[sniperUK]

If the Raptor is so good why are they no longer allowed to carry out DACT with the RAF Typhoons after the last Red Flag

[Nimrod48]

I know virtualy nothing about the complexities of stealth technology but has it moved on from this?.

Stealth bomber daren't go out in the rain By Robert Uhlig, Technology Correspondent

THE stealth bomber, the most expensive aircraft ever made and the pride of the US Air Force, has a fatal flaw - its radar-foiling paint washes off in the rain. A report from the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, has discovered that the radar-absorbing coating on the B-2 aircraft quickly degrades and loses its "invisibility" if exposed to rain, heat or humidity. To the embarrassment of its makers Northrop Grumman, the report warns that portable custom-built air-conditioned hangars will be needed if US Air Force chooses to send the aircraft on overseas operations. The radar-invisible bat-wing bomber has been shrouded in controversy since the Pentagon disclosed that each B-2 has cost more than £1.5 billion, or five times its weight in gold. Now, the audit office warns, that cost will be driven up further by the need for the hangars to keep the aircraft cool and dry. After each flight, the aircraft's plastic and metal composite coating needs to be repaired, and the material left to "cure" in a cool, dry environment, according to a report in today's New Scientist. To make matters worse, the GAO report says that simply leaving the aircraft outside in the heat and rain damages its coating. Northrop Grumman had developed a unique wheat starch stripper to remove the coating. But the company had calculated that the plane would need to be stripped and repainted only four times in its lifetime. The Pentagon admitted that sending the aircraft abroad could pose some operational problems, but said the report would not change its plans for the 20 B-2 bombers built so far.

[sniperUK]

And the new radars can detect stealth ,not the aircraft but the disturbance in the air caused by its "wake".

[flyXwire]

Oooh boy, here it comes....better hang on to your you know what...it's gonna be a bumpy ride!!!

[Cruver Collecter]

Well I guess it is a case of Go B-52!, seems like we may need these for quite a few more years.

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by sniperUK

If the Raptor is so good why are they no longer allowed to carry out DACT with the RAF Typhoons after the last Red Flag

There's never been a Red Flag with both Raptors and Typhoons at the same time. Please check your facts.

In any event, this match would be so unfair to the Typhoon, it's not even funny. I'm not talking dogfight (where I believe the outcome would depend more on pilot skill and tactics than anything), but overall. In BVR, there's no comparisson possible, and that's the name of the game these days.

FVD

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by sniperUK

And the new radars can detect stealth ,not the aircraft but the disturbance in the air caused by its "wake".

Yeah, I hope our enemies believe that one too...

It's true there are weather radars that can detect turbulence at airports, at very short ranges, but that has nothing to do with anything useful in air combat.

I can't believe the amount of wishful thinking going on out there. Ask yourself: if this kind of stuff were true, would the US (Air Force, Navy, and Marines), UK, Italy, Israel, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Turkey, and a few more potential countries (Spanish Navy looks very likely) want to invest in the F-35? Are they stupid? Not to mention that both Japan and Australia have also inquired about buying F-22s, but so far US law prohibits such a sale. The ask yourself: if stealth is irrelevant, why does the Typhoon have RAM on it? Just to make it heavier and more expensive? Because it's the latest fashion and you wouldn't be seen in the street without it? Because it's sexy? Why, oh why?

The only exports for the Typhoon are super-power Austria (which cut their buy from 24 to 18 recently because the darn thing was too expensive, and it turned out the contract was awarded based on bribery of previous government officials), and Saoudi Arabia (allegations of bribery there as well, but let's give them the benefit of the doubt). Woop-dee-doo! You don't have to know a lot of classified data to see that the aircraft is just not what is needed in modern warfare. BAE didn't even bother offering the Typhoon in the new Norway fighter competition (F-35 and Grippen are apparently the two finalists). The Typhoon is a fantastic dogfighter, but so what. That's irrelevant, except at airshows.

And notice that unlike the French Navy which flies the Rafale, the Royal Navy is going for the F-35, not the Typhoon (and don't tell me it's because it couldn't have been modified for carrier ops).

As for me, I rather enjoy hearing and reading all this "fantasy technology" stuff. As I said, I hope our enemies believe it all, since I don't want them to invest in stealth technology. Unfortunately, I know that's not the case. They, too, have seen the light...

FVD

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by Nimrod48

I know virtualy nothing about the complexities of stealth technology but has it moved on from this?.

Best you can do is dig up a story that's about 15 years old (at least)? Come on, you can do better. There's GOT to be a more recent negative-slant B-2 story out there. No? Awwwww, shucks, I'm SO disappointed!

I happen to work right next to 2 B-2 pilots, and they are laughing pretty good...

FVD

[kwiky]

Originally Posted by FormerViperDriver

There's never been a Red Flag with both Raptors and Typhoons at the same time. Please check your facts.


FVD

you 100% on that, maybe they just didnt admit to it, i find it hard to believe with both planes operating at the same base they would not have gone up against each other, maybe the USAF didnt want to admit the raptor isnt as superior as they thought or maybe the RAF wanted to keep telling everyone how great the typhoon is, i dont know and i dont care really, i just dont think we know what happened, the only people who do know sure as hell wont be posting about it on internet forums


here is a photo that shows that both planes where operating at the same airbase




regards..........kwiky

[Old Crow]

FVD, if you know, and I assume you do, would you mind answering the question posed by Nimrod48 about whether and to what extent stealth technology has moved on from the problems claimed in the apparently 15-year-old story?

By the way, I am convinced your insights and knowledge would be much easier to take, at least for me, if you eliminate the sarcasm.