iscover
Another MDC concept, this hypersonic interceptor utilises turbine engines that at altitude divert intake air to a central ramjet. Aircraft like this could provide ideal launching stations for future anti-satellite missiles with perhaps an anti-ICBM warhead capability.
Strike Aircraft of the Nineties
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Technology advances in lightweight composites and metals, micro-avionics, smaller engines, improved aerodynamic shapes, signature-reduction, and standoff weaponry – plus a dedicated concern for affordability – forecast exciting design opportunities for . . .
Strike Aircraft of the 1990s
Since World War I, the continuing challenges for new generations of combat aircraft have been to fly faster, go farther, climb higher, turn tighter, and so on. For aircraft systems, the imperatives have been: pierce the darkness . . . In bad weather, despite radar jamming. Load on more weapons. Get the threat at high altitude . . . and at sea level. Take on six of the enemy at a time. And come back to fight another day.
Amazingly, government and industry have gone after these goals with such intensity and dedication that we’ve reached the point today – only 75 years since Kitty Hawk – where technology no longer constrains aircraft design or weapon system performance. It’s really an incredible achievement, but the price has been high. Extended performance and sophisticated systems development have increased the cost of today’s aircraft almost to the point of diminishing returns vis-a-vis the Soviet threat.
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