SO $200 Million F-22 Has It's First Kill

[Windjammer]

Apparently it wasn't just a simple case of an F-22 going up and shooting down the object, it involved multiple assets to achieve the objective including other F-22s, F-15s and aerial refuelers.

 

[SQ8]

It was done to minimize casualties both one the ground and in the air since the balloon did not care for civilians or otherwise as it went with the wind.

To say this is the Raptors first kill and discount jt would be folly - the Raptor hasn’t had an opportunity to engage yet - if that comes to be it will clear what it can do.

Just its mere presence deters conflict and with some of the surprises it has sprung off the record in the hormuz strait and along the Alaskan coast are noteworthy. All it didn’t do was fire otherwise it would have a few kills too.

Lastly , the raptor was able to easily reach 58000 ft and able to climb higher if needed save for safety concerns about not having pressure suits.

 

[Windjammer]

It was done to minimize casualties both one the ground and in the air since the balloon did not care for civilians or otherwise as it went with the wind.

To say this is the Raptors first kill and discount jt would be folly - the Raptor hasn’t had an opportunity to engage yet - if that comes to be it will clear what it can do.

Just its mere presence deters conflict and with some of the surprises it has sprung off the record in the hormuz strait and along the Alaskan coast are noteworthy. All it didn’t do was fire otherwise it would have a few kills too.

Lastly , the raptor was able to easily reach 58000 ft and able to climb higher if needed save for safety concerns about not having pressure suits.

I have a lot of respect for both men and machine in this regards but I fail to understand why the USAF had to send up their premier asset to shoot down an otherwise harmless target. Even the F-15s have a service ceiling of close to 70,000 Feet .

 

[lightning F57]

I have a lot of respect for both men and machine in this regards but I fail to understand why the USAF had to send up their premier asset to shoot down an otherwise harmless target. Even the F-15s have a service ceiling of close to 70,000 Feet .

A balloon as a kill kind of feels like trolling. But they have gone and printed it on the plane so I guess they are real about it.

 

[datafreak]

It was done to minimize casualties both one the ground and in the air since the balloon did not care for civilians or otherwise as it went with the wind.

To say this is the Raptors first kill and discount jt would be folly - the Raptor hasn’t had an opportunity to engage yet - if that comes to be it will clear what it can do.

Just its mere presence deters conflict and with some of the surprises it has sprung off the record in the hormuz strait and along the Alaskan coast are noteworthy. All it didn’t do was fire otherwise it would have a few kills too.

Lastly , the raptor was able to easily reach 58000 ft and able to climb higher if needed save for safety concerns about not having pressure suits.

Maybe it secretly participated in the Iraq invasion.

I have a lot of respect for both men and machine in this regards but I fail to understand why the USAF had to send up their premier asset to shoot down an otherwise harmless target. Even the F-15s have a service ceiling of close to 70,000 Feet .

'Premier Asset' is now 25 years old.

 

[SQ8]

I have a lot of respect for both men and machine in this regards but I fail to understand why the USAF had to send up their premier asset to shoot down an otherwise harmless target. Even the F-15s have a service ceiling of close to 70,000 Feet .

Because the asset also has the ability to maneuver at extremely slow speeds unlike the F-15s and while the F-15 does have a service ceiling of 70k it really has to zoom climb to get there fast enough. The raptor has the performance and the sensors to get the job done the most efficiently.

F-15Cs are also getting a bit more long in the tooth so while they could have also theoretically done this intercept - the risk was higher in them.

 

[waz]

Apparently it wasn't just a simple case of an F-22 going up and shooting down the object, it involved multiple assets to achieve the objective including other F-22s, F-15s and aerial refuelers.

He looks quite a happy chap. The balloon kill image is hilarious.

 

[dbc]

Because the asset also has the ability to maneuver at extremely slow speeds

agree at that altitude control surfaces lose its bite, thrust vector nozzles on the other hand gives the pilot a measure of control to maneuver for a shot and for close up visual of the ballon payload.

 

[SQ8]

agree at that altitude control surfaces lose its bite, thrust vector nozzles on the other hand gives the pilot a measure of control to maneuver for a shot and for close up visual of the ballon payload.

Even the most detailed information on the raptor only captures 60% of what it can do - that I have in a horse’s mouth aspect.

 

[patero]

Even the most detailed information on the raptor only captures 60% of what it can do - that I have in a horse’s mouth aspect.

Just curious, what would the USAF do if China had another balloon 'accidently' wander into US airspace but at a much higher altitude? 120,000 feet is roughly the upper limit for high altitude balloons (although a specially designed balloon achieved a record 171,000 feet), would a Raptor firing a aim-9x or amraam be capable of hitting a target at 120,000 feet?

 

[SQ8]

Just curious, what would the USAF do if China had another balloon 'accidently' wander into US airspace but at a much higher altitude? 120,000 feet is roughly the upper limit for high altitude balloons (although a specially designed balloon achieved a record 171,000 feet), would a Raptor firing a aim-9x or amraam be capable of hitting a target at 120,000 feet?

There are other resources for it

 

[dbc]

Just curious, what would the USAF do if China had another balloon 'accidently' wander into US airspace but at a much higher altitude? 120,000 feet is roughly the upper limit for high altitude balloons (although a specially designed balloon achieved a record 171,000 feet), would a Raptor firing a aim-9x or amraam be capable of hitting a target at 120,000 feet?

The F-15 has shot down a satellite so a ballon at that altitude shouldn't be too much of a challenge.If the air force choose NOT to go that route, like SQ8 said there are other options.

That Time an F-15 Pilot Shot Down a Satellite

On Sept. 13, 1985, F-15 test pilot Maj. Wilbert "Doug" Pearson (now retired Maj Gen) took off from Edwards AFB.

avgeekery.com

 

[casual]

Apparently it wasn't just a simple case of an F-22 going up and shooting down the object, it involved multiple assets to achieve the objective including other F-22s, F-15s and aerial refuelers.

and the balloon is the size of a barn

 

[migflug]

Enjoy the memes bois!!

 

[Hakikat ve Hikmet]

The USAF has tons of jets but shoots down only balloons...........

The PAF has only F-16s/JF-17s but shoots down the half of the IAF....