US Air Force buying F-35 vertical lift

[Paul in Qatar]

(off topic all to heck)

 

I wonder if retired A-10s could be turned into drones. That would be an evil bird!

 

(Sorry, I digress.)

[Tomexe]

Originally posted by Bob Lyle:

A friend suggested that if the AF buys some F35B w/o the lift fan you have an aircraft with a substantial empty bay with a power take-off from the main engine.

 

That offers possibilities for high-energy equipment and ... weapons?

 

This is not just a suggestion, this IS what is being done, the A/C model F35's are being built with the PTO equipped F135 engine anyway and they will be equipped with (barring catistrophic failure of the program) a Solid State Laser with a generator and cooling pump installed in the fuselage section where the B model has its fan and powered by the PTO. The targeted laser output is 100Mw, though I have read one source that said 75Mw would be acceptable output.

[pluto77189]

Originally posted by Tomexe:

This is not just a suggestion, this IS what is being done, the A/C model F35's are being built with the PTO equipped F135 engine anyway and they will be equipped with (barring catistrophic failure of the program) a Solid State Laser with a generator and cooling pump installed in the fuselage section where the B model has its fan and powered by the PTO. The targeted laser output is 100Mw, though I have read one source that said 75Mw would be acceptable output.

 

I've been following this too. SS lasers have made a major jump within th epast 2 years, and look to pass up chemical lasers very soon. with SS lasers, output is going to be a matter of how much energy you put in, and how fast you cool it. No nasty chemicals, or exhaust. Nice and clean and compact.

 

I imagine we'll se one in an apache type helicopter soon. I could see a laser being useful in some of those situations, especially in cities, where you don't want to blow everything up.