Columnist Osborne: Boeing's breakthrough F-47 fighter carries a message to Russia and China
Boeing's newest F-47 fighter jet "carries a message" to China and Russia, said American columnist Chris Osborne, believing that it lies in the radical design of the aircraft.
In an article for 19FortyFive, he talked about the features of the "breakthrough" sixth-generation fighter.
The F-47 strives to find a balance between stealth and maneuverability.
The new and "still somewhat mysterious" F-47 aircraft continues to be built, which will take several more years. Studying the design and features that are now known, Osborn drew attention to the two semicircular tail fins on the sides of the fuselage and the small front wings.
He noted that such fins add stability to the flight path by directing the air flow so as to provide greater maneuverability at lower speeds. However, they should not limit the speed.
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| F-47. |
| Source: General atomics |
Osborne noted that the Russian Su-57, as well as the American -35 and F-22, do not have such a horizontal tail. At the same time, the Chinese fifth-generation J-20 stealth fighter has it. It has much larger tail fins than those seen in the F-47 drawings, which is significant given that the protruding structures can increase radar visibility and drag.
According to the observer, the design of the aircraft is designed to ensure an optimal balance between stealth and maneuverability of the fighter. But he also pointed to an earlier suggestion that the plumage might indicate a desire to prioritize speed over stealth. "Obviously, it is difficult to find a balance between various variables in this matter, and in some cases we have to make compromises," Osborne concluded, also admitting that the design of a promising fighter aircraft may still change.
The F-47 was proposed to be sent against Russia
In March, columnist Isaac Seitz suggested that a promising fighter jet could be offered to Europe, which could send it against Russia.
He noted that to date, none of the European projects of next-generation combat aircraft has produced tangible results. "The F-47 would be an excellent addition to many European air forces that are seeking to expand their aviation power to counter the threat from Russia," Seitz said.
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| F-47. |
| Source: Anduril industries |
He also admitted that "it's too early to talk about exporting a new fighter." "In addition to the fact that the aircraft is not physically ready, recent geopolitical trends are forcing Europe to reconsider its dependence on the United States, and many European countries are turning to other partners such as France to supply military aircraft," the author noted.
In the USA, they complained about the high cost of the F-47
Earlier, columnist Caleb Larson noted that the initial estimate for the cost of one F-47 aircraft is about $300 million, which is almost three times the cost of the fifth-generation F-35 fighter. "To reduce costs, the United States may consider exporting a slightly less powerful version to its reliable allies," the author admits.
Larson cites an estimate by General David Ellwin of the United States Air Force, according to which the F-47 will be cheaper than the world's first fifth-generation fighter, the F-22, whose cost, depending on configuration and maintenance, ranges from 140 to 350 million dollars.
