification the local defenses would have would be as they started going offline as the F18's would sneak in and roll back the coastal air defense network before the tomahawks came in to further disintegrate the integrated air defense system... Though the SA10 and derivatives seem a real tough nut to crack...
There would be AWACS and other elec aircraft but why a destroyer? The destroyer doesn't need to be in close - it's hundreds of klicks back... It may be somewhat deadly for the super hornet but at least if not much more deadly for the J8, an aircraft less effective than the F18E/F or the SU27/J11/SU30 or any 4th generation fighter, right? It would not be a cake walk for either group but I don't think you want J8s going toe to toe with 18Es ..
Sumdud, I hope you have an umbrella!
Anyway from what I have read the "Growler" is due to start replacing the E/A-6B in 2008. The aircrfat is based on the Super Hornet platform. The airframe has 99% commonality with the present F-18's. The man reason for the replacement appears to be the age of the aircraft along with it's subsonic speed...mach .7..Point 7?? That's slow.
Anyway from what I have read the "Growler" is due to start replacing the E/A-6B in 2008. The aircrfat is based on the Super Hornet platform. The airframe has 99% commonality with the present F-18's. The man reason for the replacement appears to be the age of the aircraft along with it's subsonic speed...mach .7..Point 7?? That's slow.
lol, it's good you are so optimistic about F-18's chances against China's entire networked defense. Do you have an idea how many different types of SAMs, early warning detectors, mobile air defense vehicles and manpads that are at China's disposal? The S-300PMU2 would have F-18 within it's engagement range of 200 KM before F-18 even detects S-300PMU2.Seacraft said:
you don't need J-8 to go toe to toe again 18E. As long as an AWACS can detect F-18, it can direct J-8 to launch PL-12s against 18E. In today's warfare, as long as an interceptor can fly at reasonable fast speed, get directions from AWACS and GC and is equipped with the latest AAMs, it would have a chance against most fighters available today (with the exception of F-22 and F-35).
MIGleader
Banned Idiot
Seacraft said:
your joking, right? you think an f-18 can just strut into china's massive radar webs and not get caught? the f-18 is not the f-22!! the tomahawks will not appear out of nowhere either. the ship fring the tomahawk will be detected by y-8s hundreds of miles from shore. the f-18s would find a dozen s-300pmus and pmu2s pointed at them. this is china, NOT BAGHDAD OR KOSOVO.
the j-8 with upgrades is a nasty bird. groups of j-8s directed by awacs will swarm on f-18 groups.