“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
And then some, much more advanced. Depending on launch speed and altitude I wouldn't be surprised if this thing can reach out to 200 miles.
US federal spending per person per year, in constant 2025 dollars: 1925 - $153.00 2025 - $20,497.00
"In the vast library of socialist books, there’s not a single volume on how to create wealth, only how to take and “redistribute” it.” - David Horowitz (RIP)
"It is usually futile to try to talk facts and analysis to people who are enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance." Thomas Sowell
And then some, much more advanced. Depending on launch speed and altitude I wouldn't be surprised if this thing can reach out to 200 miles.
I’d imagine it’d easily kill a Mainstay at that range if, like you mention, launched at 50K feet and Mach 2+.
Phil
"The abbot says we should be grateful to you for a number of things. He said it was thanks to you that we rediscovered the whole moral universe that we had been in danger of forgetting—courage, sacrifice, faith . . .” — From a forgotten Man-Kzin Wars book
And then some, much more advanced. Depending on launch speed and altitude I wouldn't be surprised if this thing can reach out to 200 miles.
I’d imagine it’d easily kill a Mainstay at that range if, like you mention, launched at 50K feet and Mach 2+.
And the US Navy doesn't have a fighter that will do Mach 2 at 50k, especially not hauling 2 of those monsters (and you better have some drop tanks trying to get as fast, high and far from the carrier as you can)
US federal spending per person per year, in constant 2025 dollars: 1925 - $153.00 2025 - $20,497.00
"In the vast library of socialist books, there’s not a single volume on how to create wealth, only how to take and “redistribute” it.” - David Horowitz (RIP)
"It is usually futile to try to talk facts and analysis to people who are enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance." Thomas Sowell
And then some, much more advanced. Depending on launch speed and altitude I wouldn't be surprised if this thing can reach out to 200 miles.
I’d imagine it’d easily kill a Mainstay at that range if, like you mention, launched at 50K feet and Mach 2+.
And the US Navy doesn't have a fighter that will do Mach 2 at 50k, especially not hauling 2 of those monsters (and you better have some drop tanks trying to get as fast, high and far from the carrier as you can)
Yeah, I saw a Mover and Gonky show (former F-16/F-18 pilots, respectively) talking about this, and they felt performance of a Super Hornet would be marginal to get it off the deck with those and fuel tanks, as I recall.
I didn't remember it correctly, but they did think it'd be tough for a SH to get up to speed carrying four of them: https://youtu.be/VvJhB3a5Qag?t=152
An F-15X might have better performance while carrying them, but it's not Navy and not going off of a carrier.
Last edited by Arthonon; 07/24/2405:37 PM.
Ken Cartwright
No single drop of rain feels it is responsible for the flood.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
I occasionally watch Mover/Gonky. Their sometimes guest "Wombat" (E-2/F-18) has said on 2-3 occasions "there's nothing super about the Super Hornet"
US federal spending per person per year, in constant 2025 dollars: 1925 - $153.00 2025 - $20,497.00
"In the vast library of socialist books, there’s not a single volume on how to create wealth, only how to take and “redistribute” it.” - David Horowitz (RIP)
"It is usually futile to try to talk facts and analysis to people who are enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance." Thomas Sowell
I imagine it’d just take a software update and maybe an AIM174B-specific data cable to be able to launch them off an F15 or F16.
Phil
"The abbot says we should be grateful to you for a number of things. He said it was thanks to you that we rediscovered the whole moral universe that we had been in danger of forgetting—courage, sacrifice, faith . . .” — From a forgotten Man-Kzin Wars book
Of current fighters, only the MiG-31 might be capable of hauling 2 missiles of that size to Mach 2 and 50K feet, considering that its able to launch a 9500 lb Khinzhal at Mach 2.4 at 50K feet.
Granted that's with the specialized K variant, it's not a given that a standard '31 could do it.
The Russians and Chinese have developed long range missiles, and Europe has the Meteor missile, and they were out-distancing the AIM-120, so this gives the US a longer-ranged missile option, in addition to the AIM-260 that should be coming out soon.
Ken Cartwright
No single drop of rain feels it is responsible for the flood.
US federal spending per person per year, in constant 2025 dollars: 1925 - $153.00 2025 - $20,497.00
"In the vast library of socialist books, there’s not a single volume on how to create wealth, only how to take and “redistribute” it.” - David Horowitz (RIP)
"It is usually futile to try to talk facts and analysis to people who are enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance." Thomas Sowell
US federal spending per person per year, in constant 2025 dollars: 1925 - $153.00 2025 - $20,497.00
"In the vast library of socialist books, there’s not a single volume on how to create wealth, only how to take and “redistribute” it.” - David Horowitz (RIP)
"It is usually futile to try to talk facts and analysis to people who are enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance." Thomas Sowell
