F-35A Lightning II

F-35A Lightning II (Multirole fighter, CTOL – Conventional Take-off and Landing)

Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

First flight: 15 December 2006

Introduction: December 2016

Produced: 2006-present

Number built: 44 as of May 2014

Number planned: 1763

Program cost: $1.0165 trillion (projected over 55 years)

Unit cost: $114 million (low rate initial production, full production in 2018 to be $85 million)

Crew: 1

Length: 15.57 m

Wingspan: 10.67 m

Height: 4.38 m

Wing area: 42.7 m²

Empty weight: 13,290 kg

Loaded weight: 24,350 kg

Max. takeoff weight: 29,100 kg

Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney F135-100 afterburning turbofan

Dry thrust: 12,746 kgf (125 kN)

Thrust with afterburner: 19,477 kgf (191 kN)

Internal fuel capacity: 8,390 kg

Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 1.6+ (1,930 km/h) (tested to Mach 1.61)

Cruise speed: 1.2 mach for 9.8 min

Range: 2,220 km on internal fuel

Combat radius: 1,135 km on internal fuel

Wing loading: 569 kg/m²; 744 kg/m² max loaded

Thrust/weight:

With full fuel – 0.87

With 50% fuel – 1.07

Maximum g-load: 9 g

Armament

Guns: 1× General Dynamics 25 mm GAU-22/A 4-barrel Gatling gun, internally mounted with 180 rounds

Hardpoints: 6× external pylons on wings with a capacity of 6,800 kg and 2 internal bays with 2 pylons each for a total weapons payload of 8,100 kg and provisions to carry combinations of:

Missiles

Air-to-air missiles:

AIM-120 AMRAAM;

AIM-9X Sidewinder;

IRIS-T;

MBDA Meteor (pending further funding)

Air-to-surface missiles:

AGM-88 AARGM;

AGM-158 JASSM;

Brimstone missile / MBDA SPEAR;

Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM);

Storm Shadow missile;

SOM

Anti-ship missiles:

Joint Strike Missile (JSM);

Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM)

Bombs

Mark-84 or Mark-83 or Mark-82 GP bombs

Mark-20 Rockeye II cluster bomb

Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD) capable

Paveway series laser-guided bombs

Small Diameter Bomb (SDB)

Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) series

AGM-154 JSOW

B61 mod 12 nuclear bomb

Avionics

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems AN/APG-81 AESA radar

Lockheed Martin AAQ-40 E/O Targeting System (EOTS)

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System (DAS) missile warning system

BAE Systems AN/ASQ-239 (Barracuda) electronic warfare system

Northrop Grumman AN/ASQ-242 CNI system, which includes:

The Harris Corporation Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) communication system;

The legacy Link 16 data link;

SINCGARS;

An IFF interrogator and transponder;

HAVE QUICK;

AM, VHF, UHF AM, and UHF FM Radio;

GUARD survival radio;

A radar altimeter;

An instrument landing system;

A TACAN system;

An instrument carrier landing system;

A JPALS;

TADIL-J JVMF/VMF

Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin finalized the eighth F-35 Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP-8) contract for 43 F-35 Lightning II airframes

The first Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II jet arrived at USAF's Luke Air Force Base. The jet's arrival marks the first international partner F-35 to arrive for training at Luke. Australia's training will be conducted in conjunction with the 61st Fighter Squadron. Other partner-nations that will be joining the U.S. and Australia in the F-35A training program here will be Turkey, Italy, Norway, and the Netherlands, in addition to Foreign Military Sales countries Japan, Korea and Israel.

(http://www.dmitryshulgin.com/2014/12/25/future-is-here/)

F-22 Raptor (Air superiority fighter) – 187

Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Boeing Defense, Space & Security

First flight: 7 September 1997

Introduction: 15 December 2005

Produced: 1996-2011

Number built: 195 (8 test and 187 operational aircraft)

Program cost: $66.7 billion

Unit cost: $150 million (flyaway cost for FY2009)

Crew: 1

Length: 18.92 m

Wingspan: 13.56 m

Height: 5.08 m

Wing area: 78.04 m²

Empty weight: 19,700 kg

Loaded weight: 29,410 kg

Max. takeoff weight: 38,000 kg

Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 pitch thrust vectoring turbofans

Dry thrust: 11,828 kgf (116 kN) each

Thrust with afterburner: 15,907+ kgf (156+ kN) each

Fuel capacity: 8,200 kg internally, or 11,900 kg with two external fuel tanks

Maximum speed:

At altitude – Mach 2.25 (2,410 km/h)

Supercruise – Mach 1.82 (1,960 km/h)

Range: >2,960 km with 2 external fuel tanks

Combat radius: 760 km (with 185 km in supercruise)

Ferry range: 3,220 km

Service ceiling: >20,000 m

Wing loading: 375 kg/m²

Thrust/weight: 1.09 (1.26 with loaded weight & 50% fuel)

Maximum design g-load: −3.0/+9.0 g

Armament

Guns: 1× 20 mm M61A2 Vulcan 6-barrel Gatling cannon in right wing root, 480 rounds

Air to air loadout:

6× AIM-120 AMRAAM;

2× AIM-9 Sidewinder

Air to ground loadout:

2× 450 kg JDAM or 8× 110 kg GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs;

2× AIM-120 AMRAAM;

2× AIM-9 Sidewinder

Hardpoints: 4× under-wing pylon stations can be fitted to carry drop tanks or weapons, each with a capacity of 2,270 kg

Avionics

AN/APG-77 radar: 200-240 km against 1 m² targets (estimated range)

AN/AAR-56 missile approach warning system (MAWS)

AN/ALR-94 radar warning receiver (RWR): 463 km or more detection range

MJU-39/40 flares for protection against IR missiles

F-22 RAPTOR

(http://www.dmitryshulgin.com/f-22-raptor/)

F-15E Strike Eagle

F-15E Strike Eagle (Multirole fighter) – 302 in Air Force and ANG

Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas, Boeing Defense, Space & Security

First flight: 11 December 1986

Introduction: April 1988

Number built: 420

Unit cost: $31.1 million (flyaway cost, 1998)

Developed from: McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle

Variants: Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle

General characteristics

Crew: 2

Length: 19.43 m

Wingspan: 13.05 m

Height: 5.63 m

Wing area: 56.5 m²

Empty weight: 14,300 kg

Max. takeoff weight: 36,700 kg

Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 afterburning turbofans 13,154 kgf (129 kN) each

Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 2.5+ (2,655+ km/h)

Combat radius: 1270 km mi (1,850 km – max)

Ferry range: 3,900 km with conformal fuel tank and three external fuel tanks

Service ceiling: 18,200 m

Rate of climb: 254+ m/s

Thrust/weight: 0.93

Maximum g-load: +9 g

Armament

Guns: 1× 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled Gatling cannon, 510 rounds of either M-56 or PGU-28 ammunition

Hardpoints: 2 wing pylons, fuselage pylons, bomb racks on CFTs with a capacity of 10,400 kg of external fuel and ordnance

Missiles

Air-to-air missiles:

4× AIM-7 Sparrow;

4× AIM-9 Sidewinder;

8× AIM-120 AMRAAM

Air-to-surface missiles:

6× AGM-65 Maverick;

2× AGM-84 Harpoon;

2× AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER;

AGM-130;

AGM-154 JSOW;

AGM-158 JASSM

Bombs

B61 or B83 nuclear bomb

Mark-82 bomb

Mark-84 bomb

CBU-87 or CBU-103 (CEM)

CBU-89 or CBU-104 (GATOR)

CBU-97 or CBU-105 (SFW)

CBU-107 Passive Attack Weapon

GBU-15

GBU-10 Paveway II

GBU-12 Paveway II

GBU-24 Paveway III

GBU-27 Paveway III

GBU-28 (Bunker buster)

GBU-31 or GBU-38 (JDAM)

GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB)

GBU-54 Laser JDAM (LJADM)

Others: up to 3× 2,300 L external drop tanks for ferry flight or extended range/loitering time.

Radar: Raytheon AN/APG-70

Targeting pods: LANTIRN or Lockheed Martin Sniper XR or LITENING targeting pods

Countermeasures:

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems AN/ALQ-131 electronic countermeasures pod

Hazeltine AN/APX-76 or Raytheon AN/APX-119 Identify Friend/Foe (IFF) interrogator

Magnavox AN/ALQ-128 Electronic Warfare Warning Set (EWWS) – part of Tactical Electronic Warfare Systems (TEWS)

Loral AN/ALR-56 Radar warning receivers (RWR) – part of TEWS

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems ALQ-135 Internal Countermeasures System (ICS) – part of TEWS

Marconi AN/ALE-45 Chaff/Flares dispenser system – part of TEWS

The Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle is a proposed upgrade of the F-15E by Boeing using stealth features, such as internal weapons carriage and radar-absorbent material.

Unit cost: F-15SE – $100 million

B-2 Spirit (Strategic bomber) – 20

Manufacturer: Northrop Grumman

First flight: 17 July 1989

Introduction: April 1997

Produced: 1988-2000

Number built: 21

Program cost: $44.75 billion (through 2004)

Unit cost: $737 million (1997 approx. flyaway cost)

Crew: 2 – pilot and commander (co-pilot)

Length: 21.0 m

Wingspan: 52.4 m

Height: 5.18 m

Wing area: 478 m²

Empty weight: 71,700 kg

Loaded weight: 152,200 kg

Max. takeoff weight: 170,600 kg

Powerplant: 4× General Electric F118-GE-100 non-afterburning turbofans, 7,700 kgf (77 kN) each

Fuel Capacity: 75,750 kg

Maximum speed: Mach 0.95 (1,010 km/h) at 12,200 m altitude / Mach 0.95 at sea level

Cruise speed: Mach 0.85 (900 km/h) at 12,200 m altitude

Range: 11,100 km

Service ceiling: 15,200 m

Wing loading: 329 kg/m²

Thrust/weight: 0.205

Armament

2 internal bays for 23,000 kg of ordnance and payload

80× 227 kg class bombs (Mark-82, GBU-38) mounted on Bomb Rack Assembly (BRA)

36× 340 kg CBU class bombs on BRA

16× 907 kg class bombs (Mark-84, GBU-31) mounted on Rotary Launcher Assembly (RLA)

16× B61 or B83 nuclear bombs on RLA (strategic mission)

AV-1 – 82-1066 – Spirit of America – 14 July 2000

AV-2 – 82-1067 – Spirit of Arizona – 4 December 1997

AV-3 – 82-1068 – Spirit of New York – 10 October 1997

AV-4 – 82-1069 – Spirit of Indiana – 22 May 1999

AV-5 – 82-1070 – Spirit of Ohio – 18 July 1997

AV-6 – 82-1071 – Spirit of Mississippi – 23 May 1997

AV-7 – 88-0328 – Spirit of Texas – 21 August 1994

AV-8 – 88-0329 – Spirit of Missouri – 31 March 1994

AV-9 – 88-0330 – Spirit of California – 17 August 1994

AV-10 – 88-0331 – Spirit of South Carolina – 30 December 1994

AV-11 – 88-0332 – Spirit of Washington – 29 October 1994

AV-13 – 89-0128 – Spirit of Nebraska – 28 June 1995

AV-14 – 89-0129 – Spirit of Georgia – 14 November 1995

AV-15 – 90-0040 – Spirit of Alaska – 24 January 1996

AV-16 – 90-0041 – Spirit of Hawaii – 10 January 1996

AV-17 – 92-0700 – Spirit of Florida – 3 July 1996

AV-18 – 93-1085 – Spirit of Oklahoma – 15 May 1996

AV-19 – 93-1086 – Spirit of Kitty Hawk – 30 August 1996

AV-20 – 93-1087 – Spirit of Pennsylvania – 5 August 1997

AV-21 – 93-1088 – Spirit of Louisiana – 10 November 1997

AV-12 – 89-0127 – Spirit of Kansas – Crashed 23 February 2008

B-2 SPIRIT

(http://www.dmitryshulgin.com/b-2-spirit/)

F-15C Eagle

F-15C Eagle (Air superiority fighter) – 253 in Air Force and ANG

Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas, Boeing Defense, Space & Security

First flight: 27 July 1972

Introduction: 9 January 1976

Number built: F-15A/B/C/D/J/DJ – 1,198

Unit cost: $30 million (1998)

General characteristics

Crew: 1 pilot

Length: 19.43 m

Wingspan: 13.05 m

Height: 5.63 m

Wing area: 56.5 m²

Empty weight: 12,700 kg

Loaded weight: 20,200 kg

Max. takeoff weight: 30,845 kg

Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-100 / F100-PW-220 afterburning turbofans

Dry thrust: 6,655 kgf (64.9 kN) each

Thrust with afterburner: 10,778 kgf for F100-PW-220 (105.7 kN) each

Fuel capacity: 6,100 kg internal

Performance

Maximum speed:

High altitude – Mach 2.5+ (2,665+ km/h)

Low altitude – Mach 1.2 (1,450 km/h)

Combat radius: 1,967 km for interdiction mission

Ferry range: 5,550 km with conformal fuel tanks and three external fuel tanks

Service ceiling: 20,000 m

Rate of climb: >254 m/s

Wing loading: 358 kg/m²

Thrust/weight: 1.07 (F100-PW-220)

Maximum design g-load: 9 g

Armament

Guns: 1× 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled Gatling cannon, 940 rounds

Hardpoints: Total 11 (not including CFTs): 2 under-wing (each with additional 2 missile launch rails), 4 under-fuselage (for semi-recessed carriage of AIM-7 Sparrows) and a single centerline pylon station, optional fuselage pylons (which may include conformal fuel tanks) with a capacity of 7,300 kg and provisions to carry combinations of

Missiles:

4× AIM-7 Sparrow;

4× AIM-9 Sidewinder;

8× AIM-120 AMRAAM

Bombs:

Mark-82;

Mark-84;

GBU-10;

GBU-31

Other:

up to 3× 2,300 L external drop tanks for ferry flight or extended range/loitering time;

MXU-648 Cargo/Travel Pod

Radar:

Raytheon AN/APG-63 or AN/APG-70; or

Raytheon AN/APG-63(V)1; or

Raytheon AN/APG-63(V)2 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA); or

Raytheon AN/APG-63(V)3 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA);

Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System

Countermeasures

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems AN/ALQ-131 electronic countermeasures pod

Hazeltine AN/APX-76 or Raytheon AN/APX-119 Identify Friend/Foe (IFF) interrogator

Magnavox AN/ALQ-128 Electronic Warfare Warning Set (EWWS) – part of Tactical Electronic Warfare Systems (TEWS)

Loral AN/ALR-56 Radar warning receivers (RWR) – part of TEWS

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems ALQ-135 Internal Countermeasures System (ICS) – part of TEWS

Marconi AN/ALE-45 Chaff/Flares dispenser system – part of TEWS

B-1B Lancer

B-1B Lancer (Strategic bomber) – 66

Manufacturer: North American Rockwell/Rockwell International, Boeing

First flight: 23 December 1974

Introduction: 1 October 1986

Produced: 1983–88

Number built: 100

Unit cost: $283.1 million in 1998

Crew: 4 (aircraft commander, copilot, offensive systems officer and defensive systems officer)

Payload: 56,700 kg; internal and external ordnance combined

Length: 44.5 m

Wingspan:

Extended – 41.8 m;

Swept – 24 m

Height: 10.4 m

Wing area: 181.2 m²

Empty weight: 87,100 kg

Loaded weight: 148,000 kg

Max. takeoff weight: 216,400 kg

Powerplant: 4× General Electric F101-GE-102 augmented turbofans

Dry thrust: 6,618 kgf (64.9 kN) each

Thrust with afterburner: 13,962 kgf (136.92 kN) each

Fuel capacity, optional: 38,000 L fuel tank for 1–3 internal weapons bays each

Maximum speed:

At altitude – Mach 1.25 (1,340 km/h at 15,000 m altitude)

At low level – Mach 0.92 (1,100 km/h at 61–152 m altitude)

Range: 11,999 km

Combat radius: 5,544 km

Service ceiling: 18,000 m

Thrust/weight: 0.38

Armament

Hardpoints: six external hardpoints for 23,000 kg of ordnance (use for weapons restricted by arms treaties) and three internal bomb bays for 34,000 kg of ordnance.

Bombs:

84× Mark-82 Air inflatable retarder (AIR) general purpose (GP) bombs;

81× Mark-82 low drag general purpose (LDGP) bombs;

84× Mark-62 Quickstrike sea mines;

24× Mark-84 general purpose bombs;

24× Mark-65 naval mines;

30× CBU-87/89/CBU-97 Cluster Bomb Units (CBU);

30× CBU-103/104/105 Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD) CBUs;

24× GBU-31 JDAM GPS guided bombs (Mk-84 GP or BLU-109 warhead);

15× GBU-38 JDAM GPS guided bombs (Mk-82 GP warhead);

48x GBU-38 JDAM (using rotary launcher mounted multiple ejector racks);

48x GBU-54 LaserJDAM (using rotary launcher mounted multiple ejector racks);

24× AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW);

96× or 144× GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb GPS guided bombs (not fielded on B-1 yet);

24× AGM-158 Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM);

24× B61 or B83 nuclear bombs (no longer carried)

Avionics

AN/APQ-164 forward-looking offensive passive phased-array radar

AN/ALQ-161 radar warning and defensive jamming equipment

AN/ASQ-184 defensive management system

Lockheed Martin Sniper XR targeting pod (optional)

The B-1R is a proposed upgrade of existing B-1B aircraft. The B-1R (R for «regional») would be fitted with advanced radars, air-to-air missiles, and new Pratt & Whitney F119 engines. This variant would have a top speed of Mach 2.2, but with 20% less range.

Existing external hardpoints would be modified to allow multiple conventional weapons to be carried, increasing overall loadout. For air-to-air defense, an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar would be added and some existing hardpoints modified to carry air-to-air missiles. If needed the B-1R could escape from unfavorable air-to-air encounters with its Mach 2+ speed. Few aircraft are currently capable of sustained speeds over Mach 2.