Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft

AF is hoping to build two prototypes if they can afford it.

 

Affirmative, except possibly B-21 and NGAD. They are hoping to have a couple thousand of them for the next unpleasantness. Trouble is, they can cost as much as $20-30M each. Unless they get the cost down, may be too expensive to lose, just like a manned fighter.

 

What is the difference in g capability between the pilot and airframe? Or does it even matter today?

 

Generally, well trained pilots can see 9 g and still function. G capability of an unmanned vehicle is only limited by the structure limits. 25 g should be easily possible and some maneuvering reentry vehicles have seen over 100 g. Takes tough avionics, but we already know how to do that.

Usually only matters if you get in a turning fight with one of them, but also handy for threat avoidance. If he can dodge all your shots and you cannot dodge his......

 

It sure looks cool!


Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Can modern state of the art AA rockets turn with an airplane? I ask because with the very minimal guidance surface area it looks like no but maybe lower weight trumps that. An ex F14 pilot buddy has discussed very briefly modern AA rockets that take an indirect path then dive on target at such speed there is no avoiding them.

 

Back 1/3 looks like recycled F100 parts.

 

unlikely design. nothing stealthy about a vertical tail fin.

 

Brian- G capability on AAMs varies with how fast they are going and how large their control surfaces are. For Mach 3 AAMs, mostly radar guided, even very high g turns still have a fairly wide turn radius. This means if you can see it, you can probably avoid it. Something like an AIM-9X or R-77/Adder is moving much more slowly, is lighter weight, and has more maneuverability. Plus, they were launched from fairly short range. They are more difficult to dodge, but also have a smaller warhead, so you do not have to get as far away when the proximity fuze ignites.

 

Air Force secretary gets taste of future of aviation combat in AI-piloted craft

May 4 (UPI) -- An AI-piloted experimental fighter gave Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall a glimpse of the future during a relatively low-speed demonstration flight this week.

Kendall was aboard the VISTA X-62A experimental craft Thursday at Edwards Air Force Base in California when it undertook several tactical maneuvers while responding to simulated aerial threats to show off its autonomous capabilities, the Air Force announced.

The demonstration flight stayed at the subsonic speed of about 550 mph while Kendall and a safety pilot kept their hands off of the aircraft's manual control systems.

"The potential for autonomous air-to-air combat has been imaginable for decades," the Air Force Secretary said, "but the reality has remained a distant dream until now. This is a transformational moment."

He said the AI-piloted X-62A broke one of combat aviation's most significant barriers last year when it engaged in an experimental dogfight with a human-piloted F-16 at speeds approaching 1,200 mph over the desert near Edwards.

https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2024/05/04/science-air-force-AI-piloted-fighter/6151714852066/