Best Possible Modern Strike Fighter Aircraft?

Since the WW2 threads went so well, I thought that we might as well do at least one modern one. (Mods, if this is too much, feel free to delete this).

I'd say a median-cost, dual engine, semi-low observable (internal weapons bay, but no $2000 an inch paint). Perhaps the Super Tomcat 21 with F22 engines (A planned addition to the 'base' super tomcat 21 design) would fit, if it actually met the specifications. I don't know if supercruise is necessary, but it would be very nice to have. Really any of the 'Super' type capabilities would be great (Supercruise, Supermanouverable, Super Low-Obersevable, High Mach Dash). The super Tomcat 21 with F22 engine would have had Mach 2+ supercruise, a near record-breaking AB dash and very long range. I also don't know whether to focus on ground attack as most modern conflicts are asymmetrical, or to focus on AtA to make sure modern conflicts stay only between a weaker and stronger power...
 
Best possible modern strike aircraft:

Against serious adversary:

Loads of cruise missiles and TBM's launched from subs, surface craft, TEL's and transport aircraft depending on your conflict. They can be used en masse unlike conventional aircraft.

Against the foes most wars are fought against: A combination of:
- Super Tucano A-29 like prop aircraft. Easy to deploy en masse, cheap to operate, can drop precision weaponry. Cheaper than UAV's and UCAV's.
- AC-130 style gunships: Longer staying power, more nuanced weaponry.
- P-8 Poseidon / Nimrod / Orion whatever style naval patrol aircraft. They can carry a lot of throw weight, have sophisticated sensors, can be also used in a major conflict.
 
semi-low observable (internal weapons bay, but no $2000 an inch paint).

Congratulations, your aircraft is spotted by every modern SAM site and interceptor aircraft in the area. It get shot down. The idea of developing any front line combat aircraft in tday's day and age without the best stealth you can get is a recipe for disaster.
 
One of these days I'm just going to try to get kicked and do a "Best of the Lot Falklands War era first aid kit" thread

Back on topic, FB22 Strike Fighter is the answer
 

GarethC

Donor
What are you striking?

If you are a NATO power conducting joint COIN ops under friendly air supremacy, then you are really only talking about MANPAD and light AAA threats. Hard to argue against UAVs here, to be honest. Avoids putting people in harm's way, great loiter time,

Something like an AMX is fine for a slightly different conflict, where you need to surge a greater response in response to enemy ground operations, but still own the skies - a transonic bomb truck with decent avionics, a laser ranger/designator, and the ability to carry mostly things like Brimstone & SDB, with built in ECM & decoys, and really really efficient engines (not the Spey from the AMX, althought Rolls-Royce would love to update it for you for a real bargain price). You just want 600 kts to get to the target area and a long loiter time once you're there, Go for wingtip IR AAMs for self-defence, 6 wing hardpoints and one on the fuselage for a big drop tank (loiter, loiter, loiter). Plug in an existing cannon - the Mauser 27mm on the Typhoon would do.

Avionics are another question. Don't worry too much about BVRAAMs, or long range ASMs like BrahMos or Storm Shadow/SCALP. I want to say an APG-79 or CAPTOR-E, whichever is lighter, so you could in extremis give it four AMRAAM/Meteor or antishipping Harpoon/RBS-15/Exocet capability as well, but the whole lot is a bit of a luxury really. It would be probably more cost-effective to ensure that the datalink to the Sentry/Hawkeye/Merlin/Ka-31 means that the missile can take midcourse guidance from the AEW platform and not mount a radar at all.

What you absolutely do not want to go mucking about with are carrier or STOVL features. Just say no to USMC, FAA or Aéronavale people who come with seductive promises about force multipliers. Go and build a completely different multiply-compromised airframe for them. Or buy Rafale M.

If you feel that you want to show the world that you are going loaded for... ahem... bear (or eagle), then we are talking about playing with the most dangerous integrated air defence system on the ground (though I'd give the nod to a US CVBG as being even more dangerous at sea, but there you go). Then you really need to spend the big bucks on how not to be seen - internal weapons bays, funky composite angular low-RCS airframes, weird inlet ducts, IR-signature dispersing tailpipe configurations, non-orthogonal angled dual tails, all that jazz.

Much, indeed, like the F-35. The A model, without the cat & trap or STOVL features. The question of performance is another issue - whether it's more important to supercruise, or have a high top speed in afterburner, or have longer endurance is a 64 million dollar question. I'm minded to suggest that if we're buying to intimidate the VVS, then you want supercruise to allow rearward basing that is harder to counterstrike, not loiter time (which is what you want for bombing IS in Syria), while modern SAM systems like the S-400 have such an envelope and missile velocity that Mach 1.8 in afterburner isn't going to be enough if you are detected properly.

If you feel that you want to fight the USN at sea, you need to build a stealthy supercruising MPA unlike any ever flown - sort of a Tu-160 based around a big radar and datalink gear - and a DF-21D-like ASBM. Assuming it works. Which is not a small assumption.
Or better yet, build a submarine force.
 
Drones. The USMC has been on the cutting edge of tactical air support development for a century & I suspect in a few more years they will be leaning heavily on unpiloted aircraft or all sizes for tactical air support. Hand launched RPV have been in use for mircro reconissance & we are not far from lightly armed RPV as part of a rifle battalion heavy weapons company. That can be interfered with by inter service politics, or shortsighted leaders, but its in reach. Piloted aircraft still have their use, but for unpiloted aircraft, especially small ones the future is here.
 
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