On Sat, 11 Aug 2018 12:27:43 -0500, Mitchell Holman
<noemail@verizont.net> wrote:
>Miloch <Miloch_member@newsguy.com> wrote in
>news:pkn1p301ihb@drn.newsguy.com:
>
>> more at
>> https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/russias-next-fighter-might-have-
>> new-way-shoot-down-f-22s-and-f-35s-28497
>>
>> The Russians are not the first to start developing photonic radars. An
>> Italian funded project called PHOtonic-based full DIgital Radar
>> (PHODIR) developed the first fully photonics-based coherent radar
>> system in 2014. A photonic radar replaces the traditional electronic
>> circuits of conventional radars with lasers, optical filters and
>> photodiodes to generate very precise, high-quality radio frequency
>> objects like conventional systems, the laser allows it to pulse highly
>> tuned frequencies in a broad emission band from the tens of megahertz
>> Electric press statement.
>>
>> generation unmanned aircraft could be equipped with what is described
>
>
>
> I am utterly naive in these things, but what is
>point of developing more and better fighters? Ever
>since Vietnam they have been little more than missle
>delivery platforms. Even the 1981 faceoff between
>Gaddafi's Su 22's vs Reagan's F-14s over the Gulf of
>Sidra was just airframes lobbing missles at each other.
>
> All the classic use of fighters - bomber escort,
>attacking bombers, control of airspace, ground attack,
>recon - has either become irrelevant or replaced by
>satellites and drones. Beyond the needs of a defense
>industry trying to make itself relevant is there likely
>to be any "winner" in this competition?
Close support of ground forces is still useful, especially with a
human brain at the controls. A-10, Harrier, F-16, F-35 (if you don't
mind throwing a few hundred million bucks at a couple jihadis) - and
cheaper, smaller aircraft like the A-29 - still have a place.
But, yeah - superdupers like the F-22 don't seem to have much of a
real purpose these days. Good thing we've never been caught by
unexpected military developments before...
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