Your Nation's Air Force Mark II:

[United States of PA]

OMG US of PA is back to NS.

Welcome back dude.

Thank you thank you.

It has the same amount of fuel as the basic civilian design but the civilian design is an ultra-long haul airliner so it's pretty substantial anyway (comparable to 777-200LR/300ER).

I actually meant to say that it doesnt need more fuel than the civilian version. Me and typo's that i miss are a guarantee, so my bad. (Almost made my own group of support aircraft based off of the 777-200LR. Decided on 787-9 instead).

[The Technocratic Syndicalists]

Big missile of doom:

Name:	Waverider Hypersonic Strike Missile
Length:	8.0m
Width:	0.7 m
Wingspan:	1.24 m
Weight:	2,700 kg
Propulsion:	Hydrocarbon fueled Scramjet, Solid Rocket Booster
Speed:	Mach 6
Operational Range:	3,500km - 5,000 km
Flight Altitude:	7,000m-20,000 m
Guidance:	INS/GPS, TERCOM, Terminal IR homing (submunitions)
Warhead Options	1x 500kg earth penetrating munition 2x independently targetable 250kg BROACH submunitions 2x independently targetable 250kg blast-fragmentation submunitions 2x senor fused submunitions dispensers, 4x BLU-108 each
Launch platforms	Strategic Bomber, Cruise Missile Submarine (SSGN)

[Rich and Corporations]

But the need to refuel on the ground in time of war can be near impossible in a situation where your lines of AEW/C aircraft could be spread thin. Doing so can result in a lack of coverage that can be easily exploited. Refueling in the air is also much quicker than Returning to base (Probably a few hundred miles, minimum, maybe significantly more), and cost in time of war, well, if you are worrying about penny pinching when fighting a war, you shouldn't be in it in the first place.

And even considering employing a military aircraft without the ability to refuel midair is just, well to put it bluntly, asinine.

then instead of extra fuel, you'll need an extra crew, beds, a small library, and maybe even an oven.

[United States of PA]

But the need to refuel on the ground in time of war can be near impossible in a situation where your lines of AEW/C aircraft could be spread thin. Doing so can result in a lack of coverage that can be easily exploited. Refueling in the air is also much quicker than Returning to base (Probably a few hundred miles, minimum, maybe significantly more), and cost in time of war, well, if you are worrying about penny pinching when fighting a war, you shouldn't be in it in the first place.

And even considering employing a military aircraft without the ability to refuel midair is just, well to put it bluntly, asinine.

then instead of extra fuel, you'll need an extra crew, beds, a small library, and maybe even an oven.

Something that real life AEW/C like E-3 already have, save for the library (Who needs entertainment working long shifts in a warzone? When you're done, most likely you will just want to eat, shit and sleep, in that order i would bet. And considering how much of a thing E-Books are today, even less reason for a library. Give them a Xbox and 20 games if you want). While i cant speak for the oven, cause MRE, i wouldn't be surprised at a microwave already being a thing in the Sentry.

Extra crew has been a thing for a long time, even in the civilian sector. The presence of a 2nd flight crew on NWA Flight 85 is probably the sole reason that aircraft made it back to the airport.

So, nice job pointing out things that already exist on the E-3.

[Rich and Corporations]

(Who needs entertainment working long shifts in a warzone? When you're done, most likely you will just want to eat, shit and sleep, in that order i would bet. And considering how much of a thing E-Books are today, even less reason for a library. Give them a Xbox and 20 games if you want)

I do not think you quite understand POGs.

[Gallan Systems]

[New Chilokver]

then instead of extra fuel, you'll need an extra crew, beds, a small library, and maybe even an oven.

Something that real life AEW/C like E-3 already have, save for the library (Who needs entertainment working long shifts in a warzone? When you're done, most likely you will just want to eat, shit and sleep, in that order i would bet. And considering how much of a thing E-Books are today, even less reason for a library. Give them a Xbox and 20 games if you want). While i cant speak for the oven, cause MRE, i wouldn't be surprised at a microwave already being a thing in the Sentry.

Extra crew has been a thing for a long time, even in the civilian sector. The presence of a 2nd flight crew on NWA Flight 85 is probably the sole reason that aircraft made it back to the airport.

So, nice job pointing out things that already exist on the E-3.

Crew comforts would probably include something like the ovens on commercial aircraft, with similar meals plus a hot+cold water machine.

[Tinder Enthusiasts]

The crew comforts on an AEW/C typically include a galley with a small fridge, a convection oven, a small sink and an auto-boil. A microwave is perhaps not the best idea on an aircraft filled with sensitive radar equipment as any RF leakage from the microwave could potentially have rather interesting results. The rest area will comprise of perhaps half a dozen seats, some of which can be laid out into beds. Those with a keen eye will observe that these galleys are strikingly similar to the galleys on civilian versions of these aircraft, but with more spaces where things used to be!

[Rich and Corporations]

The crew comforts on an AEW/C typically include a galley with a small fridge, a convection oven, a small sink and an auto-boil. A microwave is perhaps not the best idea on an aircraft filled with sensitive radar equipment as any RF leakage from the microwave could potentially have rather interesting results. The rest area will comprise of perhaps half a dozen seats, some of which can be laid out into beds. Those with a keen eye will observe that these galleys are strikingly similar to the galleys on civilian versions of these aircraft, but with more spaces where things used to be!

is it so hard to design a microwave that operates on 60 gigahertz band?

[The Kievan People]

Yes, actually.

Ain't no magnetron going to produce 60ghz radiation.

[Rich and Corporations]

Yes, actually.

Ain't no magnetron going to produce 60ghz radiation.

Still.
No radio receiver listens on the 2.4 band.

[Gallan Systems]

Yes, actually.

Ain't no magnetron going to produce 60ghz radiation.

Still.
No radio receiver listens on the 2.4 band.

Is this serious?

[Rich and Corporations]

Still.
No radio receiver listens on the 2.4 band.

Is this serious?

At least not on an AWACS aircraft.

Besides, it you're really concerned, make the breakroom into a faraday cade.

[Purpelia]

Is this serious?

At least not on an AWACS aircraft.

Besides, it you're really concerned, make the breakroom into a faraday cade.

Why the entire room? Why not just the oven? Assuming you can figure one out you can the other.

[Rich and Corporations]

At least not on an AWACS aircraft.

Besides, it you're really concerned, make the breakroom into a faraday cade.

Why the entire room? Why not just the oven? Assuming you can figure one out you can the other.

My processor is right now emitting frequencies at 3 gigahertz, so....

[Gallan Systems]

Is this serious?

At least not on an AWACS aircraft.

Besides, it you're really concerned, make the breakroom into a faraday cade.

Which will not eliminate RF leakage.

You do understand that, after all a microwave is a Faraday cage.

[The Akasha Colony]

In other news, while I'm at it:

The main surveillance radar is going to be L/D-band like MESA, but I was considering adding a small X-band array for datalink purposes to support cooperative missile guidance and for communications purposes further down the line. The down-looking MP-RTIP radar is going to be X-band but won't have much coverage at altitude and has a limited field of regard. I'm trying to figure out where to put it to give good coverage without needing to add another big antenna. I had considered adding cavity end-fire arrays like MESA in the corners of the current antenna but I had no idea how that would perform in the required roles and whether they'd provide full coverage (since MESA's arrays only need to cover 60 degrees).

Otherwise it's still coming along. These things have lots of fucking antennas.

[The Technocratic Syndicalists]

In other news, while I'm at it:

The main surveillance radar is going to be L/D-band like MESA, but I was considering adding a small X-band array for datalink purposes to support cooperative missile guidance and for communications purposes further down the line. The down-looking MP-RTIP radar is going to be X-band but won't have much coverage at altitude and has a limited field of regard. I'm trying to figure out where to put it to give good coverage without needing to add another big antenna. I had considered adding cavity end-fire arrays like MESA in the corners of the current antenna but I had no idea how that would perform in the required roles and whether they'd provide full coverage (since MESA's arrays only need to cover 60 degrees).

Otherwise it's still coming along. These things have lots of fucking antennas.

I'm probably the last one who you'll find saying this but I think you're adding too much capability with the AEW&C radar and another JSTARS type ground surveillance radar. You're essentially combining an E-3 and an E-8 into one aircraft so cramming all the electronics and personnel required for the AEW&C and ground surveillance radars into one aircraft might not be very practical. I would have the AEW&C aircraft with just the L-band AESA radar and associated passive receivers and ECM gear while having the MP-RTIP or AN/APY-7 type ground surveillance radar attached to a large UAV which would give it extended loiter time without the issue of crew fatigue. if you want X band on the AEW&C aircraft I would put a rotating X band AESA radar in a pod under the fuselage which could be used for precision tracking of air targets and/or for SARH guidance for missiles fired over-the-horizon at distant air or sea targets.

[Kassaran]

Are flying wings good for high-altitude flight given enough wing-area? I'm wanting to do something on the lolhuge scale of the flying wing carrier-craft in Ace Combat.

[Laritaia]

Are flying wings good for high-altitude flight given enough wing-area? I'm wanting to do something on the lolhuge scale of the flying wing carrier-craft in Ace Combat.

no, just...

no.

[The Akasha Colony]

In other news, while I'm at it:

The main surveillance radar is going to be L/D-band like MESA, but I was considering adding a small X-band array for datalink purposes to support cooperative missile guidance and for communications purposes further down the line. The down-looking MP-RTIP radar is going to be X-band but won't have much coverage at altitude and has a limited field of regard. I'm trying to figure out where to put it to give good coverage without needing to add another big antenna. I had considered adding cavity end-fire arrays like MESA in the corners of the current antenna but I had no idea how that would perform in the required roles and whether they'd provide full coverage (since MESA's arrays only need to cover 60 degrees).

Otherwise it's still coming along. These things have lots of fucking antennas.

I'm probably the last one who you'll find saying this but I think you're adding too much capability with the AEW&C radar and another JSTARS type ground surveillance radar. You're essentially combining an E-3 and an E-8 into one aircraft so cramming all the electronics and personnel required for the AEW&C and ground surveillance radars into one aircraft might not be very practical. I would have the AEW&C aircraft with just the L-band AESA radar and associated passive receivers and ECM gear while having the MP-RTIP or AN/APY-7 type ground surveillance radar attached to a large UAV which would give it extended loiter time without the issue of crew fatigue. if you want X band on the AEW&C aircraft I would put a rotating X band AESA radar in a pod under the fuselage which could be used for precision tracking of air targets and/or for SARH guidance for missiles fired over-the-horizon at distant air or sea targets.

It is already being designed to work in conjunction with MP-RTIP-equipped UAVs serving as a supporting force. Loiter time is of course desirable for both air and ground surveillance though so putting the ground surveillance capability on drones address the latter capability. The MP-RTIP installation is primarily meant to supplement low-altitude coverage against cruise missiles, UAVs, and other low-flying, low-signature targets that are becoming more prevalent so it still falls within the airspace control mandate of the aircraft.

The primary difficulty in this case is I need to figure out what interference issues the USAF claimed to have had with E-10 MC2A, which was supposed to do the same thing. From an electronics perspective this is a significantly larger aircraft than the 707 airframe (MTOW over three times that of E-3 or E-8) used in E-3 or E-8 and uses electronics several decades newer than either type. The USAF expected to fit both sets of equipment into a 767 airframe once upon a time, but details on MC2A are comparatively sparse. I'm also not sure how a rotating radome is any cheaper or less complex than MP-RTIP, which is basically... a rotating radome (but along a different axis).

The proposed top-mounted X-band radar isn't meant to be all that powerful, it's primarily a datalink rather than a second surveillance radar.

[Haishan]

Are flying wings good for high-altitude flight given enough wing-area? I'm wanting to do something on the lolhuge scale of the flying wing carrier-craft in Ace Combat.

Protip, https://youtu.be/_zuBSUJfpBk?t=72 It's probably cheaper if you just put UCAVs on such flying carrier rather than pilots.

[Kassaran]

Are flying wings good for high-altitude flight given enough wing-area? I'm wanting to do something on the lolhuge scale of the flying wing carrier-craft in Ace Combat.

Protip, https://youtu.be/_zuBSUJfpBk?t=72 It's probably cheaper if you just put UCAVs on such flying carrier rather than pilots.

Well I wasn't planning on making an airborne carrier, as I expressly stated it was simply going to be on such a scale. That's why I was asking about the effectiveness of a flying wing at higher altitudes, is it a question of how big the wingspan is or how light the material it's made of is? I was thinking of making some form of AEW craft with a flying wing chassis.

[Laritaia]

Protip, https://youtu.be/_zuBSUJfpBk?t=72 It's probably cheaper if you just put UCAVs on such flying carrier rather than pilots.

Well I wasn't planning on making an airborne carrier, as I expressly stated it was simply going to be on such a scale. That's why I was asking about the effectiveness of a flying wing at higher altitudes, is it a question of how big the wingspan is or how light the material it's made of is? I was thinking of making some form of AEW craft with a flying wing chassis.

the materials science to make an aircraft of scale simply does not currently exist .

[Kassaran]

Well I wasn't planning on making an airborne carrier, as I expressly stated it was simply going to be on such a scale. That's why I was asking about the effectiveness of a flying wing at higher altitudes, is it a question of how big the wingspan is or how light the material it's made of is? I was thinking of making some form of AEW craft with a flying wing chassis.

the materials science to make an aircraft of scale simply does not currently exist .

Ah, so what would be more reasonable for a large-scale Flying Wing? 30 meters or so?