COMBAT AIRCRAFT
F-35 Lightning II
_The F-35 multi-role fighter can perform on air defense missions, close air support and tactical bombing. Aircraft is armed with internally mounted GAU-22/A four-barrel 25-mm cannon. It will also carry up to two air-to-air missiles or two air-to-ground weapons in internal weapon bay. These could be AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-132 ASRAAM, JDAM, JSOW, Brimstone, WCMD, MBDA Meteor. More missiles, bombs or fuel tanks can be attached to external hardpoints. Wing tip pylons can also carry AIM-9X Sidewinders. It is worth mentioning that external weapons are carried at the expense of being more detectable by radar.
The aircraft will be offered in three different variants. The F-35A conventional take-off and landing aircraft. The F-35B short take-off and vertical landing aircraft. This model is being developed for the USMC, RAF and RN. Connected to the engine via a drive shaft, a Rolls-Royce lift fan behind the cockpit provides around half the thrust required for hovering flight. The lift fan results in lower power settings, and cooler exhaust temperatures and velocities;
And the F-35C carrier-based aircraft. It is the US Navy's variant, which features a larger wing and control surfaces (fin & elevator) than the other variants. It will be fitted with ailerons, a strengthened landing gear, arrestor hook and a reinforced airframe to absorb catapult launches and arrested landings. Both Royal Navy and US Navy X-35B/Cs will have folding wings.
The aircraft will be offered in three different variants. The F-35A conventional take-off and landing aircraft. The F-35B short take-off and vertical landing aircraft. This model is being developed for the USMC, RAF and RN. Connected to the engine via a drive shaft, a Rolls-Royce lift fan behind the cockpit provides around half the thrust required for hovering flight. The lift fan results in lower power settings, and cooler exhaust temperatures and velocities;
And the F-35C carrier-based aircraft. It is the US Navy's variant, which features a larger wing and control surfaces (fin & elevator) than the other variants. It will be fitted with ailerons, a strengthened landing gear, arrestor hook and a reinforced airframe to absorb catapult launches and arrested landings. Both Royal Navy and US Navy X-35B/Cs will have folding wings.
F-15 Eagle
_The Boeing F-15E dual-role fighter is an advanced long-range interdiction fighter and tactical aircraft. The F-15E is the latest version of the Eagle, a Mach 2.5-class twin-engine fighter. More than 1,500 F-15s are in service worldwide with the US Air Force, US Air National Guard and the air forces of Israel, Japan and Saudi Arabia, including over 220 F-15E fighters. The Strike Eagle formed the basis for follow-on models such as the Slam Eagle (delivered to South Korea) and the the F-15SG (delivered to Singapore).
The F-15E aircraft can carry payloads up to 23,000lb. The aircraft can carry up to four Lockheed Martin / Raytheon AIM-9LM infrared-guided Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, up to four Raytheon AIM-7F/M radar-guided Sparrow air-to-air missiles, or eight Raytheon AMRAAM radar-guided, medium-range air-to-air missiles. Besides this the F-15E can carry a wide variety of air-to-ground ordnances.
The F-15E aircraft can carry payloads up to 23,000lb. The aircraft can carry up to four Lockheed Martin / Raytheon AIM-9LM infrared-guided Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, up to four Raytheon AIM-7F/M radar-guided Sparrow air-to-air missiles, or eight Raytheon AMRAAM radar-guided, medium-range air-to-air missiles. Besides this the F-15E can carry a wide variety of air-to-ground ordnances.
F-18E/F Super Hornet
_The cockpit of the F/A-18E is similar to that of the F/A-18C with the exception of a larger flat-panel display in place of the current three head down displays. The enlarged airframe incorporates measures to reduce radar cross section and includes a fuselage lengthened by 0.86 m, an enlarged wing characterised by a thicker section and two more hardpoints, enlarged leading edge root extentions, and horizontal and vertical tail surfaces. The Super Hornet also has a structure extensively redesigned to reduce weight and cost without sacrificing its strength.
The F/A-18E/F also features a new quadruplex digital fly-by-wire control system without the Hornet's mechanical back-up system. The F/A-18F Super Hornet is the two-seat development of the F/A-18E, with the rear cockpit equipped with the same displays as the front cockpit and otherwise configured for alternative combat of training roles.
The F/A-18E/F also features a new quadruplex digital fly-by-wire control system without the Hornet's mechanical back-up system. The F/A-18F Super Hornet is the two-seat development of the F/A-18E, with the rear cockpit equipped with the same displays as the front cockpit and otherwise configured for alternative combat of training roles.
F-18C/D Hornet
_The twin-engine, carrier-based, supersonic F-18 Hornet was designed to meet the US Navy requirements for an all-weather fighter and attack aircraft. This aircraft is able to perform an air strike mission deep inside enemy territory providing itself self-defense capability even beyond the visual range. It is also able to perform close air support missions.
The F-18C Hornet is an improved model of the single seat F-18A incorporating provisions for employing updated missiles and jamming devices. The C model also has improved night attack capability, more powerful engines and a new radar. Some of these features were introduced in late production F-18C/D aircraft. This version also introduced compatibility with the AIM-120 AMRAAM and the IIR version of the AGM-65 Maverick missile, as well as improved avionics and a new NACES ejection seat.
The F-18C Hornet is an improved model of the single seat F-18A incorporating provisions for employing updated missiles and jamming devices. The C model also has improved night attack capability, more powerful engines and a new radar. Some of these features were introduced in late production F-18C/D aircraft. This version also introduced compatibility with the AIM-120 AMRAAM and the IIR version of the AGM-65 Maverick missile, as well as improved avionics and a new NACES ejection seat.
F-16E/F Fighting Falcon
_The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a lightweight, compact fighter aircraft designed for air superiority performing a wide range of military missions ranging from air defense to air-to-ground strike missions.
The single-seat Block 60 F-16E, and two-seat F-16F, Desert Falcon is the latest and most advanced F-16 variant ever fielded. It will feature conformal fuel tanks, the AN/APG-80 agile beam radar, advanced weapons compatibility, an internally mounted FLIR targeting system, a new glass cockpit, internal countermeasures, the F110-GE-132 engine and enhanced performance.
The single-seat Block 60 F-16E, and two-seat F-16F, Desert Falcon is the latest and most advanced F-16 variant ever fielded. It will feature conformal fuel tanks, the AN/APG-80 agile beam radar, advanced weapons compatibility, an internally mounted FLIR targeting system, a new glass cockpit, internal countermeasures, the F110-GE-132 engine and enhanced performance.
F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
_Originally conceived as a lightweight air-combat fighter, the Lockheed Martin (originally General Dynamics) F-16 has evolved into a versatile and effective multi-role workhorse. The F-16C (single seat) and F-16D (two seat) is the most important operational F-16 variant with over 1 750 examples in service with nine operators. Compared to the preceding F-16A/B series, the F-16C/D introduced improved ground and all-weather attack capabilities, plus provision for BVR missiles. Major features include a wide-angle HUD, Hughes APG-68 multi-mode radar and a weapons interface for AGM-65D and AMRAAM missiles.
The F-16C/D multi-role fighter has shown it can fly deep inside enemy territory, deliver precision guided munitions in non-visual conditions and defend itself against enemy aircraft even in day and night, adverse weather. This performance was demonstrated for the first time during the Gulf War in 1991, and later repeated over the former Yugoslavia (1999), Afghanistan, and Iraq.
The F-16C/D multi-role fighter has shown it can fly deep inside enemy territory, deliver precision guided munitions in non-visual conditions and defend itself against enemy aircraft even in day and night, adverse weather. This performance was demonstrated for the first time during the Gulf War in 1991, and later repeated over the former Yugoslavia (1999), Afghanistan, and Iraq.