Latest news with #aircombat
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Why Did The U.S. Air Force Cancel The F-22 Raptor?
It is the absolute apex of air-to-air combat. It rules the skies like a bird of prey, from which it takes its name. It's one of the stealthiest fighter jets in the world. The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is the pinnacle of what air dominance can be. So ... it was canceled. In 2009, the U.S. Department of Defense decided to end production of the fighter after only 186 planes were produced, significantly less than the original order of 750. What happened? Airpower is supposed to be one of the pillars of America's military strength, so why take its best piece off the board? The answer comes down to the fact that the nature of America's threats change and evolve over time, meaning that an asset that seemed critical in one era seems less so in another. Plus, put simply, the F-22 is wildly expensive, so if it's not an absolute must-have, the cost-benefit analysis just doesn't shake out. Read more: These Are The Worst American Cars Ever Made The F-22 was a revelation when it first flew in 1997. With a top speed of an incredible Mach 2.25 (1,726 miles per hour), supercruise capability (meaning it could fly for extended periods above the speed of sound), and a coat of radar-absorbent material, it was more advanced than any other fighter in the world at the time. It was a spaceship in a world full of paper planes. Ironically enough, that was part of its problem. Because Russia and China had nothing comparable in the first decade of the 21st century, the F-22 almost seemed like overkill. At a massive per-unit cost of $150 million, did America really need something that far beyond any of its competitors? For that matter, America's main adversaries at the time had no airpower at all. With the U.S. embroiled in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq against low-tech insurgent forces, a high-cost air-dominance fighter just didn't fit the country's needs at the time. Since even the Pentagon doesn't have infinite money (though it sure seems like it sometimes), it had to make some tough choices over where to put resources. For the budget-draining War on Terror, the F-22 just didn't have an argument to make. Not helping matters was the fact that Congress restricted use of the F-22 to just the U.S. Air Force. Translation: There would be no sales to foreign allies, which cut off a major revenue stream that could have offset its costs. Of course, since the end of production in 2009, a lot has changed. Russia and particularly China have upped their military capabilities, including in the air. With the benefit of hindsight, should the U.S. have kept the F-22 rolling off the assembly line? Not necessarily. For one thing, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an even newer fighter jet (though it has problems of its own). While slower and less stealthy than the F-22, it has vastly more advanced sensor capabilities. Not only can it gather a huge amount of information about the battlespace, its true party trick is its ability to disseminate that information to other F-35s and to headquarters. Meanwhile, the Air Force has also moved forward by looking backward. The decades-old F-15 airframe has gotten a major update in the form of the F-15EX. For one thing, it's much cheaper than the F-22 (its unit cost is only $94 million), which is appealing as the Pentagon looks to cut overspending. More importantly, the F-15EX can bring a whopping 12 air-to-air missiles to the fray, compared to the F-22's measly eight. The F-15EX was also designed to carry the newest and most advanced ordnance in the Air Force's arsenal, hypersonic missiles. Given all that, you could argue that the F-22 has lost its crown as the best air dominance fighter ... to a much older, and cheaper, plane. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Associated Press
21-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Cubic Delivers First-Ever Encrypted Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) for 4th Gen Aircraft to the United States Air Force
Allowing seamless and interoperable air combat training between 4th Gen and 5th Gen aircraft SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / May 21, 2025 / Cubic Defense, the world's leading provider of advanced air combat training, announces the delivery of the first-ever encrypted ACMI upgrade to 4th gen aircraft, following the recent U.S. Air Force Production award. The modernization delivers a new era of operational readiness, bringing a much-needed proficiency to the Warfighter. 'The ACMI upgrade redefines the future path of the P5 and P6 programs, providing a solid foundation to the advanced training environment,' stated Paul Averna, VP and GM, Advanced Training Solutions for Cubic Defense. 'Proud to say, our amazing team went above and beyond, exceeded expectations by delivering the first kits ahead of schedule.' The cutting-edge System Security Upgrade (SSU) kits will revolutionize security by encrypting sensitive maneuvering data for a substantial portion of the U.S. Air Force P5 pod fleet. Protecting proprietary material and enhancing operational readiness and effectiveness across the globe has never been more crucial. The capability provides fully interoperable encrypted Time Space Position Information (TSPI) to the P5 CTS for 4th gen platforms at a more efficient cost to our customers. Contact Information: Geri MacDonald Cubic Defense [email protected] 442.330.5205 Jocelyn Disque Vice President - Touchdown PR [email protected] 512.599.4015 SOURCE: Cubic Defense SOURCE: Cubic Defense press release
South China Morning Post
16-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China's J-10C vs French Rafale, fans defend Blackpink's Lisa: SCMP 7 highlights
We have selected seven stories from this week's news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing Reports that France's advanced Rafale fighter jet came off second best against the China-made J-10C Vigorous Dragon in a dogfight between the Indian and Pakistan air forces on May 7 attracted global attention. After their first set of talks since US President Donald Trump's sweeping 'Liberation Day' tariffs turned Washington's trade war with China into a world-spanning conflagration, both Beijing and Washington – perhaps unsurprisingly – hailed the resultant removal of most of those steep import duties as a victory for their side. The F-47 fighter jet and the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A combat drones are being developed under Washington's Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative. Photo: US Air Force The US has unveiled more details about its sixth-generation fighter, including the aircraft's expected range, as competition intensifies with China for future air combat superiority.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
How China's warplane can take on western technology
China's 'Vigorous Dragon' warplanes and state-of-the-art missiles have been battle-tested against Western tech for the first time - seemingly resulting in the downing of a French jet. A dogfight between the air forces of nuclear-armed neighbours Pakistan and India reportedly saw several Indian fighter jets shot down last week, with at least one of the aircraft believed to be a French-made Rafale. Islamabad used the Chinese-made Chengdu J-10C fighter planes in the air-to-air combat operation, which Pakistani officials said involved more than 100 aircraft in total. Neither side crossed the border during the 'stand-off' conflict, but reports suggested Indian jets were downed inside India and in Indian-administered Kashmir. A French intelligence source confirmed to CNN last Wednesday that at least one Rafale jet had been shot down - making it the first of the advanced 4.5 generation aircraft to be lost in combat. Now the performance of the Chinese jets is being closely monitored by Washington and its allies for potential insights into how Beijing may fare in a possible showdown over Taiwan or the wider Indo-Pacific. Experts have said the operation shows the J-10's capabilities have been 'proven on the world stage', with Chengdu Aircraft Corporation's stock surging by a third indicating investor confidence. Meanwhile the successful display of the J-10's capabilities has rung alarm bells in Western defence circles, with suggestions that it could be a game changer in the global arms trade. Hu Jixin, the former editor of the state-owned Chinese media outlet Global Times, said the display showed that ' China 's level of military manufacturing has completely surpassed that of Russia and France '. He added that the battlefield success meant Taiwan should feel 'even more scared'. Dr Farrukh Salem, a Pakistani political scientist, wrote of the news: 'The downing of a Rafale by a J-10C will do three things: legitimise the J-10C as a credible competitor to Western jets like the Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, and F-16V; reshape fighter acquisition preferences in developing countries; and boost Chinese defence exports.' Around 80 per cent of Pakistan's military equipment is made in China, which delivered its first batch of J-10 jets to Islamabad in 2022. The single-engine J-10 can carry air-to-air weapons, anti-ship missiles, precision-guided bombs and rockets. The PL-15 missile features in its arsenal, and pictures circulating on Indian media suggest that one may have been used during the clash with Pakistan on Wednesday. The weapon has never been used in combat before, and while Indian authorities have not confirmed its use, the missile's exceptionally long range would tally with the long-distance, cross-border warfare pilots engaged in on Wednesday. The J-10 - which has been constantly upgraded since it was unveiled in the 2000s - is designed to be flexible and competent in both air-to-air combat and ground attack missions. The light fighter uses Russian technology and is seen as China's version of American F-16s and Sweden's Saab Gripen jets. 'Think of the J-10C as roughly equivalent to a late-model F-16, but with some features - like its long-range missile suite - that could give it the edge in certain scenarios,' David Jordan, a defence studies lecturer at King's College London, told Business Insider. The Rafale and the model of the J-10 used by Pakistan are both considered generation 4.5 fighter jets, placing them at the leading edge of combat aircraft. The J-10C has upgraded radar systems from earlier models, featuring the Chinese Type 1475 AESA radar, similar to the French Thales RBE2 used in the Rafale. While both aircraft have supersonic capabilities, the J-10C is faster, topping out at Mach 2.2 compared to the Rafale's Mach 1.8. Meanwhile the Rafale has greater operational range - 3,700 km to the J-10C's 2,940 km - making it better suited for longer missions. Western analysts said the live use of some of the advanced weapons that could be deployed in future conflicts would be scrutinized in minute detail, but emphasised on Friday that it was too early to draw firm conclusions. 'Air warfare communities in China, the US and a number of European countries will be extremely interested to try and get as much ground truth as they can on tactics, techniques, procedures, what kit was used, what worked and what didn't,' said Douglas Barrie, senior fellow for military aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Defence experts warned against taking the J-10's apparent success as proof of its superiority, with suggestions that pilot error on the Indian side, among other factors, could have been at play. Responding to a question on whether the force suffered losses, the Indian Air Force said on Sunday that 'losses are a part of combat' without giving details but added that all its pilots were back home after fighting with Pakistan last week. Dozens of people died as the arch rivals sent drones and other munitions into each other's airspace over four days, a fortnight after an attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people. New Delhi said the attack was backed by Islamabad, an accusation Pakistan denied.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Rise of China's lethal 'Vigorous Dragon' warplane: How Pakistan used Beijing-made J-10 'to take out India's French-made Rafale jets' as nuclear powers fought over Kashmir
China's 'Vigorous Dragon' warplanes and state-of-the-art missiles have been battle-tested against Western tech for the first time - seemingly resulting in the downing of a French jet. A dogfight between the air forces of nuclear-armed neighbours Pakistan and India reportedly saw several Indian fighter jets shot down last week, with at least one of the aircraft believed to be a French-made Rafale. Islamabad used the Chinese-made Chengdu J-10C fighter planes in the air-to-air combat operation, which Pakistani officials said involved more than 100 aircraft in total. Neither side crossed the border during the 'stand-off' conflict, but reports suggested Indian jets were downed inside India and in Indian-administered Kashmir. A French intelligence source confirmed to CNN last Wednesday that at least one Rafale jet had been shot down - making it the first of the advanced 4.5 generation aircraft to be lost in combat. Now the performance of the Chinese jets is being closely monitored by Washington and its allies for potential insights into how Beijing may fare in a possible showdown over Taiwan or the wider Indo-Pacific. Experts have said the operation shows the J-10's capabilities have been 'proven on the world stage', with Chengdu Aircraft Corporation's stock surging by a third indicating investor confidence. Meanwhile the successful display of the J-10's capabilities has rung alarm bells in Western defence circles, with suggestions that it could be a game changer in the global arms trade. Hu Jixin, the former editor of the state-owned Chinese media outlet Global Times, said the display showed that ' China 's level of military manufacturing has completely surpassed that of Russia and France '. He added that the battlefield success meant Taiwan should feel 'even more scared'. Dr Farrukh Salem, a Pakistani political scientist, wrote of the news: 'The downing of a Rafale by a J-10C will do three things: legitimise the J-10C as a credible competitor to Western jets like the Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, and F-16V; reshape fighter acquisition preferences in developing countries; and boost Chinese defence exports.' Around 80 per cent of Pakistan's military equipment is made in China, which delivered its first batch of J-10 jets to Islamabad in 2022. The single-engine J-10 can carry air-to-air weapons, anti-ship missiles, precision-guided bombs and rockets. The PL-15 missile features in its arsenal, and pictures circulating on Indian media suggest that one may have been used during the clash with Pakistan on Wednesday. The weapon has never been used in combat before, and while Indian authorities have not confirmed its use, the missile's exceptionally long range would tally with the long-distance, cross-border warfare pilots engaged in on Wednesday. The J-10 - which has been constantly upgraded since it was unveiled in the 2000s - is designed to be flexible and competent in both air-to-air combat and ground attack missions. The light fighter uses Russian technology and is seen as China's version of American F-16s and Sweden's Saab Gripen jets. 'Think of the J-10C as roughly equivalent to a late-model F-16, but with some features - like its long-range missile suite - that could give it the edge in certain scenarios,' David Jordan, a defence studies lecturer at King's College London, told Business Insider. What appear to be red projectiles are seen streaking across the night sky in the city of Srinagar, in Indian controlled Kashmir on Saturday evening The Rafale and the model of the J-10 used by Pakistan are both considered generation 4.5 fighter jets, placing them at the leading edge of combat aircraft. The J-10C has upgraded radar systems from earlier models, featuring the Chinese Type 1475 AESA radar, similar to the French Thales RBE2 used in the Rafale. While both aircraft have supersonic capabilities, the J-10C is faster, topping out at Mach 2.2 compared to the Rafale's Mach 1.8. Meanwhile the Rafale has greater operational range - 3,700 km to the J-10C's 2,940 km - making it better suited for longer missions. Western analysts said the live use of some of the advanced weapons that could be deployed in future conflicts would be scrutinized in minute detail, but emphasised on Friday that it was too early to draw firm conclusions. 'Air warfare communities in China, the US and a number of European countries will be extremely interested to try and get as much ground truth as they can on tactics, techniques, procedures, what kit was used, what worked and what didn't,' said Douglas Barrie, senior fellow for military aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Defence experts warned against taking the J-10's apparent success as proof of its superiority, with suggestions that pilot error on the Indian side, among other factors, could have been at play. Responding to a question on whether the force suffered losses, the Indian Air Force said on Sunday that 'losses are a part of combat' without giving details but added that all its pilots were back home after fighting with Pakistan last week. Dozens of people died as the arch rivals sent drones and other munitions into each other's airspace over four days, a fortnight after an attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people. New Delhi said the attack was backed by Islamabad, an accusation Pakistan denied.
