According to the previously disclosed SAR in the United States, the combat radius of F-35B was finally frozen at 505 nautical miles (935.26km). Of course, simple numbers have no meaning. Next, let’s talk about the combat radius and range of the F-35B.
F-35B combat radius
Several years ago, Lockheed Martin once revealed the specified mission profile of the F-35B. It carries 2 1,000 pounds in the built-in bomb bay, and the combat radius of two AIM-120 air-to-air missiles performing an interruption mission is 473 nautical miles (Note: the final value is 505 nautical miles), while the threshold value is 450 nautical miles and the target is 550 nautical miles.
F-35B blocks the mission profile, the profile limit conditions of F-35A and F-35C are not the same
. For comparison, F/A-18C (lot 19) is 375 nautical miles or 504 nautical miles when carrying two 1000 pound JDAMs, two AIM-120s, 5 hangers, cannons, and related ammunition. The combat radius is 375 nautical miles or 504 nautical miles (Note: when loading two 330 gallon sub-fuel tanks); the AV-8B is 273 nautical miles.
F/A-18C
From a replacement point of view, although task mounts do tend to be related to F-35B, they are favorable partiality. However, in terms of actual performance, the F-35B combat radius has exceeded the F/A-18C (lot 19) with two 330-gallon secondary fuel tanks under the same conditions, and it has exceeded the two models to replace in terms of combat radius and range.
F-35B is ready to take off
Of course, I need to mention here that the profile of the standard occlusion task listed in the execution manual is not exactly the same as that listed in Los Angeles here. This comparison is a conversion result.
These three companies generally include a 50-nautical miles of sea level high-speed penetration (Mach 0.8/450KCAS/Mach 0.75, different models). The F-35B's choice of 15000FT/540KTAS is determined by the characteristics of stealth fighter jets, land-based radar features, air defense threats, etc.
F/A-18E blocking mission profile
. In terms of the F-35B combat range, although there is currently no accurate official information, a certain amount of speculation can be made based on the rules presented in the SAC manual data of F/A-18E.
F/A-18E, excluding the two special tasks of H-H-H and deck ejection interception, the ratio of combat range to combat radius floats between 2.713 and 3.45 (Note: the occlusion mission is 2.98). Here, 3 is used for approximate inference. Then the combat range of F-35B is about 1,515 nautical miles (2,805.8km) when performing the occlusion mission. If it is performed with a more relaxed mission profile such as H-H-H, there may be a certain floating.
British aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier Blitzer Skip-jump-take off
British aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier Skip-jump-take off
F-35B
For comparison (Note: the combat range of F-35 is only calculated), the combat range of 2876km when performing the H-H-H mission (internal oil) is 2344.6km, and F/A-18E is 2344.6km.
F-14A
Of course, this is only based on the internal oil. If two 480 gallon sub-fuel tank are added, the combat radius of the standard blocking task can be increased by 40% (reduced time value data given by Lockheed Mart).
One of the secondary fuel tank designs of Lockheed Martin
To a certain extent, the fourth class even obtained a certain degree of long-range strike capability through the F-35B. As for better performance, the F-35A/C with stricter requirements will be discussed in the future.
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