Title: Boeing F/A-XX
Description: The proposed F/A-18E/F replacement
Description: The proposed F/A-18E/F replacement
Alfie007 - May 4, 2010 05:08 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
| thedewline — May 03, 2010 — Boeing has displayed a 1/16 scale model of a concept to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The model was shown within Boeing's exhibit hall space at the Navy League Sea Air and Space Expo 2010 on 3 May at National Harbor, Maryland. The so-called F/A-XX model features stealthy design characteristics and a tailless planform for a carrier-based fighter. In some respects, it seems to appear as a natural follow-on to the aborted A-12 program, which was canceled 20 years ago as costs soared and design problems mounted. |
Does anyone has any news link on the F/A-XX??
tankee1981 - May 4, 2010 05:15 AM (GMT)
It does seems that the Boeing's answer to the Super Hornet will still be a manned platform given the 'cock-pit' is present in the model.
Alfie007 - May 4, 2010 05:58 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
| SAINT LOUIS, Missouri -- Boeing Phantom Works has revealed a new concept image for an F/A-XX fighter to replace the F/A-18E/F fleet after about 10-15 more years. The two-seat, twin-engine, tailless concept is advertised in the chart below as a "sixth-generation" fighter. The notional -- and evolving -- definition for a sixth-generation includes such technologies as optional manning, combined cycle propulsion, visual stealth, more composite materials and advanced electronic attack capabilities. |
| QUOTE |
| Boeing's new artistic concept marks a sharp departure from the image the company released in June 2008, which was first displayed on Aviation Week & Space Technology's Ares blog. While the previous design showed a flying-wing fighter, the new image reveals a more conventional fighter shape from the cockpit area forward. You can see the changes below. |
| QUOTE |
| The F/A-XX concept first emerged last June, when US Navy officials first publicly discussed the potential requirement at the AUVSI convention in San Diego. Here are two pictures from that slide presentation showing the manned concepts on the USN officer's briefing slide. (Read more here.) |
weasel1962 - May 4, 2010 02:17 PM (GMT)
High risk move. USN and USMC are already committed to the F-35.
F-18s are only used by a handful of nations incl Canada, Spain, Australia, Kuwait, Swiss and Malaysia. Spain is already gunning for the typhoon. Canada and Australia are aiming for the F-35. With Kuwait, Swiss and MY left, orders for F-18 replacement won't be abundant.
F-18s are only used by a handful of nations incl Canada, Spain, Australia, Kuwait, Swiss and Malaysia. Spain is already gunning for the typhoon. Canada and Australia are aiming for the F-35. With Kuwait, Swiss and MY left, orders for F-18 replacement won't be abundant.
adroth - May 5, 2010 03:12 AM (GMT)
Is this meant to be the USN's equivalent to the F/A-22?
Would it really be that hard to come up with naval variant for the Raptor? (i.e, new landing gear, arresting gear, folding wings, etc)
Would it really be that hard to come up with naval variant for the Raptor? (i.e, new landing gear, arresting gear, folding wings, etc)
Joe Black - May 5, 2010 03:42 AM (GMT)
I dismiss this with just another paper project. At least the Stealth Eagles have some slight chance of becoming a reality. This thing here.... nada!
Alfie007 - May 5, 2010 04:04 AM (GMT)
Maybe this is Boeing's attempt to get back a slice of the fighter market beyond their current fighter programs since both the 5th generation F-22 & F-35 fighter programs are from Lockheed Martin..
Joe Black - May 5, 2010 06:00 AM (GMT)
For sure, but when was the last time US aerospace industry built a plane purely for export (lets not go into modified existing designs such as F-16Blk60 for UAE, F-15K for Korea and F-15SG for RSAF). I don't think this will come to anything concrete. Just another wasted idea from Boeing. They had a better chance going somewhere attempting a UCAV platform than a manned 6th Gen fighter.
dtwn - May 5, 2010 03:40 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Joe Black @ May 5 2010, 02:00 PM) |
| For sure, but when was the last time US aerospace industry built a plane purely for export (lets not go into modified existing designs such as F-16Blk60 for UAE, F-15K for Korea and F-15SG for RSAF). I don't think this will come to anything concrete. Just another wasted idea from Boeing. They had a better chance going somewhere attempting a UCAV platform than a manned 6th Gen fighter. |
Hmm, I think that's the F-20 Tigershark?
Alfie007 - May 6, 2010 04:43 AM (GMT)
Agree with others on this board that this is risky & may just be another paper project..
F-20; US President Reagan's policies killed the F-20's chances of getting any orders.. The F-20 may be an exception, but in any military aircraft program, it would meant to satisfy the domestic market first (projected international market sales later), unless if a foreign government is willing to finance a whole new fighter program or variant(s), however risks still remain (such as foreign government being overthrown, financial crisis, small orders, etc, etc)..
BTW, found this at Boeing's website..
--> Boeing Global Solutions - Tactical Aircraft Outlook (Global Strike Systems)
--> Boeing Frontiers - Flying machines of the future
F-20; US President Reagan's policies killed the F-20's chances of getting any orders.. The F-20 may be an exception, but in any military aircraft program, it would meant to satisfy the domestic market first (projected international market sales later), unless if a foreign government is willing to finance a whole new fighter program or variant(s), however risks still remain (such as foreign government being overthrown, financial crisis, small orders, etc, etc)..
BTW, found this at Boeing's website..
--> Boeing Global Solutions - Tactical Aircraft Outlook (Global Strike Systems)
--> Boeing Frontiers - Flying machines of the future
Alfie007 - May 8, 2010 02:59 PM (GMT)
From Flight International (Date: 07/05/10)
| QUOTE |
| Boeing displays concepts for F/A-18E/F replacement By Stephen Trimble Boeing has started publicly marketing two concepts for a stealthy, tailless, supercruising strike fighter to replace its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet after 2025. Both twin-engine concepts, which feature optionally-piloted cockpits, resemble a modern-day replacement for the ill-fated A-12 Avenger. The carrier-based stealth bomber project was cancelled in 1991 amid cost overruns and technical problems. But the provisionally 9g-rated airframes also reflect the air-to-air performance once provided by the Grumman F-14, which the Super Hornet finally replaced in 2006, says Dave Thieman, a programme development official in Boeing's advanced global strike systems division. Talk of replacing the F/A-18E/F, which entered service from 1999, may seem premature, but the earliest stages of the navy's acquisition process have already started, Thieman says. "They're going to need [replacement] vehicles beyond 2025," he says. In June 2008, navy officials publicly unveiled plans for an F/A-XX requirement, which included both manned and unmanned airframes as options. More recently, the service has renamed the requirement as next generation air dominance (NGAD), seeking to widen the possibilities to include new airframes or land-based systems, such as missiles. Naval requirements officials have submitted an initial capabilities document to the Joint Requirements Oversight Council for approval. An analysis of alternatives is expected to start in late 2011, which could lead to the launch of a technology demonstration phase with competing prototypes about two years later. Boeing's rivals would likely include both manned and unmanned options. For Boeing, NGAD represents a strategic opportunity to re-enter the US market for next-generation strike aircraft, which seemed lost forever after Lockheed Martin claimed the Joint Strike Fighter contract in 2001. As a result, Boeing officials have focused on the navy's thinking for a Super Hornet replacement that remains at least 15 years away. The company understands that its potential customer wants a replacement with more engine power to supercruise, with the low observable aircraft to carry internal weapons, distributed sensors and have extreme agility. "It's a [Lockheed] F-22 on the carrier," Thieman says. Meanwhile, the US Air Force has launched an early study called a capabilities based analysis for an F-22 replacement. Like the Super Hornet, the fighter remains in active production, but the air force expects a replacement will be required after 2025. If funding for a replacement programme can be found, there is likely to be pressure to launch a joint technology demonstration, where the air force and navy would co-operate on a next-generation air dominance fighter. In that situation, the air force may require a bigger airframe than a carrier-based fighter to accomplish its mission, Thieman says. However, the two projects could share common engines, systems and weapons, he believes. |