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bagera3005 — Northrop Grumman A-11 ghost
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Published: 2011-09-27 03:50:08 +0000 UTC; Views: 20059; Favourites: 128; Downloads: 500
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Description
Northrop Grumman A-11 ghostADVANCED TACTICAL AIRCRAFT
Advanced-Attack/Advanced/Fighter-Attack (A-X/A/F-X) 1992-1993
In January 1991, with the cancellation of the ATA and the NATF, the Secretary of the Navy directed that planning commence for a new A-6 replacement program. This new program became the known as the A-X, an advanced, “high-end,” carrier-based multi-mission aircraft with day/night/all-weather capability, low observables, long range, two engines, two-crew, and advanced, integrated avionics and countermeasures. The Air Force participated in this new program from its initiation, still seeking a replacement for the F-111 and, in the longer term, the F-15E and F-117A.
Contracts of $20M each were awarded to five contractor teams on 30 December 1991 (prime contractor listed first):
Grumman/Lockheed/Boeing
Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics
McDonnell Douglas/Vought
Rockwell/Lockheed
General Dynamics/McDonnell Douglas/Northrop
The original A-X / A/F-X CE/D work was due to be completed in September 1992. A solicitation for Demonstration/Validation (Dem/Val) proposals was expected in late 1992, leading to a Dem/Val start in 1994 and EMD in 1996. Under the Navy’s original plan, the short Dem/Val phase would consist of design refinements and other risk reduction activities, but would not include flying prototypes. However, in late 1992 Congress directed that the A-X Dem/Val phase also include competitive prototyping. This increased the projected duration of the Dem/Val phase from two to five years. Concurrently, as a result of the termination of the NATF in 1991, increased air-to-air requirements were added to the A-X, prompting a change in the name of the Program from Advanced Attack (A-X) to Advanced Attack/Fighter (A/F-X).
The existing A-X CE/D contracts were extended to reflect a revised Dem/Val strategy to accommodate flying prototypes. The expected IOC date of the A/F-X slipped from 2006 to 2008. A Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) Milestone I Review of the A/F-X Program was expected in Spring 1993; however, the BUR placed the A/F-X program on hold pending the outcome of the report. An Milestone I DAB for the A/F-X never took place.
On 1 September 1993, the release of the BUR announced the cancellation of the A/F-X as well as the MRF. As a result of the BUR, A/F-X efforts during the latter half of 1993 were directed toward closing out the program and transitioning applicable experience and results to the upcoming JAST program.
A core of A/F-X personnel performed a large portion of the working-level planning and definition of the emerging JAST Program. The A/F-X CE/D contracts were extended a second time, through 17 December 1993, to allow the contractors sufficient time to bring their activities to a logical conclusion. All A/F-X program operations ended on 31 December 1993.
General characteristics
Crew: four (one pilot, three electronic countermeasures officers)
Length: 46 ft
Wingspan: 80 ft
Height: 15 ft 8 in
Wing area: 1,720 sq ft
Empty weight: 31,160 lb (15,130 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 61,500 lb (27,900 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100
Dry thrust: 23,500 lb[238] (104 kN) each
Performance
Payload: 5,160 lbs
Fuel: 21,322 lbs
Wing loading: 41 lbs/sq ft
Spotting factor: 1.44
Launch wind over deck (WOD): -2 knots
Arresting WOD (Mk 7 mod 3): +9 knots
Waveoff rate of climb: + 680 feet/minute
Armament
Guns: None
Hardpoints: 5 total: 1× centreline/under-fuselage plus 4× under-wing pylon stations with a capacity of 18,000 pounds (8,164.7 kg) and provisions to carry combinations of:
Missiles: Up to 4× AGM-45 Shrike or AGM-88 HARM Anti-radiation missiles
Other:
Up to 4× 300 US gallons (1,100 L) external drop tanks (only pylon stations 1, 2, 4, 5 are wet-plumbed)
Up to 5× AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System (TJS) external pods
Avionics
AN/ALQ-99 on board receiver (OBS), AN/ALQ-99 pod mounted jamming system (TJS)
USQ-113 communications jamming system
Missiles:
* AIM-120 AMRAAM
* AIM-132 ASRAAM
* AIM-9X Sidewinder
* IRIS-T
* JDRADM (after 2020)[210]
* AGM-154 JSOW
* AGM-158 JASSM[91]
*
o Bombs:
+ Mark 84, Mark 83 and Mark 82 GP bombs
+ Mk.20 Rockeye II cluster bomb
+ Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser capable
+ Paveway-series laser-guided bombs
+ Small Diameter Bomb (SDB)
+ JDAM-series
+ B61 nuclear bomb[211]
Avionics
* Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems AN/APG-81 AESA radar
Related content
Comments: 5
Ah, sorry to say this, but the trailing edge of the wing isn't going to work. 90 degree angles are terrible for stealth. That will let radar bounce back to the sender like a billiard ball hitting the corner of a pool table, which is the last thing you want to happen.
The magic number for stealth angles is 60 degrees. You want the radar signal to bounce and go somewhere else, but definitely not back to the guy who transmitted it.
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Ah, sorry to say this, but the trailing edge of the wing isn't going to work. 90 degree angles are terrible for stealth. That will let radar bounce back to the sender like a billiard ball hitting the corner of a pool table, which is the last thing you want to happen.
The magic number for stealth angles is 60 degrees. You want the radar signal to bounce and go somewhere else, but definitely not back to the guy who transmitted it.
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Interesting, a miniature B-2. Aircraft designers certainly seem to believe that the tailless flying wing design certainly has plenty of merit. I'd say I'd agree with them.
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