Future Weapon Technology

Interestingly, an airborne ‘SOFIA-class” Infrared (IR) threat model; against a supersonic stealth platform (for which the F-117 and B-2 are not) is totally absent from seemingly comprehensive analysis of F-22 capability.

NASA's SOFIA

When one moves the Infrared Search and Track (IRST) discussion out of military circles and into a different scientific discipline, in this case infrared astronomy -  then the entire subject matter shifts with respect to what is possible.  If SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) is flown altitudes of over 41,000 feet, nearly the entire the infrared spectrum will reach it’s telescope and measurement sensors.

Combat aircraft like Typhoon (PIRATE), Advanced Flanker Series, (OLS) and F-35, (DAS/ EOTS) infrared search and track (IRST) sensitivity will also be more akin to an airborne SOFIA. 

The higher an IR sensor is flown, the more (lower) transmittance %, (Y-axis) can reach the sensor.

 Stealthy F-22 may have little defense against detection (from a high altitude IRST) if she is flown at high speeds, and altitudes due to frictional heating of her airframe & jet exhaust plums in air temperatures of -30F, -40F, -50F, -60F degrees.

Some in the DoD would be quick to point out that the F-14A Tomcat IRST (the AN/ALR-23) was of limited range, limited quality and misidentified source of IR emissions. A much improved system was fitted to the USN F-14D, the Northrop AN/AXX-1 Television Camera Set (TCS). The TCS was “slaved” to the radar to follow whatever the radar was tracking, and the radar could be slaved to the TCS to track whatever the camera “sees.” 

Typhoon (PIRATE)

Keep in mind that fighters like Flanker could employ their IR-version of the R-77 ‘Adder’ medium range missile; regardless of what happening (or not happening) in the radio spectrum, read: with less regard to RCS.
Also Flanker does not use radar to track an aggressively maneuvering dogfight target for it’s gun firing solution. Only its IRST w/laser rangefinder is needed. So it’s a fair statement to say Flanker’s IRST has a robust air-to-air capability.

Whether supersonic Raptor can close and maneuver into firing position unseen by an IRST system will be a source of debate and secrecy for some time. Suffice it to say that IR sensor improvements & design-cycles will certainly - outpace - possible stealth airframe changes.

This discussion is in a way,  a mute point. The Russians have already identified two main areas to exploit supersonic Raptor. They revolve around, and loop back into these two issues:

a) F-22 Primary weapon
b) F-22 Thermal signature 

F-14 Tomcat w/the Northrop AN/AXX-1-TCS.

The F-14 Tomcat had been slated to stay in service until 2008. However was retired from USN service in mid-2006 under former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. The Tomcat aircraft (and the manufacturing dies) were summarily shredded-destroyed for reasons allegedly involving Iran. However,  the Iranians had already been producing their own F-14 spares & electronics for their F-14A-GR fleet, since the mid-1980s with US assistance via The Iran Contra Scandal.

 
The 1st Fighter Wing at Langley Virginia, declared their F-22 Raptors operational on 12-Dec, 2007.

Indian Air Force SU-30 MKi at Nellis AFB

Colonel Terrence Fornof, an F-15 pilot and the Director of the Requirements and Testing office (USAF Warfare Center, Nellis AFB), was providing a briefing to a number of retired US generals (two videos):

USAF Pilot describes SU30

Pod-cast audio interview regarding the same presentation (even MORE interesting):

1) Indian MiG-21IBis (I-Bis) “Bison” are equipped are equipped…

The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor at the Farnborough air show (dated 17 July 2008):

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7510364.stm

Note the:

• World-class pitch axis flight direction change (turn) @ playback point 4:28-to-4:32.
• Engines exhaust soot.

Versus the F-18 Hornet:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7512732.stm

Now compare all of those to Sukhoi Su-30, 35, 37 (NATO designation: Flanker) Series:

And here (narrative w/sound):

With the additional concerned/doubts remaining regarding F-22 lack of helmet-sighting (which Flanker has) with the added complexities involved due to weapon-bay doors;

Now underscores these facts:

• The immense closure rates of jet combat (attacker vs defender).
• BVR hit probabilities of only up to ~50% (on all sides) per/engagement; regardless of number(s) of total aircraft

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The Russians desperately needed to mount a response after the 1991 Gulf War, when the Americans stormed through the deserts of Kuwait and Iraq.   The Russian economy’s defense sector was reeling, after the American military’s Abrams M1A1 Main Battle Tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles left the battlefield littered with literally hundreds of burnt-out and charred carcasses of once mighty Russian T-72 and T-80 tanks.  As if the Russians weren’t already in bad enough shape after the collapse of the Soviet Union, now the international image of their largest defense export, the T-72 tank, and their newest model, the T-80, as no more than a flaming hulk of metal on the battlefield. Not good PR for the largest weapons exporter in the world.  Something had to be done.  The Russian’s solution: rename the tanks.  By combining elements of the T-72 and T-80 together, the Russians were able to create the T-90, and have successfully duped the market ever since.

Despite the fact that the T-90s design aspects are nothing new, the newest production models do include some major upgrades to the existing designs.  A new gun being one of the biggest improvements, the newest T-90s coming off the lines can be fitted with Explosive Reactive Armor, laser rangefinders, an electromagnetic pulse generator to combat magnetic mines, and laser warning recievers.  There is also a new type of radar jamming system to scramble the guidance of incoming radar-guided anti-tank missiles.  Basically, you get early 70’s mechanics with 90’s electronics.

Don’t get me wrong though, Russia’s output capacity for producing these tanks can skyrocket if they wish it to.  Never forget the inferior US Sherman tanks swarming the superior German Tigers.  Technical sophistacation found with the likes of Western MBTs such as the German Leopard, French Leclerc, British Challenger 2, and the American Abrams M1, are expensive and time-consuming to produce and repair, while the Russians have never shown a sensitivity to losses in great numbers of mass-produced war machinery.

US Air Force Airlift

What does it take to be who we are in the world? To be able to strike deals massively lopsided in our favor? To make demands, threats, and/or promises of peace? Who knows, we could be your best friend, or your worst enemy. What does it take for the US be in this position?

The answer: logistical capability spawned through the thorough application of immense capital both financial and human. A large US Army on the contintinental US can’t really do much across the globe unless it can get there. …

Apparently, the M4 Carbine or the M16 aren’t good enough for the grunts on the field.  This isn’t really a new revelation either.  Let’s face it, since day 1 of the adoption of the M16 during Vietnam, the M16 hasn’t exactly been everyone’s favorite assualt rifle.  In fact, it has been regarded by some as a killer of US troops, leaving them stuck in firefights without effective stopping power and jammed rounds.  Never fear though young GIs and military buffs, the civilian weapons manufacturing sector is listening.  Barrett Firearm’s answer?  Let’s give them what they want.

Greater range, 50% increased stopping power, ability to fit into the current modular makeup of existing M16 component parts.  Basically, Barrett knows how to get an invention considered by a buyer.  Hearing the voice of the GI, military procurement officers sit around and think, “What can I do about this problem,  and is it going to cost me an arm and a leg?”  These posed questions are answered in the design of the Barrett REC7 assault rifle.  This rifle hasn’t reached operational status yet, but Barrett firearms took into consideration some key aspects of rifle design and selling points with the development of this rifle (conveniently mentioned in the opening sentence of this paragraph).  All key aspects overlooked by other ambitious projects with the aim to replace the M16.  Rifles such as the OICW and the Heckler and Koch XM-8 are examples of attempts to completely redesign the rifle, which also come packaged with enormous costs and long-run expenses for spare parts.

Barrett said, “Hey, I can make a rifle that is built on existing parts already used in the M4 and M16, and deliver the results the military wants.”  Now, we can only wait and see if this bad boy will ultimately be chosen as the next generation rifle for the armed forces, but until then, we can watch Mack talk about the Barrett REC7 assault rifle and demonstrate it’s superb capabilities.  Enjoy.

If I hark back to the days of the Wild Wild West, during the heydays of American machismo otherwise known as Manifest Destiny, I can only think of the ever popular shoot out.  The quick and dead, the fast draws, the lawlessness, and the cowboys.  Don’t be misled about the speed of the draw though, the quickest isn’t always the victor, one must be on target to be left standing alive.  What a timeless lesson we’ve learned.

Today on the battlefield, many people are killed by rifles of various design.  Fortunately, most people are killed by the well-designed weapons employed by the US Military. 

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The omnipresent adjudicator hovering over the skies of Iraq can deliver heinous death at any waking instant.  You are taking a stroll down the street, plotting some terrorist attacks in your imagination, and suddenly, without ever feeling a thing, you are reduced to a full sized human splatter pattern.  The reality is, only you know for sure what you were really wanting, thinking, taking, doing…better shape up for the eyes in the sky.These dealings in death, the fine line between reality and the ability to play god with the lives of lesser men, are made possible by the ubiquitous ATK M230 Chain

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The Carbon 15 pistol is a firearm similar in design to an ArmaLite AR-15 or the Colt M4 Carbine. The main differences between the Carbon 15 “pistol” and actual M4 is the absence of the shoulder stock and the fully automatic option. You don’t really want or need full auto though, because the Carbon 15 is not designed for suppressive fire, likewise, the red dot sight fitted on the accessory rail optimizes this weapon for close quarter personal defense-ideal for confined spaces.

We got the chance to let off some rounds with one of these bad boys not too

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