David Hingtgen Posted December 19, 2013 Author Share Posted December 19, 2013 4-color splinter-camo makes many people think twice about actually building one. (well, there's always the plain grey, but Viggen camo is iconic) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derex3592 Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 That paint job would be a pain in the ........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerli Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Brazil has picked the Super Gripen: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/saab-wins-brazils-f-x2-fighter-contest-with-gripen-ng-394289/ And maybe Argentina will follow Brazil too... our Air Force is completely obsolete and we are still searching for replacement to our aging Mirage 2000 and A4's. If Brazil develops a regional version of the Gripen, surely Argentina will buy it... but times are hard, no money for defense I fear... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skullmilitia Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 And maybe Argentina will follow Brazil too... our Air Force is completely obsolete and we are still searching for replacement to our aging Mirage 2000 and A4's. If Brazil develops a regional version of the Gripen, surely Argentina will buy it... but times are hard, no money for defense I fear... Call me ignorant but is there anyone actually out to hurt South America other than political opposition or cartels? That would actually cause a dog fight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Model-Junkie Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Is BAe still involved in the export of the Gripen? If so, I doubt Argentina will be a potential buyer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Can pretty much thank the NSA on losing the 4.5bil contract. What are the differences between the Gripen C and the E/F though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Train Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Call me ignorant but is there anyone actually out to hurt South America other than political opposition or cartels? That would actually cause a dog fight? Argentina still disputes ownership of the Falkland islands (currently owned by the UK). They fought a short war over it in 1982. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerli Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 (edited) Is BAe still involved in the export of the Gripen? If so, I doubt Argentina will be a potential buyer... But Brazil is going to manufacture the majority of the systems (The engines are from USA I think) Edit: I found this Edited December 20, 2013 by Gerli Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hingtgen Posted December 21, 2013 Author Share Posted December 21, 2013 What are the differences between the Gripen C and the E/F though? More thrust, a lot more fuel, more weapons stations, AESA radar. Really superior in every way. Physically the same dimensions/shape though. Just lots of improvements/rearranging to achieve it. Awesome flight-deck ops video---best I've ever seen for actually having a plane engage the catapult, hold-back, etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?e-V0dKwyu6E And of course, everything's better when the Jolly Rogers are featured. :::edit::: Why won't it embed? I tried every variation of the link I can think of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerli Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 (edited) More thrust, a lot more fuel, more weapons stations, AESA radar. Really superior in every way. Physically the same dimensions/shape though. Just lots of improvements/rearranging to achieve it. Awesome flight-deck ops video---best I've ever seen for actually having a plane engage the catapult, hold-back, etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?e-V0dKwyu6E And of course, everything's better when the Jolly Rogers are featured. :::edit::: Why won't it embed? I tried every variation of the link I can think of. Click the "Share" button on youtube and copy-paste the short-link in the post. it will auto-embed it (?) Edited December 21, 2013 by Gerli Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skullmilitia Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Argentina still disputes ownership of the Falkland islands (currently owned by the UK). They fought a short war over it in 1982. Damn, I forgot about the Falklands! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 It's nice to see the EA-6 still around. Was always a fan of the Intruder and Prowler. I still wish that they could have applied some of the upgrades from the A-6F onto the Prowler, IE replacing the outdated J52s with F404s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
505thAirborne Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Thunder over Michigan. 2 Mustangs, 3 B-17's and a B-24.... Super cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MechTech Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Aren't the EA-6's being pahsed out by the 18's? How old is that footage. That si the best ever first person footage too. I kept waiting for the guy to get sucked into the EA-6's intake! Thanks for sharing! - MT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiley424 Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Aren't the EA-6's being pahsed out by the 18's? How old is that footage. That si the best ever first person footage too. I kept waiting for the guy to get sucked into the EA-6's intake! Thanks for sharing! - MT I though so too, but a couple just came down to Guam for a recent small exercise. They were Marine EA-6s though; wikipedia shows the majority of the carrier based EA-6 squadrons have converted over to EA-18s but there are a couple that have not yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 A pic highlighting the loadout options for the Enhanced Super Hornet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hingtgen Posted December 22, 2013 Author Share Posted December 22, 2013 A single 1000lb JDAM seems like a waste. The SDB+AMRAAM options are much better IMHO. Wait a minute---"Laser JDAM"? WTF is that? That kinda goes against the definition of JDAM. Paveway=Laser. JDAM=GPS PS---where's the 8x AIM-9X option? Seriously, want an Itano circus... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptormesh Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 A dual mode bomb just in case of GPS jamming? Just conjecture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hingtgen Posted December 22, 2013 Author Share Posted December 22, 2013 Kinda what my guess was. Laser is more accurate, but can't be used in bad conditions. I envision it more as a laser-guided bomb, with a less-accurate but usable GPS mode in case of bad weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles316 Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Most Guided Bombs are moving towards a tri-mode seeker GPS/INS, LASER, and Inferred in order to have targeting option instead of carrying different weapons on a strike aircraft. The LASER-JDAM have been around for a few years now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anime52k8 Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 (edited) Most Guided Bombs are moving towards a tri-mode seeker GPS/INS, LASER, and Inferred in order to have targeting option instead of carrying different weapons on a strike aircraft. The LASER-JDAM have been around for a few years now. This. The laser seeker is there so the bomb can track moving targets in addition to being able to hit all-weather stationary targets in GPS mode. BTW, I wonder if it would be possible to carry two of those pods with one on each wing instead of just the single center line pod. Edited December 22, 2013 by anime52k8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalvasflam Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Just curious, I thought the F-18s can carry ordinance on the centerline. I wonder if someone hadn't thought of a stealth shaped version of the JDAM or JSM, that's another way to bring some fire power without having to lug around the weapons pod. The first four configuration made sense though... but really, why have just four SBD when you can have six. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiley424 Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Just curious, I thought the F-18s can carry ordinance on the centerline. I wonder if someone hadn't thought of a stealth shaped version of the JDAM or JSM, that's another way to bring some fire power without having to lug around the weapons pod. The first four configuration made sense though... but really, why have just four SBD when you can have six. I suppose two less bombs will give that much more range? Every pound counts on an airplane. Saw this link on one of my favorite car sites, jalopnik.com, good read on Japan's stealth aircraft development. http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/a-brief-history-of-asian-stealth-so-far-part-1-japan-1487743275 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 This. The laser seeker is there so the bomb can track moving targets in addition to being able to hit all-weather stationary targets in GPS mode. BTW, I wonder if it would be possible to carry two of those pods with one on each wing instead of just the single center line pod. Two of those pods would be interesting but I like the idea of stealthy JDAMs to cut down on weight and drag brought on by the pods. The Enhanced Super Hornet is supposed to get improved engines. Looks like it will still carry a pair of AIM-9Xs on the wingtips. Not sure how much those will compromise the reduced radar cross section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anime52k8 Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 I see two main problems with making stealthy JDAMs. For one, you'd need a specially designed bomb casing made from composite materials which would negate the JDAMs big selling point of being an inexpensive tail kit you can mount to any existing dumb bomb in inventory. And once you've dropped you're stealthy bomb, you're now left with a very unstealthy bomb shackle hanging off the bottom of the aircraft. what I think would be interesting is if they can adapt this stealth weapons pod to the F-35. I know there's been much poo-pooing about how limited the F-35's weapon load is while fully stealthy, so this could be a better solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 (edited) While I doubt it will ever happen, a strike variant of the Raptor would be sweet as I could see the larger frame being able to carry those external pods while still carrying a payload in its internal bays. Edited December 22, 2013 by Shadow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hingtgen Posted December 23, 2013 Author Share Posted December 23, 2013 Just curious, I thought the F-18s can carry ordinance on the centerline. They can, but even the Super Hornet still always needs extra fuel tanks. Seeing the center pylon used for anything but fuel is rare. Weight/G-loading always means the centerline pylon is the #1 preferred place to load fuel tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Getting into the Holiday spirit alittle late this year but... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadow3393 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 (edited) This. The laser seeker is there so the bomb can track moving targets in addition to being able to hit all-weather stationary targets in GPS mode. BTW, I wonder if it would be possible to carry two of those pods with one on each wing instead of just the single center line pod. Anywhere you can stick a 480 Gal Tank, you can stick this pod. We joke at work with 5 pods, you can load 24 120s and 2 9Xs on the SH Edited December 24, 2013 by shadow3393 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hingtgen Posted December 25, 2013 Author Share Posted December 25, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Train Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 Nice Gripen NG video: (Skip to 3:00 for Gripen vs Flanker action) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hingtgen Posted December 27, 2013 Author Share Posted December 27, 2013 I've always found it interesting that SAAB/Volvo always seem to use upgraded versions of US engines, that are superior in every way---yet the US never uses those upgraded versions in turn. (or if they do, long after every other user and export version does) I'd guess "not invented here" is the only real reason. (or really---"we invented it, but we can't validate their upgrades and let them show us up that they made a better version of our own engine" PS----China has a "new" helicopter. Apparently it's called the Z-20. Yup, a totally new, home-grown, innovative design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-ZeroOne Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 Well, it probably shouldn't be too much of a surprise as I believe actually were sold a few Blackhawks a while back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
electric indigo Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Pics of the 1/48 Hobby Boss YF-23: http://www.inpayne.com/models/yf23hb.html Always nice to see some more angles of the bird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 (edited) Pics of the 1/48 Hobby Boss YF-23: http://www.inpayne.com/models/yf23hb.html Always nice to see some more angles of the bird. And I just found what I want as a belated Christmas gift. Also, some concepts of the F-35 in Blue Angels and T-bird colors. I was expecting them to look horrid but they're surprisingly livable. Edited December 31, 2013 by Shadow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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