Question: Is it realistic to build a smaller F-22 to replace the F-16?
If you mean an F-35, it does that to an extent. But the F-22 and the F-16 have different roles although they narrow with AESA and block 60+. I'm not sure you can effectively replace the F-16 in the near or distant future for shear tonnage on target. Unless of course you change the mission and let the Navy have it all with F-18's.
Question: It it possible to replace Harriers with VTOL CAS UCAVs?
A real question is whether or not we can replace manned flight with unmanned. Is there a need for a VTOL UCAV? There are already several options available for recovering and launching unmanned vehicles.
Question: Should the production of the F-22 (possible FB-22 variants) end at 183 or continue to 381 air frames?
Based on recent developments with Russian aerospace (T-50) and their willingness to export (India) as a means to support development and domestic procurement it would seem inevitable that there could be advanced fighters based within internal fuel load of the continental United States (Venezuela) in decades to come. Of course, advanced assumes they're actually going to produce an airframe that is something more than reverse engineering. I always thought that 381 was a give away just to get the contracts signed anyway. If you're talking continental defense against an adversary on your doorstep 381 might seem a bit lacking since force projection will drain off assets for deployment elsewhere.
Bookmarks