{"id":2661,"date":"2013-06-03T09:37:11","date_gmt":"2013-06-03T15:37:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myfutureamerica.org\/?p=2661"},"modified":"2013-06-03T09:49:23","modified_gmt":"2013-06-03T15:49:23","slug":"us-is-losing-air-superiority-why-australia-and-even-israel-should-scratch-the-f-35-and-fly-russias-sukhois","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myfutureamerica.org\/?p=2661","title":{"rendered":"US’s new fighter fleet may lose air superiority. Why Australia, and even Israel should scratch the F-35 and fly Russias Sukhois."},"content":{"rendered":"
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Russian pilot: “No F-35 can ever out-fly Sukhoi in dog fight.” Source: Sukhoi.org<\/span><\/h1>\n

Why Australia, Israel should scratch the F-35 and fly Sukhois<\/h1>\n
April 8, 2013<\/span> Rakesh Krishnan Simha<\/a> <\/span><\/div>\n
The F-35 Lighting was the first choice of the Australian air force. But several thunderbolts have struck the stealth aircraft, including the arrival of new generation Sukhois that are skewing the odds against the Australians.<\/div>\n
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Sometime by the middle of this year, Australia will have to make a stark choice. Its defences vulnerable and budget in tatters, the country will announce whether it will buy another squadron of 24 F-18 Super Hornets, or that Australia will stick with the original plan to buy 100 units of the F-35 Lightning \u2013 America\u2019s joint strike fighter.<\/p>\n

Trouble is neither option adds to the country\u2019s security.<\/p>\n

The reason, according to the Business Spectator<\/a>\u00a0is: \u201cIndonesia plans to buy an incredible 180 of the Russian\/Indian Sukhoi fighters, almost certainly including the PAK-FA<\/a> T-50 and Su-35S. So the question is not whether the JSF is better than the outdated Hornet, but whether it is better than Indonesia\u2019s Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA T-50 and Su-35S.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"images<\/a><\/p>\n

PAK-FA T-50<\/p>\n

\"images<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"pak<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Like much of what comes spinning out of the Australian media, the article is alarmist. But it offers a sound suggestion \u2013 instead of seeking advice from Australian and American military officials, who have staked their careers on the F-35, the defence ministry must get an informed and unbiased opinion from outside. As things stand now, Australia \u201cwill soon discover that the latest defence slogan \u2013 \u2018first look, first shoot, first kill\u2019 \u2013 works against the outmoded Hornet but not against the Sukhoi. The Sukhoi is just too good\u201d.<\/p>\n

The article adds: \u201cFor example, the JSF can operate effectively only to a maximum of around 40,000 feet (it can fly higher but loses operational impact at higher levels). By contrast the Sukhois can operate at full capacity at much higher levels and with that advantage they have systems and weapons that could blast an Australia JSF and its pilot out of the sky before they had a chance to \u2018first look, first shoot, first kill\u2019. No dogfight required.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Business Spectator offers a way out of this \u201cheads we lose, tails we lose\u201d dilemma. It suggests Australia either acquire the F-22 or its technology. The prescription is pretty close to what much of the Australian media and defence experts have been peddling. The only problem is they are peddling snake oil. Even if it were possible to borrow technology from the F-22 (made by a different company) and graft it on to the F-35, American law prevents the export of F-22 and its technology.<\/p>\n

A re-look at Sukhoi<\/strong><\/p>\n

So what is Australia to do? According to the independent think tank New Australia, it should consider not just the Sukhoi Flanker but in future the PAK-FA. \u201cWe recommend that Australia enter an arrangement with Sukhoi similar to HAL in India to build either the Sukhoi Su-35S Flanker or Su-32 Fullback aircraft under licence in Australia. The current preference is Su-35S,\u201d says New Australia.<\/p>\n

\u201cSukhoi licenses the manufacture of Sukhoi planes and parts in several countries including India and China. Australia could buy the entire Sukhoi aircraft and build the avionics, consumables and weaponry locally. Many companies in Russia, Asia, Israel and Europe manufacture Sukhoi components. Sukhoi is \u2018open source\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

New Australia cites a study by Air Power Australia: \u201cIn strategic terms the Su-35S is a game changer, as it robustly outclasses all competing Western fighter aircraft other than the F-22A Raptor. Deployed in significant numbers it is capable of changing the balance of power in any region where this occurs. This reality does not appear to be widely understood in most Western air forces, or Department of Defence bureaucracies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deal breaker or clincher<\/strong><\/p>\n

Australia is troubled mainly by Indonesia\u2019s rise as a regional power, but in many circles India is also seen as a threat. This is perhaps because the antipodeans \u2013 who are sometimes more English than the queen \u2013 see India as the villain that brought down the British Empire.<\/p>\n

In 1986, Australia made a lot of noises when India acquired its second aircraft carrier, the Virat. Again in 1998 when India tested five nuclear bombs, it withdrew its ambassador and in a fit of pique, pulled out an Indian military officer midway through his class in an Australian exchange programme.<\/p>\n

While a string of former Australian prime ministers, led by Kevin Rudd, have taken a strong anti-India stance, there is another lobby led by the current premier Julia Gillard, who has tried to make amends.<\/p>\n

In this backdrop, any decision on buying Russian jets will be influenced by which lobby carries the day. If India is seen as an ally, then the Australian military might look at the T-50. But if India is bracketed as a threat, that together with Indonesia\u2019s purchases, will pave the way for the F-35. However, such a decision will send Australian\u2019s defences and national budget into a tailspin.<\/p>\n

Ballooning costs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Costs are clearly a concern as the F-35 is a programme that has run out of control. It is quite shockingly an aircraft that is more expensive than Australia. Yes, the programme will eventually tip over the $1.385 trillion mark, which is more than the Australian economy.<\/p>\n

From Canberra\u2019s point of view, each of these aircraft could end up costing US$238 million each, which is more than the price tag of US$60 million per plane when it first committed itself to the programme. Also, because the F-35 represents the latest in American defence tech, many of its parts will be off limits to Australians and will have to be flown to US bases or serviced by Americans flown in especially for the task. This will not only add to costs, it will increase down time.<\/p>\n

Buying Sukhoi aircraft would, therefore, be a mission of mercy. New Australia says instead of buying 100 F-35s, Australia could get the job done with just 70 Sukhoi Super Flankers. And at just US$66 million per plane, it would prevent Australia\u2019s over-stretched defence budget from snapping altogether.<\/p>\n

Australia and Russia \u2013 Similar requirements<\/strong><\/p>\n

Russian aircraft are designed to overcome a uniquely Russian problem \u2013 covering its vast air space with limited aircraft. The Australian landmass is 4000 km wide, and the F-35 just doesn\u2019t have the legs to cover that distance. The Su-35 has an effective range of about 4,000 km compared with about 2,200 for the JSF. This means the JSF would require air-tanker support to operate both within and outside Australia\u2019s boundaries.<\/p>\n

Speed \u2013 Bullet train vs slowcoach<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Su-35 is a Mach 2.4 (nearly two and half times the speed of sound) aircraft while the F-35 is limited to Mach 1.6. According to Victor M. Chepkin<\/a>, the first deputy general director of NPO Saturn, the new AL-41F engines will allow Russian jets to supercruise \u2013 fly at supersonic speed for long distances. By not having to switch their afterburners on, aircraft are able to save a lot of fuel. Translation \u2013 non-supercruising fighters such as the F-35 and F-18s will be at a huge disadvantage against the Sukhois.<\/p>\n

Stealth \u2013 Holes in the cloak<\/strong><\/p>\n

So obsessed were the aircraft\u2019s designers with stealth that they ignored or sacrificed fighter basics such as range, payload and speed. The thinking was stealth alone would be enough to keep the JSF ahead of the pack. However, even as the Americans were perfecting stealth tech, the Russians were developing new combat techniques against it. They are now experimenting with new radar that can pick out stealth planes.<\/p>\n

Colonel of Aviation Grigoriy \u201cGrisha\u201d Medved, a former Russian fighter pilot, says the worst part of the F-35 is a very hot engine \u2013 160 Celsius hotter than standard combat jet engine exhaust. \u201cIt makes a very bright star in the sky and a long jet plume,\u201d he says in a study for Air Power Australia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Russia has adapted technology developed for detecting ICBM launches, to air combat fighters, says Medved. This technology enables Russian fighter pilots to see a standard fighter at about 50 km; by 2017 it will allow them to see stealth fighters at about 150 km. Because such radars are passive, the enemy will have no idea they are being watched.<\/p>\n

In a dogfight, Medved notes an Su-35 can salvo a pair of missiles. The first, an active-radar-homing one, will force the F-35 pilot to take evasive action, exposing his beam-on radar cross section and exhausts to another (heat-seeking) shot.<\/p>\n

Plus, with its large internal fuel load, the Su-35 can perform multiple attacks, launching missiles, turning hard to evade and then re-engaging. That is, play \u201ccat and mouse\u201d with the Aussies. The Sukhoi\u2019s much better inventory of BVR (beyond visual range) missiles can then finish the job. As Medved says, \u201cRun in for kill with R-73 or guns. No (F-35) can ever out-fly Sukhoi in knife fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

And, the colonel adds, with the PAK-FA coming, the F-35 \u201cbest stay home unless escorted by bigger brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whether bigger brother can accompany the F-35 is doubtful. \u201cThe cancellation of the F-22 will make Sukhoi aircraft the most capable production fighter planes available,\u201d says New Australia. \u201cIt also marks a historic shift in air-power from the United States to Russia and the countries that use Russian defence technology.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you are in the Australian air force, you are on your own mate.<\/p>\n

indrus.in<\/a><\/p>\n

Same article in Russian<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Russian pilot: “No F-35 can ever out-fly Sukhoi in dog fight.” Source: Sukhoi.org Why Australia, Israel should scratch the F-35 and fly Sukhois April 8, 2013 Rakesh Krishnan Simha The F-35 Lighting was the first choice of the Australian air force. But several thunderbolts have struck the stealth aircraft, including the arrival of new generation […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2662,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[104,105],"tags":[350,349,353,352,351],"class_list":["post-2661","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-videos","tag-f-22","tag-f-35","tag-fighter-jet","tag-pak-t50","tag-su-35"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/myfutureamerica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/468_.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2SfUR-GV","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myfutureamerica.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2661","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myfutureamerica.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myfutureamerica.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myfutureamerica.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myfutureamerica.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2661"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/myfutureamerica.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2661\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2672,"href":"https:\/\/myfutureamerica.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2661\/revisions\/2672"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myfutureamerica.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myfutureamerica.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2661"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myfutureamerica.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2661"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myfutureamerica.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2661"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}