"Future Dogfights" on History Channel

[Shasper]

I actually enjoy the more Historical Dogfights episodes, just analyzing the tactics & maneuvers is worth watching (the Israeli episode has to be my all time fav )

Shas

[B777LR]

And where is the PAK-FA? A PAK-FA would make the fight between it and the F-22 equal.

According to who? Venik at aeronautics.ru "Master of Plasma Stealth" or the 'still livin in mum's basement' boys over on AboveTopSecret?
As it stands, going by the informed speculation on the Secret Projects forum; Sukhoi is working on a prototype, the design is smaller than the F-22, it won't supercruise, the "new" engine won't be ready until 2015 at the earliest and any service entry is somewhere between 2020 and 2025. All of which puts any dogfights between the F-22A and the PAK-FA well into the realm of science fiction.

It does not excist yet, and with the new Putinist Empire, it may very well become an F-22 killer (EIS after the F-22, thus possible advances in technology). Besides that, getting credible information on the PAK-FA, even after EIS will be harder than finding out what the US Gov is messing about with at Groom Lake...

What will really be interesting, is which fighter wins a confrontation with no AWACS. Some reports are hinting that the F-22 might even have a hard time against a late model MiG-21, if it doesnt have AWACS support

[elmayerle]

Going by what I know of the F-35's equipment fit and how it compares to that of the F-22, I'd suspect that the F-22 can do quite well without AWACS support.  Mind you, I think they need to pick up a few of the F-35's better ideas for an upgrade to the F-22, but the present equipment fit is fairly potent.

[Taiidantomcat]

I hear you 777. Im an American and that show kind of made my stomach churn. Why this war stuff is so easy and goes without a hitch i don't know why we don't fight more of them! I love Dogfights because of the men BEHIND the machines, in fact one of my favorites doesn't even involve aircraft but has incredible stories of destroyers taking on battleships. All the charm behind dogfights is graphically stolen in this hypothetical two hour Boeing/Lockheed infomercial. Everything works as advertised and the most advanced aircraft wins, sadly Dogfights best shows have been when those things are NOT true, they of all people should know that the best airplane is nothing without the man in the seat, they kind of ignored the show's ethos it seemed. I loved that only UCAVs were shot down, of course no one dies just as planned. I also like that the "cobra" of course originally named after a Russian test pilot was often dismissed in the west as an "airshow parlor trick, nothing that would be useful in combat" but is now a "huge tactical advantage" since an F-22 can do it...of course! now i see its merits. I have seen the F-22 do its stuff at airshows and it is impressive... but to say it is invincible is a bit of a reach to say the least. even when it gets hit in the show it not only keeps flying but continues to just super cruise around. Also Kudos to Lock-Mart for inventing re-generating missiles, The episode features an F-22 that is out of missiles one minute then reloaded magically the next. Its CG there shouldn't be continuity errors!

Having gotten all that out of my system though i agree with Goobers original post it was great Whif porn! just mute the TV and enjoy.  a Treble one B-1R keeps popping into my head...