I've been taking part in Defence IQ's annual fighter conference since it started, and its predecessor (run by a different company) for years before that - back in the days when the 3M overhead projector and the dinosaurs ruled the earth.
The first day of this year's event has been lively. Raytheon's Dave Goold, ex-Marine aviator and international business development point man for active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, presented the company's range: APG-79 in service on the Super Hornet, APG-82 under development for F-15 retrofits and RACR for not only F-16 retrofits, but for the early Super Hornet blocks and even classic Hornets, which was new to me. Best quote: "A few years ago if people had told is we'd be doing ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] with a fighter platform, we'd have hurled on our shoes."
A flashback to Cold War days from Capt Martin Pelda of the Czech air force, talking about the service's summer stint of air policing over the Baltic states. The Czechs' JAS 39C Gripens performed eight "alpha scrambles", never missing the 15-minute target from call to takeoff, and intercepted Il-20 Coot reconnaissance aircraft - one of them unconvincingly attired in Aeroflot livery - and an Su-24 Fencer, as they performed un-announced sorties over the Baltic.
And the Gripen NG's Selex radar has been named ES 05 Raven, the brainchild of campaign director and test pilot Magnus Olsson. Apparently the raven helped Odin guide his thunderbolts - another example of myth and legend in action. Olsson on the Meteor missile, for which the Gripen is the test platform with "double digit" firings accomplished: "Amazing, frightening, it will change the way BVR is conducted - a bit like a death-ray."
Isn't Saab a major subcontractor on the Meteor? I'd be surprised if Olsson would tell us if it's not like a death ray and is instead more like a regular BVR missile. Or am I being too cynical?
Royce, the RSwAF have Amraams for their Gripens, so I guess he had something to compare the Meteor with in the first place. I don't doubt it will be good, but I think having only one type of Seeker head makes it more vulnerable to jamming.
Cagepete, watch for Bill's reports in the next two months in Defense Technology International, as well as some tidbits in Aviation Week & Space Technology in November (and here on Ares, naturally).
Silly question, I know: instead of the perpetual duplication of effort and spending engaged in by Europe and the U.S. in weapon development and acquisition, is there a snowball's chance in hell that the U.S. could simply acquire the Meteor and field it a decade earlier than the fabled and probably never-to-see-the-light-of-day JDRAAM or whatever that mythical beast is called? I know, I know, not a chance, what with American jingoism and all. Also, with retractable fins, would Meteor fit the Raptor's weapon bays? This here American thinks Meteor will be what AMRAAM should have been.
uh...why? the AIM-120D is less risky and closer to deployment. and what makes you think the Meteor will be anything other than a modern day AIM-54???? great against large slow flying targets, less efficient against an agile foe?
What Solomon said x2. Besides, it's not as though we don't know how to make one. Personally I think the Westinghouse\GD AAAM with modern electronics and sensors would be pretty interesting. Two-stage, TVC on both, folding fins, would probably fit the F-22's internal bay, and should be good for a REALLY long lofting shot.
It's good to belive. You'll live better.
We will see...
I don't doubt it will be good, but I think having only one type of Seeker head makes it more vulnerable to jamming.
Thanks for the info. Can we look foreward to a complete report in Aviation Week?
http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-152.html