Cultural Gadfly

10 Responses to “Because it’s Friday”

1. 1. john wootton Says:
   November 29th, 2009 at 7:19 pm

   hey what is their problem with vodka drinking commies those guys are just pissed that the russian su47 would STOMP the f 22 in a close in dogfight and the wings are not backward they are just swept forward that gives the su47 a turning ability that has raptor pilots shitting their pants so don’t diss the BERKUT

2. 2. Fabius Says:
   November 30th, 2009 at 12:22 pm

   Thanks for stopping by John.

   Don’t worry too much about us making fun of the Berkut. After all, these demotivators are usually just poking playful fun at stuff we find cool. I really like the Berkut, the demo videos I’ve seen are really impressive, and it’s sinister as hell, great aircraft.

   I wouldn’t go so far as to say that the Berkut would stomp the F-22 though. While I know that the forward swept wings give the Berkut impressive instability and high wing/life ratios, I haven’t seen it do anything the F-22 couldn’t also do. On top of that, the Berkut is just a demo prototype, like the old American X-29, I’m not aware of any plans for full scale production of it just yet. So even if it ever gets mass produced, it’ll be years away, and by that time, who knows how much better the Raptor will be? It is actually in service right now remember. And of course Russian pilot training isn’t up to American standards yet, so there’s that as well.

   And I didn’t even mention stealth…

3. 3. Nicephoras Phocas Says:
   November 30th, 2009 at 1:15 pm

   very nice Fabius. I still think that stopping the funding was a good thing, despite what you and horatius may say…

4. 4. Fabius Says:
   November 30th, 2009 at 1:50 pm

   that was a fun debate, even with Horatius’ cringe-inducing comments on expendibility of infantry.

   Might make for a fun multi-post debate perhaps?

5. 5. Max Says:
   December 24th, 2009 at 6:23 am

   F-22 is currently the most effective fighter in the world today. However the vaunted Stealth tech everyone is so obsessed with, while effective for its intended use is a rather expensive thing which is maintenance-critical, weather-sensitive, is easily defeated using LF waves, IR scanners, laser radars (only for good weather though). LF waves are too long to be absorbed with RAMs of any plane and they make the whole body a big reflector.

   IR is simple – we have one or two VERY hot spots in the sky. Hmmmm what can it be? :D Thats why the Flankers and Fulcrums can still be very dangerous to the stealth planes since if you get them within 20km (8 miles), and today its now 35 miles, they can lock onto those planes with an IR search and track system, fire an IR homing missile without ever turning radar on and stealth plane is gone. Same trick of stealth.

6. 6. Fabius Says:
   January 8th, 2010 at 12:14 pm

   Fair points Max, thanks for jumping in. Couple thoughts in response:

   I agree that stealth isn’t some be all and end all wonder weapon. I was more bringing it up in reference to the Su-47, which doesn’t have stealth.

   However, while it’s not the final word in the game, stealth is still a pretty good one. I understand all the buzz about LF radar, IR, and laser, the Russians are apparently pushing pretty hard in that direction. But I’m skeptical that they’ve got it at operational readiness just yet. Even then, the range isn’t quite as good as traditional systems. The F-22 can datalink with other aircraft, and one Rapter can act as a mini-AWACs bird, so all you’d have to do to keep the Raptors out of the threat envelope is to have one stand off a hundred plus miles out and use its radar, and guide the others quietly into a kill position. Flankers and Fulcrums threat receivers would pick up the active Raptor, but would have no idea where the actual shooters are, giving the Raptors a big advantage in first shot BVR mode. Granted, BVR tends to be overrated, and most fights would probably end up ACM, which does negate stealth capabilities, but the lower detectability of the Raptor means it would locate and track the target first. Even if the bogeys picked up the Raptor, being the first to detect your opponent is usually the decisive factor (in dogfights, the guy who sees the other guy first, tends to win).

7. 7. Zarodor Says:
   July 1st, 2010 at 4:36 pm

   Someone said, that the berkut is only a prototipe and when they produce it mass scale the F 22 will be ahead, well I don’t think so. The Su 47 is a needed step forward, the scientists can’t go on paper only, it must be tested in realistick conditions, not only the scientific calculation, The russians so called ‘commies’ need to study the results from this project and make the next one suitable for their needs and take it to mass production, then we’ll see who will be ahead. The F-22 isn’t good enough, Boeing could heave done better job. It may be good againtst arabians, but what will happen if they get them selfs into conflict whith a bit more developed countries. The stealth of this plane is unreliable, a nice detection system will make it look like an bit better version of F 17. Sorry for the unamerican opinion, but that’s what I thik.

8. 8. Zarodor Says:
   July 1st, 2010 at 4:38 pm

   Sorry for the spelling too…

9. 9. Romulus Says:
   July 1st, 2010 at 5:22 pm

   Yeah, except the F22 outclasses our own fighters, even when outnumbered more than 5 to 1. I get that the Su is good, but the F22 is way better. I have no problem with ‘unamerican’ opinions, but I will not abide stupidity. What Arabic nation that we’d even fight has an air force that would even remotely require an F22?

10. 10. Fabius Says:
    July 6th, 2010 at 11:10 am

    Un-American opinions are quite alright, as are opinions from the Kremlin. I really wish we’d get onto the cyber-propaganda game the way other countries are…

    So, what Zarodor is saying…is that the Russian’s computer sims aren’t good enough to provide accurate empirical data? Dude, not the type of argument you want to be advancing (even though I don’t think that’s the reason in this case).

    The Russians are working on the PAK-50, have a working prototype finally. It’s their true 5th gen fighter. But it won’t be in widespread production for almost another ten years most likely. By then the Raptor will be on at least its first round of upgrades. So let me spell it out. In ten years…the Russians…will be…at the level…of our forces…right now. Yawn.

    Anyone else notice that the PAK-50 looks like a knock-off F-22? Y’know, if the F-22 sucked as much as some people think, then why is everyone copying it…

    And everyone keeps talking about such and such prototype waxing the F-22, yet the F-22 is the world’s only operational 5th gen fighter…even going off the most optimistic forecasts from the Chinese and Russians, the Raptor will be the only plane in the world with all of the following: Supercruise, Stealth, thrust-vectoring, AESA radars/advanced electronics, for almost a decade.

    Again, yawn…

    What’ll happen if we get ourselves in a conflict with a “more developed country” anytime in the next two-decades is that we’ll make that old 12-1 kill ratio during Korea look like the second half of an NFL pre-season game with the practice squad out on the field.

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