Boeing unveils F/A-XX concept

http://www.flightglobal.com/assets/g...x?ItemID=34159
Attachment 6879
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DOrx5hYIMw
Boeing has displayed a 1/16 scale model of a concept to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The model was shown within Boeing's exhibit hall space at the Navy League Sea Air and Space Expo 2010 on 3 May at National Harbor, Maryland. The so-called F/A-XX model features stealthy design characteristics and a tailless planform for a carrier-based fighter. In some respects, it seems to appear as a natural follow-on to the aborted A-12 program, which was canceled 20 years ago as costs soared and design problems mounted.

That suprisingly looks like the fighters from Stealth.

From the movie.
http://www.militarypictures.info/d/4...ke_stealth.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...6/MVC-026S.jpg

That looks cool and all...But it doesn't look like a very stable air frame.

The new generation of superfighters have one design feature in common, something that no modern fighter can do without. They are designed unstable. At the end of the 70s the Lockheed Martin F-16, developed back then by General Dynamics, was the first series production fighter to use this technology.

The technological principles for an unstable design, which is intended to increase agility, were known before the F-16. However, there were probably a few reasons for not having this technology implemented into a program earlier. On the one hand computers were not powerful or small enough to be used as regulators on an aircraft, on the other hand redundancy could not be secured.
The main benefits from this new technological includes a much higher aircraft agility and a considerably lower drag. Since agility is important for fighters, unstable designs have so far only been used for military aircraft applications. Furthermore they were only deemed practical for movements along the pitch axis.
Read more here: http://www.flug-revue.rotor.com/frhe...09/FR9909e.htm

I also believe it is possible in the near future the rise of UAVs can largely replace combat pilots.The Air Force has been dominated by the pilot culture since it’s establishment in 1947. Pilots dominate the General ranks of the Air Force, and historically all non-pilots are treated as second class citizens within the Air Force. I don’t think anyone really understands how the rise of UAVs will change the culture of the Air Force, and if the pilot dominated leadership of the Air Force will allow UAVs to continue their rise. It does make me wonder that if someday the most respected Air Force general will be some UAV pilot that wears a joystick badge on his flight suit instead of a pair of wings. Part of me hope so, and part of me hopes not.

Look at cost. I would think that the greatest cost, and therefore greatest loss, would be the recruitment and training and "maintenance" of a human pilot. As much as sensors and electronics cost, the human element, in terms of expendability (i.e., moral, cost, replacement ability, etc...), is exponentially higher than a UAV.

Think of Top Gun, Red Flag, etc... With UAV's you need good software, not pilots. Last time I checked, you don't have to feed UAVs, house their motherboards on Military Bases, pay for disability, have UAV hospitals. Just like JDAMs reduce the sortie package significantly all the way down the chain (less bombers=less force protection=less refuelers=maintenance=less logistics=$, etc...), so too a UAV does the same to an exponentially greater extent.
It turns out that the weakest link physically in an aircraft is the pilot. Up to 40% of the weight of the aircraft is dedicated to keeping the pilot alive, and the flight controls must be limited in order to not kill the pilot. Most military planes can do much more than a human can survive.
Just imagine a pilot can dominate airspace bomb the target and be home in time for dinner and kiss the kids good night.

Since SECDEF Gates is totally committed to the F-35 where would this come in? I know there is a big difference between concept and production but I really don't see this happening. I know they are trying to purchase 147 super hornets and growlers since the F-35 is behind schedule to cover the fighter gap http://www.defensenews.com/story.php...95&c=AIR&s=TOP . Gates himself has said the F-35 program is too big to fail. I just don't see this and the F-35 competing for the same dollars when the F-35 is flying (albeit later then planned and more money then planned). Gates is also on record as saying UAV's cannot replace fighters for the air to air role. Now that being said he is also a politician and no telling what his successor would think. Bob

The more Gates opens his mouth the more he beclowns himself.

No wonder Zero kept him on.