Has the U.S. virtually wiped out all competition in the military fighter/bomber field?

originally posted by: intrptr

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: intrptr

You don't even know the difference between supersonic and hypersonic. Again, they're not interchangeable. Hypersonic speeds don't start until they're past Mach 5, not Mach 2.

Thanks for playing though.

Well thanks for that minor correction.

By the by, Russians have them...

Daily mail

The Mail really isn't a great source for weapons to be honest. It's talking about a Russian hypersonic missile with the main picture being Boeings Waverider.

a reply to: Woody510

Yeah, but they do have a hypersonic missile that is in development. It's a joint development between Russia and India, based on the Brahmos missile. India calls it the Brahmos II, Russia calls it the 3M22 Tsirkon or Zircon depending on the source. The Brahmos II is limited to 180 miles range, while the Tsirkon has about a 250 mile range. They weren't scheduled to launch it until next year, but they launched the Tsirkon on June 3rd. The Brahmos II is scheduled to test around 2020. Both are designed to have a top speed around Mach 7.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Woody510

Yeah, but they do have a hypersonic missile that is in development. It's a joint development between Russia and India, based on the Brahmos missile. India calls it the Brahmos II, Russia calls it the 3M22 Tsirkon or Zircon depending on the source. The Brahmos II is limited to 180 miles range, while the Tsirkon has about a 250 mile range. They weren't scheduled to launch it until next year, but they launched the Tsirkon on June 3rd. The Brahmos II is scheduled to test around 2020. Both are designed to have a top speed around Mach 7.

Would that be terminal phase top speed? What I mean is it faster in all phases?

a reply to: nwtrucker

That is the speed over the entire flight after they accelerate. They're in the process of converting the vertical launch system on the Kirov cruisers to carry the Kalibr, Onyx, and Tsirkon missiles interchangeably. It uses a booster upon launch, and then convert to a scramjet motor once it's supersonic. In an April test flight it was reported that the Tsirkon reached Mach 8.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: nwtrucker

That is the speed over the entire flight after they accelerate. They're in the process of converting the vertical launch system on the Kirov cruisers to carry the Kalibr, Onyx, and Tsirkon missiles interchangeably. It uses a booster upon launch, and then convert to a scramjet motor once it's supersonic. In an April test flight it was reported that the Tsirkon reached Mach 8.

Will THAAD handle that kind of speed? Also seems a bit fast for terrain hugging/ low altitude maneuvers. Either way, GULP...

a reply to: nwtrucker

Theoretically it can. It will follow a semi-ballistic trajectory, but at the speeds they're reaching, it will be extremely difficult to intercept for any interceptor, especially a ship based antimissile system. The Tsirkon is going to make an extremely dangerous antiship missile.

a reply to: nwtrucker

That's not who designed it, it's all been contracted out to those companies. It's all LMs jet that's been contracted out as part of the program. Systems that needed to be developed and etc all to be monitored by LM and the JSF office. Mostly everything is LM's or another US MIC's intellectual property.

a reply to: Zaphod58

More range and sensors with higher processing power. Should help as more and more Arleighs come to the fleet with their newer radars and improved combat systems. Also don't see why everyone was so hyped about the type 45, they're a middle-weight compared to a Flight-IIA Arleigh Burke. Fine ships but not a peer to the AB.

originally posted by: Caughtlurking
a reply to: nwtrucker

That's not who designed it, it's all been contracted out to those companies. It's all LMs jet that's been contracted out as part of the program. Systems that needed to be developed and etc all to be monitored by LM and the JSF office. Mostly everything is LM's or another US MIC's intellectual property.

Good to know.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: nwtruckerThe Tsirkon is going to make an extremely dangerous antiship missile.

The russians have always had a knack for building those. The Granit and the Kitchen made the Harpoon look like a kid's toy.

Haven't the Chinese already far in front with its Hypersonic missile being already successfully tested and flown?

a reply to: Blackfinger

Nothing that comes out of China is what it seems. There are no free thinking reporters publishing from China.

a reply to: Blackfinger

What are the chinese hypersonic missiles using for targeting and what if what theyre using for targeting is suddenly giving bupkis for data.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

Exactly, it's one thing to come up with the concept and another to make it work.

That's why it's so interesting that the US is considering sending F-16 manufacturing to India. If the US can secure close strategic ties in India and the Indians can catch up in 4th gen manufacturing right away; in a sense, then the US will be in a much more secure position in both Asia and the Middle East. Pakistan could go bad very quickly and they seem willing to re-align to China.

But yes the Chinese are getting inventive and are working damn hard but that still doesn't mean they've figured it out yet. The best thing the US could do would be to keep them out of conflict and busy spending dollars elsewhere. Eventually they'll have to account for all of this spending.

a reply to: Caughtlurking


Somewhat related was the visit of Gen. Chen, a couple years back, who with a few other high ranking Chinese Military were taken on a tour of facilities that thee and me will never see.


www.washingtontimes.com...


I'm still trying to find his response in a TV interview where he stated pretty clearly, that China could not match the U.S.'s military technology. It might have given him pause. It might have given him incentive. We don't see much 'pause' ......



Here we go:

www.bbc.co...

a reply to: nwtrucker

It's just a matter of professionalism and the fact that China's government has a heavy amount of corruption and infighting between senior party members that make the US government look saintly. Then there are the internal conflicts and major infrastructure problem including access to potable water in the country. There are a lot of things about China that are not clearly evident just by watching/reading the information provided outright on the surface.

originally posted by: Caughtlurking
a reply to: nwtrucker

It's just a matter of professionalism and the fact that China's government has a heavy amount of corruption and infighting between senior party members that make the US government look saintly. Then there are the internal conflicts and major infrastructure problem including access to potable water in the country. There are a lot of things about China that are not clearly evident just by watching/reading the information provided outright on the surface.

Exactly. The signal example is their internal loans. They were given based on a 15% annual growth rate of the GDP!

They are leveraged beyond any sanity, whatsoever. Of the big three, China is STILL the most likely to suffer financial collapse! The complicating part is if their financial system tanks, so does everyone else's. So how to insure their survival and still block/reduce Chinese economic dominance? NOT my problem....

a reply to: nwtrucker

What youre saying is true but part of me would love to see chinas money go poof if not just for the perverse pleasure of seeing the panic and look on the faces of all the Fuerdai running around los angeles.

a reply to: BASSPLYR


Now, now.....OK....me too....

China has always been about reclaiming its medieval Imperial Superpower.They were looking very strong but sounds like the dreaded political problems have weakened them again..