F-22 Breakthrough!

I don't recall the thread title, but there's been speculation here that the Raptor could only fire ordinance at subsonic speeds; it seems that is no longer true:

www.af.mil...

Wow, I had no idea that the F-22 was capable of such performance. The tactical implications of dropping ordinance at super-sonic speeds are enormous. Add in the fact that the F-22 can do supercruise and you've got a very fast fighter. I can imagine, the speed, combined with the stealth abilities will make the F-22 very very hard to intercept.

The thread was called 'Raptor's Fatal Flaw" and for 8 pages would go on to explain how the Raptor actually could launch missiles from supersonic speeds, as it has performed several tests with the AIM 9 and AIM 120.

Shattered OUT...

Wow... look as that the bay flaps are not being ripped of the aircraft! And to think that thread went on for 8 pages.

Originally posted by WestPoint23
Wow... look as that the bay flaps are not being ripped of the aircraft! And to think that thread went on for 8 pages.

Technically it went on for about 2, then a few members(Who will not be named here) decided to take it upon themselves and turn it into a "This aircraft is better than that" thread.

Shattered OUT...

You guys and that cryptic intelligence code wording.
For those members that are wondering about the topic thread being mentioned, this is the one.

I do believe that the member that started the thread did so with legit intentions and thought in mind. It was a very good topic ( ) till it was hijacked.






seekerof

[edit on 25-7-2005 by Seekerof]

Well think about this logically. Why would the Air Force call for a stealth air superiority fighter that could kick ass in the sky and still maintain its stealth characteristics and then pick a winner that couldn't fire its missiles at full speed? It just seems rediculous to think otherwise.

Wait, you guys are missing the point of the article:

This test is a big deal NOT because it can open its doors at speed, thats ALWAYS been the case. This test is a big deal because it can drop guided GROUND ordinance from speed.

I thought it was all but chiseled in granite that it could fire air to air at speed.

Imagine doing bombing runs, nearly invisible to radar AND flying at mach 1.5+? Thats the big deal here.

Orrsum find Realist05

Originally posted by skippytjc
Wait, you guys are missing the point of the article:

This test is a big deal NOT because it can open its doors at speed, thats ALWAYS been the case. This test is a big deal because it can drop guided GROUND ordinance from speed.

I thought it was all but chiseled in granite that it could fire air to air at speed.

Imagine doing bombing runs, nearly invisible to radar AND flying at mach 1.5+? Thats the big deal here.

Again, I always assumed the F-22 would be able to drop ordinance at supersonic. But I guess I just had faith in the airframe.