LRS-B thoughts

So I got to thinking the other night (yes it did kinda hurt). When the F-117 came out, as I'm sure most of us have heard, the rumor is that there was a sister that came out at the same time. Its mission was supposed to be finding and lasing targets for the Nighthawks, as well as other things.

Now I've heard that it's still flying as of this year, which makes me think it moved on to doing the same for other aircraft after the Nighthawk went away.

Soon we're going to have at least one new bomber entering the fleet. Now this aircraft could do the same mission for it, but it's getting long in the tooth, and is probably reaching the point where upgrades are going to be problematical.

Which got me to wondering, what if, in addition to developing a new bomber, they're also developing a new escort for it. It would only make sense that it would have some kind of escort that is stealthy, and you'd need something more advanced than a thirty plus year old design. It would also explain the rash of odd sightings lately (a couple I've had too).

Thoughts?

a reply to: Zaphod58

What I find funny is that people looking for the sister aircraft have been so wrong about it, for so long now people have been saying they're searching for the F-19, but if it was a sister to the F-117 why wouldn't it follow the same sort of designation. And perhaps what if it didn't follow the F-117 with a fighter designation at the start and went with something a little different?

Thoughts?

It make sense. As those bombers as stealth as they may be can not survive and operate alone. Make no sense if you send them off with long distance munition and then need to fly it into visual range. So a small very stealthy eye in the sky make sense. Evem maybe a drone.

a reply to: neversaynever

Well the F-117/X-XXX combo went pretty well, so I don't see why they wouldn't replicate it. Nice thread ZAPh

a reply to: neversaynever

It could be a UAV, but a manned platform gives you much more flexibility. With the leap we've seen in stealth capabilities, it would be interesting as hell to see it.

Amarillo plane?

4.bp.blogspot.com...

surely that's not a LRS-B demonstrator/early prototype....

I have a question. if there is a b2 replacement coming out. And something that fills the role of the f111. why would you need to fill the roll of the f117. wasn't the f117 and it's companion the equivalent of a f111 but instead not fast, carrying a decent payload, or able to take a beating?

So would this new companion plane be used to do targeting for the new b3 and the new f111 replacement instead. would it be the subsonic uav that northrop is supposedly building.

Do you envision. one plane manned or unmanned doing the targeting for several bombers and fighters in the area (like the original companion) or a wolf pack of little stealth drones escorting the bombers?

I'd like to see the small stealth VLO drone companion idea for the bombers. Have say three accompany a bomber. make them small. cruise missile size ( a little bigger actually to hold more fuel ) 1 could be loaded with a2a missiles to protect the bombers from fighters. the second might have a2g or a light bomb to take out radars or sams or really hard to get targets, and the third could be a targeting thing-a-mabob. Would make for a pretty lethal and iron clad combo.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
So I got to thinking the other night (yes it did kinda hurt). When the F-117 came out, as I'm sure most of us have heard, the rumor is that there was a sister that came out at the same time. Its mission was supposed to be finding and lasing targets for the Nighthawks, as well as other things.

Now I've heard that it's still flying as of this year, which makes me think it moved on to doing the same for other aircraft after the Nighthawk went away.

Soon we're going to have at least one new bomber entering the fleet. Now this aircraft could do the same mission for it, but it's getting long in the tooth, and is probably reaching the point where upgrades are going to be problematical.

Which got me to wondering, what if, in addition to developing a new bomber, they're also developing a new escort for it. It would only make sense that it would have some kind of escort that is stealthy, and you'd need something more advanced than a thirty plus year old design. It would also explain the rash of odd sightings lately (a couple I've had too).

Thoughts?

I think you're reaching.

The 117's stealthiness is what limits it's capabilities. To think it has an escort equally or MORE stealthy that is capable of air superiority is not logical.

Might be a crazy idea .. but what if theyre working on smaller drones that would be launched /controlled from the main aircraft ? rather than escort aircraft ?

a reply to: Psynic

He's not saying that, he saying that the F-117 companion aircraft played a big role in the F-117's success, so with the new LRS-B they might have another aircraft similar to the companion's role.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

The sister for the F-117 would shoot a target laser for the Nighthawk weapons, as well as help protect it against external threats like SAM sites. This would do something similar if it exists.

a reply to: Psynic

The companion wasn't necessarily stealthier, or for air to air. It was to mark targets, and use EW to help open a corridor for the F-117.

a reply to: Expat888

They talked about that with the F-35 and F-22 a few years ago.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Psynic

The companion wasn't necessarily stealthier, or for air to air. It was to mark targets, and use EW to help open a corridor for the F-117.

Well it must have been stealthier if it's never been seen.

a reply to: Zaphod58

i know its expensive but why not do both ideas. A VLO drone/manned replacement for the "companion' it can serve the new b3 and the new f111 replacement.

Then a cheaper modular cruise missile sized drone that can be used as needed to increase security and help do targeting and clearing a corridor for more traditional fighters like f35's, f15e, other vintage fleet stuff.

That would be cool. Would help keep the vintage stuff relevant in a modern battlefield and increase their survivability and decrease their exposure while doing time on target. As long as the drones are fitted with the latest newfangled a2a capable of countering the new russian nightmares they are fielding soon in the a2a arena. Were gunna need something to screen against that. give our vintage fleet a buffer in combat.

a reply to: Psynic

It's been seen, it just hasn't been declassified like the F-117.

a reply to: Psynic

Neither was the F-117 when it was closed up.

It has been seen by some people just not many.

a reply to: Zaphod58

With all the development efforts into un-manned systems of late, I wouldn't be surprised if the AF tasked a UAS for the job. Maybe an adaptable UAS with mission specific configurations? Kind of like what's flying right now in the grayish black?

We also know there are a few effective manned VLO platforms currently flying around in small numbers, possibly on an operational status, so I suppose it is feasible to implement one of them. The AF would need to commit and build many more than they have now to be effective companions to the LRS-B in the numbers the AF is talking about buying them though.

What I'd like to know is if we will ever get a chance to see the companion before they burry them in the desert.

a reply to: Zaphod58

The F-117A was designed to operate alone. Requiring a companion aircraft would have added vast layers of unnecessary complexity, operational risk, and unwanted expense. Alone, the F-117A was a classic Skunkworks project: cutting edge for the time, yet relatively simple; effective as designed; and a bargain at $46 million per unit. Deploying the airplane into combat with a companion would have doubled the number of targets (however stealthy) being exposed to hostile airspace. It was little short of a miracle that all of the Nighthawks came through unscathed during Desert Storm. It seems to me that adding a companion would have also violated the Skunkworks philosophy of keeping things as simple as possible and minimizing program costs.

If a companion fleet had been built, how would we have no evidence of it to this day? It would have required its own production line, basing, logistic support, and flight crews. Thus far, there is nothing to support any of this. There is no documentation, no testimony from anyone involved with such a program, no hardware, and I have yet to hear any convincing sighting reports. Has anyone tried to find a money trail (funding)?

originally posted by: Shadowhawk
a reply to: Zaphod58

The F-117A was designed to operate alone. Requiring a companion aircraft would have added vast layers of unnecessary complexity, operational risk, and unwanted expense. Alone, the F-117A was a classic Skunkworks project: cutting edge for the time, yet relatively simple; effective as designed; and a bargain at $46 million per unit. Deploying the airplane into combat with a companion would have doubled the number of targets (however stealthy) being exposed to hostile airspace. It was little short of a miracle that all of the Nighthawks came through unscathed during Desert Storm. It seems to me that adding a companion would have also violated the Skunkworks philosophy of keeping things as simple as possible and minimizing program costs.

If a companion fleet had been built, how would we have no evidence of it to this day? It would have required its own production line, basing, logistic support, and flight crews. Thus far, there is nothing to support any of this. There is no documentation, no testimony from anyone involved with such a program, no hardware, and I have yet to hear any convincing sighting reports. Has anyone tried to find a money trail (funding)?

I agree with ShadowHawk. With no real evidence or reports talking about a sister aircraft to the F-117 is just thread baiting! Granted there is alot of aircraft patents and we can make assumptions all day on those....than the boom operators will talk about how they saw all these black aircraft...the internet is the best place for one to lie and make up their own fantasy world!