The F-36 Kingsnake: the ‘fifth-generation-minus’ fighter USAF wants
The F-35 is a Ferrari, the F-22 a Bugatti Chiron – the United States Air Force needs a Nissan 300ZX. Both the F-35 and F-22 have higher levels of technology than USAF requires for the vast majority of its everyday tasks. They are very difficult and costly to maintain, operate and upgrade. What is needed according to the USAF’s Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown Jr is an affordable, lightweight fighter to replace the F-16. It must be faster to develop and upgrade than the F-35 and need not feature such exquisite technologies. The only way to escape the exceptionally slow and expensive development process is to obey the following:...
A very fast project definition process. A sensible low-risk hard- and software solution is chosen and frozen within a year. Regular software updates are planned. A 1-year PD phase seems almost impossible if there were to be competition between L-M and Boeing. Single-sourcing without a contest would be necessary. The acquisition approach is likely to be a Government-directed prime contractor and engine supplier (P&W, on the grounds that the F-119 will be put back into production through this programme). Then a Skunk Works-like programme against a well defined, but small, set of mandatory requirements, with freedom given to the main contractor to choose sub-contractors.
其實軍事專家分析認為美國在此一時彼一時發展F-36A.主要的目的就是對抗中國J-20A.如今的美軍不只擁有F-22一款五代機，F-35更是頻頻進駐美軍在日韓的軍事基地，連日本的空中自衛隊都已經出現F-35中隊，對於僅有四代機的對手來說，這幾乎是不可戰勝的恐怖敵人。
不過美軍在東亞最主要的假想敵中國人民解放軍，也在
F-22服役的12年之後配備了國產五代機J-20，這讓美軍的五代機優勢開始消失,如今傳聞中國雙座型J-20A.試飛成功,影響到美國空軍在亞太地區的優勢,因此公開F-36A的發展計劃顯然是針對中國J-20A。
Domestic engine to power China’s twin-seat J-20 fighter
中國 J-20A.雙座隱形戰鬥機試飛成功.
Normally equipped with imported Russian jet engines, which are known for their low reliability and short service lives, official videos released by its developer and the People’s Liberation Army (PLAAF) Air Force show a two-seat J-20 equipped with a domestically made engine,
Depicted by computer-generated imagery, four twin-seat J-20 variations were seen flying in formation in a video released by state-owned Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), the developer of the aircraft, on Friday, in celebration of the 10th anniversary on Monday of the original aircraft’s maiden flight.
This is the first time the twin-seat J-20 has been featured in an official promotional source, although media reports had speculated about its existence for years. It will also make the J-20 variation the world’s first twin-seat stealth fighter jet.
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Engines considered included the F-15EX’s F110-GE-129 which would offer commonality but lack sufficient thrust or the F135 of the F-35 which is suffering technical issues. The chosen powerplant is a simplified version of F119 of the F-22. Returning the engine to production would also benefit the F-22 Raptor force. It is estimated returning the engine to production would take 3.5 years meaning early test aircraft would need to borrow from the Raptor. The F110-GE-129 is a lower risk option. Unlike the F-22 , the F-36 does not have thrust vector control. The F119 production re-start would be expensive however and an uprated F110 and or improved F135 should not be ruled out.
