6th Generation Fighters will need MORE than drone wingmen
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 พ.ค. 2024
- With a number of fighter programs underway around the world all claiming to be fielding 6th generation fighters, one can’t help but stop and wonder… What exactly is a 6th generation fighter, anyway?
Let's talk about some of the technologies we think might just come to define this new generation of jets.
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Citations:
www.airuniversity.af.edu/Port...
web.archive.org/web/201211021...
www.globalsecurity.org/milita...
www.defensenews.com/air/2023/...
news.clearancejobs.com/2023/1...
www.newscientist.com/article/...
www.jeccomposites.com/news/sp...
www.mae.ncsu.edu/cxu/
arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.20...
aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063...
www.sandboxx.us/news/iran-cla...
secure.afa.org/Mitchell/repor...
www.researchgate.net/publicat...
Absolutely do an X-65 video. Anything X-plane will always get my eyes!
Agreed, I love planes, and nothing gets my attention faster than new and emerging technologies
Alex, I would definitely like to see anything from you on the X 65 and active flow control technology. Keep up the good work.
I'll add a me too to this comment
One of the characteristics of 5th gen that you missed is a primarily digital design using fluid sims, simulations etc.
Im seeing 6th gen as being partly defined by its manufacturing process, id guess additive manufacturing techniques will be used, advanced (meta)materials (which you kinda pointed to with the ceramic stealth), possible friction welding techniques, and modularity within the manufacturing chain itself to avoid the debacle that occurred when raptors chain got cannibalized for lightning 2.
This is happening in rocket engine manufacturing right now. A leap forward because of additive manufacturing enables completely new designs (especially cooling ducts) that simply couldn't be built before.
@@jackryan6446
Can confirm!
And they all use Dassault's CATIA to design their aircraft!
You can make anything stealth using ONERA's latest technologies: even the M51.3 SLBM is stealth §
The F-35 is primarily a bolted structure I think is driven by the maintainability requirements of the USMC and the USN. On the Typhoon fighter, which is a 4.5 generation fighter, we used Co-bonded CFC and SPF/ DB structures, which I am with additive metallic and RTM. Composite structures will be employed on 6th generation fighters. As will be automated assembly.
I sometimes watch your longer-form videos twice. Once to pay attention to what you are saying, and a second time to devote my entire attention to nothing but the gorgeous HD aerospace videos you put into the production. WOW. Thanks for that. 😊
On active flow control, I remember when I was a kid my dad mentioning a USAF project that used bleed air to vent air across the top of a wing to increase air flow and hopefully get greater lift. He mentioned one problem this used a huge number of small holes that would get clogged with dirt/debris which required the poor maintenance guys to work across the wing with something like toothpicks to unclogged the holes. The idea was dropped.
Maybe they've figured out a way to keep the little holes sealed until a certain altitude? That would keep most larger dirt particles out, as long as they also closed upon landing.
Or they may have figured out a way to blast air through the system for quick maintenance before takeoff/after landing?
Lockheed will reinvent canned air and sell it to the airforce for a cool 1M per unit.
As I understand it, the new system uses ducts rather than pin-holes. Basically, larger holes less likely to get plugged. This would be less efficient in directing the air but more practical.
Take this with a grain of salt, tho. I have no connection to these projects and am going by what connections I can make from what scant data I've read. In other words, I'm probably talking out my ass. 😮😅😂
Making a comeback along wing edges to eliminate control surfaces
I remember that they did an f16 with a delta wing . I think it was called laminair flow. FSI in mojave had that airplane for a period of time. I got a chance to look it over a few times . At that time they were providing chase planes for us on a project teledyne ryan was working on
The F-35 initially was restricted to short sprints of supersonic speeds because the RAM had a tendency to fall off at the time but the problem was found and fixed so that restriction is no longer in place.
With the YF-22 and the YF-23 so advanced--even today--it's hard to imagine what a 6th generation can be. It blows my mind thinking about a documentary covering this prototype just as they did the competition between Lockheed and Northrop--I still think the Blackwidow was more advanced, but that's just me.
So advanced in Stealth but not 21st century networking and battle space management.
And to date all those billions have 2 balloons on the scoreboard 🤔
@@beefsuprem0241 We have not fought anyone that would necessitate their use. Let’s hope it stays that way.
More range, higher rediness rate, stealthy to high and low frequency radar waves. Man machine pairing in the plane in addition to drone wingman.
@@beefsuprem0241US has mainly fought in civil and trivial wars since f22's induction. None of the wars (Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia and Yemen) needed f22s in particular.
Not the only one who thinks that, but I wasn't inside either of those programs
I’ll throw in an additional feature which could make sixth gens, sixth gen. If they feature laser weaponry for self-defense that would be a novel system and in my opinion generational. You’re moving from passive protection to active protection on a fighter aircraft.
The SU57 has directed energy to dazzle inbound missiles, at least in theory, though the turrets have never been demonstrated to work. I’d be surprised if we see that as a requirement
@@Regulas021 I believe they used that as a selling point on their T-14 Armata's too, though when the Chinese tested the missile disruptors they failed to distract any missiles.
Judging by requirements, it's looking more and more like there's going to be the sixth gen, and then there's going to be the AF NGAD.
Everyone else is going for tailed designs, and the AF is the only entity with any real chance of putting genuinely offensive directed energy on its planes.
You could do this with chemical lasers? A large powerplant is rather heavy, so instead you spend lasers like ammunition.
Like the system used on the commercial passenger aircraft?
X-65? YES, PLEASE! More fascinating content, Mr. Hollings. I've been wondering when, which, or "what combinations" of these technologies minimizing the need for active control surfaces would enter the mix.
^^what he said 😁
This 👆👆
Yes, I would like to know more about how the active flow flight controls would work, in terms of differential air densities or laminar vs turbulent air flow. I understand these things a little in terms of the fluid dynamics of water flow in fish, dolphins, whales, etc., and in air flow around birds and bats [ biologist ], but if I were a fighter pilot, I would probably still want vectored thrust on a tight turn. ( Watch the tail of a crow or accipiter-type hawk in a tight turn or 'playing' in turbulent air. )
Active control sounds pretty cool and is something I've thought about in the past (though I didn't have a name for it.) Pretty cool that people are working on the concept.
I'd like to know more about the rotating detonation afterburner . Also, can it be combined with the three airstream engine.
Yes. Theres nothing precluding RD E from being used with variable bipass tech.
But, tbh. You may as well just put a RAM jet in the place of the RDE.
I'm pretty sure he's done a video about RDE
A big yes to covering the X-65 in the future. Also for continuing coverage on the NGAD, FAXX, CCA and similar programs. ❤ these videos!
The UCAV program is arguably more interesting than the NGAD jet because that's going to be the new backbone of the air force, and its unclassified to boot.
The amount of unmanned manned teaming drills I watched take place in the skies over the northeast coast of Massachusetts the last week would suggest it is a good time to not be an enemy of America.
lol the major UCAV programmes are very classified. no one to this day know fully what Australia MQ28A Ghost Bat can do or what weapons it can carry. it is still most advanced AI combat drone in the world with Turkey new one close to it.
@@nedkelly9688 yeah but you know what the ghost bat looks like
@@CircaSriYak so nothing else at all. we all know of NGAD. new stealth Bomber. SR72 lol.
What is your point
@@nedkelly9688 you're nitpicking and biased. I win. Bye bye.
My father was an aircraft mechanic. Starting with instruments for the SR-71 at sunstrand aviation. Most of his life he worked as a civilian mechanic for the airforce at several air bases around the country. He worked on many different aircraft, including the F15, A10 for the time they were with the airforce, F4, F16, C130, and possibly others like the F105 ect. The upgrades on these planes are done in a weird way. Obsolete unused equipment is left inside of the aircraft. He told me about how frustrating it was when removing a peice of obsolete tech that was so corroded it fell to peices in his hands. Lots of paperwork because there was no way ot could go back into the F4 durring reassembly. Yep these aircraft are disassembled down to a skeleton typ frame, then reassembled. Literally tons of unused material had to go back into the reassembled aircraft. Dad said there were electric cables as thick as a teenagers arm going from cockpit to tail, and it was not connected to anything . I guess it has to do with trim. One would thing these expensive upgrades would include the calculations required to remove the unused material/weight. He said the F16 was not as bad with this but it still included leaving unused/obsolete stuff in the aircraft.
That's horrendous as hell, what the actual crap.
That's right in line with realizing they don't remove your dysfunctional kidney during a transplant but just leave it there with the new one.
That's the worst part of the job. Is seeing things that should be a simple fix be totally ignored. Stepping over dollars for dimes.
You're probably right re: the trim (weight distribution in the aircraft...) I hadn't considered that, though I knew a lot of obselete tech was retained even if it wasn't used.
Very interesting... Cheers.
@@cranedaddy678
Missing the forest for the trees... (nah, I like thebdollars/dimes saying better.).
Cheers!
Your probably correct on trim. There was an F4E in one of my units that apparently had something removed up front by the cockpits and had a large block of metal placed in the nose gear well to balance the trim.
A video about the X65 and active flow control would be cool.
Yea.
The SU-57 is no more a 5th gen fighter than the F/A-18 is
Neither is the J20 and the F35. Sorry, the F35 is a 4.85 or a 4 ➕️ ➕️ while the J20 and SU57 is just a 4 ➕️
Yes!
X-65 vid ASAP!
😆
Great stuff Alex. Every single aviation nut on the planet needs to subscribe to this channel.
The work you do is Outstanding!
Thanks (yet again) for everything you do here.
😎👍
Not gonna lie, I don't know how i feel about Europe's 6th gen attempt when they have 0 experience with stealth or anything with the 5th generation. How are you going to completely skip a generation when you kinda need some very integral information and experience from the generation you'll be skipping?
I don't how why you think this is the first attempt, Europe are our partners in developing the F-35 and while it'd be no lie to say we did the OVERWHELMING majority of work on that, you'd have to assume they'd get access to our R&D notes, etc. So unlike china who sole bits and pieces of our research the US is essentially trading some level of the technology to our partners. Which we can't say was true for the F-22.
I'd be shocked to find out the EU/etc aren't getting help from us on this.
@billythekid9061 I don't believe they did when our own government isn't able to get access to that stuff because of the way things have been contracted. Alex said in one of his videos that all the information for the 6th generation onwards will be contracted differently so that can't happen again and ending up stuck relying on Lockheed for everything with the jets. Lockheed has all the proprietary information on the jets and if our own government can't get access to it, then I'm positive Europe didn't.
@@GeorgeWashingtonLaserMusketno. They are partners in buying the f35s with their specifications. They didn’t help design our F35. Ain’t saying this is going to hinder any of their 6th gen experiment. Just correcting you.
Europe has bleeding edge tech companies. America doesn't have a monopoly.
The reality is that none of the current “6th gen” fighters are comparable to NGAD which is aiming much higher technologically. Not that the other 6th gen fighters won’t serve their purpose, they are simply are not aiming for overwhelming technological superiority in the same way the USAF is and like they did with the F-22. The US military never wants to be involved in a fair fight, which is a great policy for reducing loss of American life and making wars more politically bearable.
Great video as always. Yes let's hear more about the X65. I hear some Marvin Zindler in this dialog.
5G Single Platform System of Systems evolves into 6G Networked AI Assisted MultiPlatform Systems of Systems - that probably includes a Bomber size Piloted Command Platform to control multiple modular multi-mission Attritable Combat Collaborative Aircraft = more affordable reusable Drones for Higher Risk Roles optimized for Air Combat + Strike + EW + ISR + Comms + Tankers - required to achieve the far greater ranges + speeds + firepower + capabilities + survivability specified for NGAD - that no single Prime can undertake on its own - with few countries able to afford on their own - with Australia already positioning itself as a 6G player with MQ28...
Requiring secure pencil beam wide bandwidth LPI/LPD datalinks to move massive amounts of Control and Sensor data to and from multiple Drones processed by massive Computing power moved over highspeed wide bandwidth optical busses for near Realtime display of massive AI assisted information on glass cockpits for only a single Pilot to command a 4 platform Flight....
That in turn requires 6G Kubernetes Modular Open Systems Architecture to isolate Flight Control code from other Systems code for On-The-Fly Cloud One code refresh without compromising 6G Platform airworthiness...
With F35 acting as the 5.5G bridging platform to 6G...
why are all these videos so good???
Alex is talented and very very consistent in his content creation
@@YellowJack1020 Yes, he puts in the work and it shows !
They clearly have an excellent studio and talented content creators.
Alex is a world class writer, with a great voice for this.
You make good points regarding the fighter generalization issue. I always wondered how the generation numbers were developed.
Next we’ll see generations assigned to drones / UAVs etc.
That makes sense. Drones are a completely separate tech tree and the capabilities keep going up.
I think a good start would be separating Army drones from Air Force drones. There's a huge difference between a Predator drone and whatever radio controlled mini-copters Ukraine is using to drop grenades into Russian tanks.
Keep in mind that you don't have to use radar for targeting. You can also use optical, thermal/IR, or even acoustic. And if an aircraft is part of a network, it has to transmit radio signals that can be detected.
Detected is not the same as targeted. They know the aircraft is there but they can't get a lock on it.
I remember in Iraq when they were firing everything they had into the air because they noticed stealth aircraft coming in but none of their missiles could lock on.
They didn't manage to shoot any of them down.
You’re targeting with acoustic?
@@trumptookthevaccine1679 Yes, it's a thing.
@@Kriss_L what system?
Guided torpedoes?
The x-65 would make for a great vid - hell, a vid on the numerous projects leading up to it would be huge by itself, like the public stuff by NASA, NATO and BAE in recent years would be a great place to start. Personally doubtful active flow control will make it's way onto the 6th gen fighters given the current level these projects are at, maybe in CCA or general UCAV's? (happy to be wrong tho)
Stealthy internal magazine size might be a critical component as well. However, considering that loyal wingmen will have small internal bays as well, altogether, a strike package with a single manned fighter may have an enormous internal magazine size. Altogether, they would be next generation in this regard.
Thanks for the video! Always look forward to them!
Generation is all about look. You can clearly distinguish generation by just watching the aircraft picture, even if you never heard about it.
More great content! The future of fighter jet technology looks exciting.
X-65 👍🏼
MIL-STD-1553B used on the F-16 allowed upgrades to the Viper to accommodate newer weapons and capabilities. It was the major reason that Vipers could keep pace with new developments in weapons technology. GD could add new software to the fire control computer as soon as the weapon's interface unit was tested. The amount of programming on today's jets is mind-boggling.
Back in the late '90s, I recall reading an article describing a technology seemingly very similar to what you've described in the CRANE program and how it had been applied to the B2 along its leading and trailing edges to produce super high efficiency flight and that's what contributed to the B2's nearly unprecedented range. And also the potential death of more than one ground crew member because of residual electricity in the system.
The US Army just chose General Dynamics and Rheinmetall as finalists for the 4000 Bradley replacement IFVs.
Could you do a Firepower series video about this program, the two finalists and the other three that dropped out. Or more generally the current state of IFVs (Bradley, CV90, Puma, Lynx) and their most likely future. Maybe even including anti air IFVs like some CV90 variants and SkyRanger.
Let's all take a step back and appreciate the content this channel brings to the table. Great quality stuff!
For future topics, how about we get in to how we can keep innovating and producing planes with almost all manufacturing and supply chains originating from overseas. Example: "The F35 is awesome, but how much of it do we really make?".
7:55 that is such an awesome pic/clip of those 5 different badass jets in flight.
Great video! Very informative. One of your best video yet! Greatly appreciated, thank you!
Yes, more about X-65! More about everything!
Alex: do you want me to make an X65 video?
Everybody: Can you make a 3 hour long future x-planes video interviewing everyone you don’t have clearance to interview??? Yes, interview the 👽 too! Not the lizard ones. The other ones. 😂
Best & most informative videos on TH-cam. Thanks for doing it.
That was top shelf stuff! Thanks!
The accuracy in knowledge.
The cadence.
Yeah, it makes for a great channel!👍👍
With the right loadout, perhaps the B-21 could be considered a 6th gen fighter
B-21 is a bomber not a fighter
There's probably no reason it couldn't carry air to air missiles. The interesting thing I see happening is that every platform is becoming a sensor and weapons platform, even the tankers.
Heck, if the B-21's communication systems are good enough, it too can orbit near an enemy target, and provide targeting data for the B-52 10 miles back hauling 100 missiles in its bomb bay.
@@major__kongYou know how in Sci-Fi movies how there’s always that one alien species that functions as a terrifying swarm where alerting even a single worker drone will cause the hive to collapse onto the threat?
Thats not aliens, thats the US military in twenty years
Now that would be hilarious
Yup, I would love to hear more about the X-65. Outstanding work as always bloke.
This is good they are thinking about different frequencies. In font design we have a similar concept of optical frequencies, and we use text waterfalls to compare how a font looks at different frequencies (practically speaking-sizes). You make the letters and adjust so that many sizes look as good as possible. So if the military had something like a waterfall version of radar that might help get it invisible at many frequencies.
A video about the AAS / FARA (armed scout helicopter) program would be cool. Sikorsky has the S-97 Raider compete with the Bell+Textron 360 Invictus.
The Raider has troop capacity while the Invictus does not, but that gives the Invictus better stealth properties, just like the Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche had. Not sure why Sikorsky abandoned that design, as they first came up with it. Just to push a common scout and transport design when they already lost the Blackhawk transport replacement to the Bell V280 Valor?
*🇺🇸🇺🇸WE RULE THE SKY*
Excellent, Alex. Thank you for your insightful analysis
Outstanding information!
I think airframe styles are the best way to designate generations.
Tailless Delta wings can be considered 6 th generation fighters if they have advanced sensor fusion and drone wingmen.
All non stealthy jets like rafale,su27, mig 29, f16, 18, 15 etc are 4 th gen .
F35, J20 , su 57 , and raptor are stealth jets and this 5 th gen.
If early renderings are anything to go by, tempest and Fcas are most probably F35 equivalents in capability and stealth. Calling them 6 th gen is just marketing copium.
If US NGAD, FXX Or Chinese NGAD are tailless deltas, we could call them truly 6 th gen fighters.
Exactly. This is crystal clear to anybody not trying to suk up to the Europeans. There is a reason why I think we dodged a bullet by starting the AMCA instead of going down the Tempest charade with the Brits. Although, Tempest does seem to be at least 5.5th gen, especially that engine and its integrated generator is amazing, 6th gen stuff.
*AMERICA MAKES THE BEST AIRCRAFT, GERMANY MAKES THE BEST TANKS, SWEDEN MAKES THE BEST IFV'S, & ISRAEL MAKES THE BEST SOFTWARE!*
🇺🇸🇩🇪🇸🇪🇮🇱
🔥 👌
I mean depends on "best" our tanks are better then Germany's but they come at such a high premium it's not worth it for most country's. You NEED to be wealthy and willing to spend to maintain the systems. But we do spend more then anyone else on national security. S. Korea makes some impressive artillery and it's price point is fire.
As ALWAYS, an absolutely outstanding video!!!
Another Great Video!
and thanks for turning on cc
LET'S GO BRANDON
Edgy.
I can't imagine why most Americans don't take your cult seriously.
Dark Brandon coming for you
America just finished 1000 F-35s ... Unemployment all-time low... Stocks all-time high. Oil output all-time high. Thank God we have an adult as our 46th President
You mean the career politician who's married to a doctor right? Better than the TV gameshow host who lives in a hotel with some bimbo who can't even speak English 😂
😆 cultist
Truly enjoy the channel!! Your reporting is understandable and straightforward!! Even for a jarhead like me!
Thank you!
Would definitely love to hear more about the X-65.
You absolutely need to do a video on the X-65 aircraft. We gotta stay up to date on all these awesome new advancements and capabilities.
Absolutely yes for the x-65 full video.
This is an excellent channel. Very informative.
Active flow control. Jeez. More on that and the X-65 would be pretty interesting. Thanks for all the info, great channel.
Outstanding, as always.
Alex, one item missing from the development of military systems is the decision to mandate a new, common programming language for all DoD programs. Creating a new language while building a new fighter makes the project four times more difficult.
Enjoyed every minute of this video!
This is a lot to think about in the near future......Thanks Alex🇺🇸
I enjoy each time your videos you create on your channel! Your information, effort and visual effects are really good 👍! Keep on this track! Greetings from Austria 🇦🇹
Active Flow Control on the X65 using bursts of air is moving in the direction of maneuverability beyond the Karman Line. The Thrust Vectoring would also help in that arena if a RAM jet or SRAM jet is used, or perhaps a booster that can be jettisoned.
Your intros get me PUMPED!
Appreciate ya Alex!😎👍
Alex, we want you do to a show on every aircraft you bring up because you and your team bring us "the viewer" fact based information. And to that end my friend, you have a long career of job security. 🍻
As always, the best channel on TH-cam to watch!
Awesome job!
Yes, I definitely want to see the flow control systems of the X-65!
Thanks for another informative video. Yes, please make a video about the X-65
Thank you😊
So, should we expect to see ceramic RAM on the F-15EX? May the EX morph into a new realization of the Silent Eagle? I assume it could be applied to just about anything. (X-65 video? Yes, please!!)
The "stealth by Russian standard" got me 😂😂😂😂😂
Apparently that standard is so damn low, India walked away from it despite sinking $300 Million into the project. I mean, India got no experience in 5th gen jets, but even then its AMCA looks a LOT more stealthy than the Su-57. Only problem is, Su-57 is already flying while the other is still getting its first bulkheads machined.
@death_parade the su-57 is practically non existent. Even small European countries have more stealth aircraft then Russia.
Loved the video, The new active thrust controls look amazing
Yes would love to see your views on the X65
Awesome video Alex! A video on the CRANE program would be great!
Thanks!
Drone wingmen sounds insane.
Ya I’ve seen some people talk about how they are making advances with using the engine exhaust and putting ports around certain areas and compressing that exhaust air to shot out on certain points to use that as way to maneuver the plane, almost like satellite uses to move around in space. Which would be very interesting.
Great video, Alex! Love all your stuff! Have you done a video on the x plane(s) that inspired the upcoming NGAD?
The X-65 next please
Alex, very well done 👊😎
The real leap forward with aircraft like the F-35 and B-21 Raider is just the fact they can operate without being hangar queens. First generation stealth aircraft were a nightmare to operate on the field. These new modern designs give you almost all the benefits with far less headaches.
Yes X65 please! That is a great topic. Thank you. I love your top notch content.
The electronics advancements implemented into the upcoming update for the F35, much of which can probably be massaged into the F15 and F16, pushes their capabilities to new heights, especially if the radar systems are updated to the new gallium based tech. They’re still fast and long range vehicles that would have incredible sensor fusion and very long BVR capabilities.
So there’s still very good reason to continue refining such vehicles given what they can bring and at a lower cost as well as unique capabilities such as high weapons load capacity for example on the F15 which has very powerful engines.
And the lighter very agile F16 similar at lower cost (I’d expect given it’s a single engine plane) and both airframes being very well analyzed at this point and very well understood with very well established logistical supply lines.
Great⭐️Thanks
Great job Alex! X-65 sounds very interesting 😊
Great video! I would love to see a video about DARPA's X-65.
Good one alex
Way too good production. Videos and facts, even speculations are the best ever. Make'm show us an NGAD. The power is now yours.
F-22 is by far my favorite aircraft ever made. Hands down.
A generational upmark entails, as a default, having capabilities and functions that render lesser generational fighters inadequate to incapable of competing in like operations, overlapping better than 90% of the previous generation. "At least 90% of anything you can do, I can do so much better."
Gen6 ideal inventory: laser defense, sweep aperture radar/thermal detection, polymer vs ceramic exterior,
multi-modal engines with improved fuel mixes, and drones (Loyal Wingman) ... AI with software/hardware verification based in part on high precision computerized modeling (preflight: improves plug-and-play).
Hell yeah I wanna hear more about the X-65! Please! Thanks
Superb!
It's ashamed you were at the most recent AIAA Scitech Conference, Aurora had engineers along with a model of the X-65 at the Boeing Booth
❤The channel. Great data presented like no other👍🥇🏆
I'd expect extreme range, payload, speed, and altitude. Mixed with an F-35-like bag of tricks, and a highly capable companion drone design.
Basically an F-111 for the 2000's, plus a Peacemaker (deal of the century movie reference).
Also, an optional/modular laser. Something that fits in the weapons bay, "ordinance ~or~ laser", based on sortie.
Alex, we tried so hard on modularity on the Raptor, but in reality all we were able to achieve was changing out hardware cards (processor, memory, I/O). IMO when you incorporate modularity into a vehicle it requires compromises elsewhere, which may be perfectly satisfactory in today's designs, but back in the day we couldn't get the performance required by the Air Force.