The JSF debate

[Ryoki]

Nothing, in fact they already tested that a bunch of times in different planes iirc.

Drones are pretty perfect for dogfighting too, remember that things like turning rate and acceleration of manned planes is limited only by how much g forces a human can handle - which is not very much.

[HM-PuFFNSTuFF]

Drones are not capable of this yet.

But i believe they are... maybe nobody tried putting drones in this role yet (as far as we know) but the technology has been there for years.

Do you have any link to support this claim? Everything I've read says the opposite. They have tried and the tech ain't there.

[Ryoki]

Mostly read about it in this book (which is a very interesting read): http://wiredforwar.pwsinger.com/

It's a wee bit old by now, i'm sure they're further along.

And there's the thing from the Yom Kippur war where Israel decimated the Syrian airforce & air defences - not a true air to air role for drones there, but a pioneering role nontheless. And this was ages ago..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Mole_Cricket_19

[HM-PuFFNSTuFF]

Well they're hoping to have a dog fighting drone in 5 years time. As of now, nothing like it exists. (Unless you're privy to something I haven't seen)

[losCHUNK]

Aye. I was thinking more on the aspect on cost. You could probably develop an aircraft but making it a viable alternative is another story.

The JSA has had buckets of money spent on it and years of development just to make it to market. The Eurofighter spent years just trying to maintain stable flight, going back further the Harrier program was nearly called off and all these delays were due to technical limitations in managing the hardware with software. The process to develop a fighter that can match a pilot would have to have buckets upon buckets of money spent on it just to develop the technical hardware and software to get it to a standard where the pilot will be replaced on top of the the aircraft design itself and then you need to add the cost of maintenance on top of that. I get that it's still piloted but it will still need a huge amount of autonomy and safety protocols developed that will make it one of the most expensive fighters ever and big cost means less bang for your buck.

You also need to consider the communications / range and the security needed from tampering too, those will be significant challenges on their own then the safety guidelines for flying over civilian airspace.

Once developed though it will be a beast, as Ryo said you won't have the limitations of the human body to deal with nor the requirements for oxygen / ejection seats / instruments etc but it could also be a case of that the development of aircraft will always be one step ahead of the cost and autonomy required to replace the pilot.

[losCHUNK]

The cold war Mi/G and SU fighters always looked so cool. Not great performers, but very awesome looking. Love the SU-27.

The Tuplov transport jets are very cool as well

Knows it

[lvlshot]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Sukhoi_Su-27SKM_at_MAKS-2005_airshow.jpg[/lvlshot]

Flanker too
[lvlshot]http://media.moddb.com/images/groups/1/3/2044/su-35ub_004.jpg[/lvlshot]

and MIG29
[lvlshot]http://www.adwallpapers.gr/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Mig-29-right-Zebra.jpg[/lvlshot]

Russian planes are best planes