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Originally Posted by Jimmy
Nighthawk, not Knighthawk.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy
The F-22 uses JDAMs with exactly the same accuracy as the F-117, because the aircraft has nothing to do with it, aside form having the keypad where the pilot punches in the coordinates. The bomb itself does all the aiming. The F-117s extremely limited mission scope along with its high expenses make it almost mandatory that the AF retire it. You're also forgetting one thing...these things are as old as F-15s. They're at the end of their service life, and there's no justification to reopening the line to build more.
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I will obviously defer to you on the subject as you are more informed, but this is why I made the point.
The F-22A will carry 2 GBU-31 2000lb DJAM weapons on its mission. These bombs are preprogrammed before flight to hit a certain target, although I believe the target coordinates may be change in-flight by the pilot. The weapon is released from the aircraft and guides itself to its target coordinates using GPS positioning. Achieve an accuracy of a few meters or perhaps a few feet on a good day.
The F-117A will carry 2 GBU-27 2000lb laser-guided bombs on its mission. These bombs will be self designated onto target by the F-117A and will achieve an accuracy of a few inches.
Is this correct?
All I am saying is that you are losing capability in that the F-117A has more flexibility because it is able to self-designate its weapons onto target (if you ignore weather issues) and its weapons are more accurate. These two factors are very important for the Nighthawks most important mission - first-day-of-way surgical strike.
Other than this important mission, the F-22A will probably be the superior tactical bomber on most other profiles. Stuff that needs the accuracy of laser-guidance can be dropped by an F-15E. However, there is still the issue of the F-22A force being primarily an air-to-air force, so how much training and practice will they be able to give to these missions, and therefore how effective will they be?
I was only saying it might be wise to keep a squadron of F-117A aircraft in active service, not suggesting re-opening the line or anything like that. But if the USAF is prepared to accept this degradation in capability, then perhaps the cost saving is worth it.