US Air Force: Discussion and News

Sujoy wrote:So the various SAM systems like Patriot that NATO is sending to Ukraine are not even good enough to shoot down a balloon over water. A fighter jet had to be send to do the job.

The US generally doesn't use SAMs for domestic air defense, they rely on aircraft for that. Outside of some places like Washington, DC, there are no active SAM sites.

GarryB wrote:Balloons drift very slowly and are difficult targets to detect and track for radar, which is why the US and the west used them to send spy platforms across the Soviet Union before they could use satellites.

High-altitude balloons, despite being massive can have a surprisingly low signature, which creates guidance problems for missiles. If something is moving very slowly, the radar will either not detect it or dynamically filter out the target, depending on its mode and capabilities. Radar fuze systems will probably be more problematic than laser types under these conditions.

It should have been intercepted over Aleutian islands

But the balloon changed direction - surprising NORAD

FAA issued multiple NOTAMS so they did see it

But it seems NORAD did not expect overflight over US territory

This balloon was 200 feet tall, and carried a 1 ton payload

Zircon would devastate the continental US and Russian and Chinese, hell even Koreans and Iran can conclude there are gaps in the GBI defense system

This thing flew over unpopulated areas of the US , and they could only intercept over south east Atlantic?

There were communication issues between intelligence and the command

Meaning any decapitation of US leadership would cause havoc in their response

Sujoy wrote:High-altitude balloons, despite being massive can have a surprisingly low signature, which creates guidance problems for missiles. If something is moving very slowly, the radar will either not detect it or dynamically filter out the target, depending on its mode and capabilities. Radar fuze systems will probably be more problematic than laser types under these conditions.

During the 50's - long before the M-17 project - the Soviets looked into developing the Yak-25RV high altitude reconnaissance plane into a balloon interceptor. The aircraft was known as the Yak-25PA but the program was abandoned due to the lack of a suitable engine to power the larger and heavier aircraft.

In the seventies Objekt 34 Chaika was developed in total secrecy. It was supposed to carry two air-to-air missiles and the GSh-23 twin barrel canon, but the US abandoned their spy balloon programs in favour of spy satellites and the A-12(SR-71). The Object 34 prototype crashed when it had to lift off during a taxi run and was destroyed in the accident.

The Object 34 design was then developed into the M-17 Stratosfera high altitude reconnaissance aircraft but it retained the dorsal canon to shoot down any "weather balloons" over Soviet territory. The balloon interceptor idea was finally abandoned in the late 80's and the M-17 was in turn developed into the twin engine M-17RN - later known as the M-55 Geophysica. A small number of these magnificent aircraft are still operating as high altitude research laboratories.

These US spy balloons were launched from several friendly countries to spy on Chinese and especially Soviet territory. They traveled at altitudes between 20-25 kilometers and had altimeters installed to keep it from loosing altitude. The balloon exterior was very thin and notoriously difficult for radars to spot. The spy equipment was also painted blue to make it hard for interceptor pilots to spot causing a number of accidents. Apparently 1956 was a particular busy year with over 500 balloons launched!

The An-2 balloon interceptor version that GarryB mentioned was apparently known as the An-3 (first use of the designation) but to be honest I can't see how this plane could have ever reached altitudes anywhere near the stratosphere armed with a canon and a spotlight!

US Air Force to buy JSM cruise missiles for F-35 jets

https://airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2023-news-aviation-aerospace/march/8938-us-air-force-to-buy-jsm-cruise-missiles-to-arm-f-35-lightning-ii-fighters.html

https://www.eurasiantimes.com/b-52-b-21-stealth-bomber-launched-drone-that-can-fire-air-air/

GarryB wrote:

Not all the balloons flew high.

Actually an updated improved An-3 with a 23mm gun turret with airburst shells would be rather interesting for use against both drones and balloons....

Mir wrote:US spy balloons were launched from several friendly countries to spy on Chinese and especially Soviet territory. They traveled at altitudes between 20-25 kilometers and had altimeters installed to keep it from loosing altitude.

Nice detail about the US spy balloons and how they were used.
https://thespacereview.com/article/4568/1

US Air Force receives first new Compass Call electronic warfare plane

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/09/12/us-air-force-receives-first-new-compass-call-electronic-warfare-plane/

Boeing plans to deliver the U.S. Air Force’s first T-7A Red Hawk on Tuesday

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/09/12/boeing-to-deliver-first-t-7-to-us-air-force-outlines-testing-plans/

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-air-force-training-down-155407160.html

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/f-15qa-flies-demo-unlike-any-weve-seen-from-an-eagle-before

U.S. Air Force to Allow Some Retired Personnel to Re-Enlist for Service.


https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3668722/retired-officers-enlisted-members-can-rejoin-active-duty-to-offset-personnel-sh/



This new re-enlistment program is limited and selective, but is shows that the USAF is facing some more serious personnel shortages.

On How the U.S. Air Force Obtained, Tested, and Evaluated Soviet Military Planes During the Cold War.


https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-inside-story-of-flying-against-the-air-force-s-secret-soviet-fighter-jets?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us

Early JSF avionics analysis

Boeing Delivers First MH-139A Production Aircraft to U.S. Air Force

https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=131476

US Air Force Orders E-7A Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft Prototype to Be Delivered in 2029

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/3868384/