Boeing unveils F/A-XX, the next Hornet

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Subject: Boeing unveils F/A-XX, the next Hornet
SlowMan 7/12/2009 11:39:48 AM

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DfbUPDqtPVI/SgIIwChw8-I/AAAAAAAABKQ/CMRH_QhG-m8/s1600/faxxNavy.jpg" width="440" height="202" />

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/FAXX%20slide%20Boeing%20July%202009.JPG" width="3072" height="2304" />

F/A-XX for the US Navy is a proposed further development of Boeing's proposal for KFX(Which currently looks like F/A-XX but with conventional wing and tail setup for air superiority missions). F/A-XX and KFX share basic airframe structure, but have different wings and avionics.

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Hellfire 7/12/2009 12:54:51 PM

Imo Boeing should concentrate on improving the F-18E design instead of wasting time on new designs that will never be built..

They have a solid product with the SH.. with the new variant of the F-414 it's likely that it would supercruise. That would reduce the need for the AB, so less fuel would be needed which enables in turns to get rid of the centerline tank. Less drag means less fuel also. Plus say a row 2 AMRAAMs in the center to reduce drag instead of the centerline tank..

Plus stealthy weapon wing bays..

If they get something good enough at low cost perhaps the USN would be convinced vs the F-35C... that's the best they can hope for..

If they don't do something within a few years they're f*****..

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SlowMan 7/12/2009 1:13:27 PM

@ Hellfire

> Imo Boeing should concentrate on improving the F-18E design instead of wasting time on new designs that will never be built..

F/A-XX pictured above is an advanced derivative of something that will definitely be built; KFX.

> They have a solid product with the SH

The US navy will stop buying Super Hornet and Boeing had no luck with Super Hornet in the export market. The only export deal signed to date was the sale of 24 planes to Australian Airforce worth $1.3 billion. Boeing needs a replacement for Super Hornet fast to stay in the fighter business.

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Rufus 7/12/2009 2:11:15 PM

Boeing needs a new project or they are out of the fighter business, it is really that simple. It isn't something that would happen overnight of course, but that is clearly where things would be heading.

They can keep themselves busy with upgrade packages and exports for a while(as the Russians have done), particularly with the SH, but unless they get a new project in the pipeline they are going to run out of work pretty quickly.

I for one am not convinced that the F-35 will be the last manned fighter. There will be at least one more generation of fighters and Boeing is smart to try to stay on top of that.

What will define a 6th generation aircraft? It will likely be a combination of two things. A platform optimized for network centric warfare in the extreme, and directed energy weapons. It is likely these aircraft will have a reduced emphasis on maneuverability and will instead prioritize range, endurance, sensors, payload, and networking capabilities.

The aircraft would fight as part of a larger overall system, directing UAVs much as a Patriot missile battery directs its various launching stations. It is quite possible a second crewman would be desierable in a 6th generation aircraft to facilitate this command and control mission. The fighter itself will still be capable of delivering weapons, but will see an emphasis shift from doing everything directly, to acting as one element of a larger system. (As is already taking place with 4th and 5th generation aircraft.)

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Rufus 7/12/2009 2:12:06 PM

"F/A-XX pictured above is an advanced derivative of something that will definitely be built; KFX."

lol

I must have missed the part where they signed the contract...

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SlowMan 7/12/2009 3:46:29 PM

@ Rufus

> I must have missed the part where they signed the contract...

The day they sign the contract is the day full-scale development begins.

Pre-eliminary development has been under way for several years, and this is why Boeing and Korean DoD can now circulate numbers around to give you an idea of what kind of plane we are looking at. According to reports, Boeing is close to landing this deal. This wasn't the case last year as the proposals from EADS and Boeing weren't considered attractive enough, but Boeing suddenly turned around this year and offered an aggressive term satisfactory enough to go ahead with a full-scale development.

Boeing probably had the change of heart because they were impacted the most by Robert Gates' budget policy, and needed a Super Hornet and Strike Eagle replacement fast to stay in the fighter biz.

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gf0012-aust 7/12/2009 4:46:33 PM

Oh BS the slant wing Shornet was being discussed at Avalon in March 2009. It's not "for" the Koreans, its another marketing pitch aka the attempt made with the Eagle to try and get revolvers in queue.

A "revolver" btw, is a repeat customer. ie they are gunning for sales from existing customers in the hope of keeping market share.

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Reactive 7/12/2009 4:59:22 PM

The funny thing is if you look at the photos a year earlier it looked like a lofted-surface version of the Nighthawk, obviously a massive amount of "R+D" gone in to it hehe.

I could whip up something similar given half a day.

Proves nothing, except that boeing need to invest in a better CGI team.

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Hellfire 7/12/2009 5:05:20 PM

Apparently that's a proposal to replace the F-18Es, so if the navy is not interested it will NOT be built.....

Boeing would never fund that kind of project it would ruin the company.

But the shape is interesting..

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SlowMan 7/13/2009 12:40:31 AM

gf0012-aust

> It's not "for" the Koreans

I never said it was. It shares fuselage with Boeing's KFX proposal that would arrive first. Each version gets wings and tails for their intended missions. Imagine F/A-XX with conventional F-22 like wing and tail set up, and you have KFX. Boeing is proposing other abilities not found on KFX, like the ability to fly unmanned if necessary and the ability to control other drones.

@ Reactive

> The funny thing is if you look at the photos a year earlier it looked like a lofted-surface version of the Nighthawk, obviously a massive amount of "R+D" gone in to it hehe.

Yes, that F-117 drone look-alike was before Boeing had something concrete to base F/A-XX on.

@ Hellfire

> Apparently that's a proposal to replace the F-18Es, so if the navy is not interested it will NOT be built.....

Yes, F/A-XX is not a go if US Navy isn't interested. However, Boeing is making this sales pitch to the US Navy since F/A-XX would be developed faster and cheaper than the usual "from the scratch" approach of US fighter programs by recyling engineering work and parts from the KFX project.

http://defencepolicy.com/data/cheditor/0808/20070724118527927826993300_leftcore.jpg" width="750" height="426" /> KFX circa 2007(101 model assumes Boeing co-development based on Super Hornet layout, 201 model assumes EADS co-development based on Typhoon layout). Reports from Korean DoD is that Boeing is currently the likely KFX contractor.

http://www.flightglobal.com/assets/getAsset.aspx?ItemID=29938" />

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Rufus 7/13/2009 1:44:22 AM

"According to reports, Boeing is close to landing this deal."

Reports huh? Got a copy handy?

It is with disturbing regularity that I am forced to remind certain posters on this message board that making things up is simply not going to do them any good.

Boeing would love to be involved in some kind of credible 5th or 6th generation fighter design project, but as of right now all they are showing off are extremely preliminary design studies. Sort of a "these are the sorts of things we think we could build depending on certain technological assumptions."

Even if some customer showed up at Boeing's front door with a set or requirements and a dump-truck of money tomorrow morning, any new aircraft would require at least a decade of work before it was available to do something useful.

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