On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 23:23:47 GMT, "Thomas Schoene"
wrote:

"Paul Krenske" wrote in message


If you are referring to replacing the engines and upgrading the
avionics then we have actually done that. They engines are all uprated
now and the avionics package has been much improved. In fact I believe
they are technically capable of AMRAAM carriage now although none have
been tested yet. The RAAF has even investigated the potential for
using them as heavy missile support for the F-18's. (12 AMRAAM's and 4
sidewinders are certainly heavy but are almost a clean load for a
pig.) It must be remembered that they were originally to be Multirole
fighter/bombers with heavy missile loads in the fighter role. F111B
was to carry Phoenix etc.


F-111B had a totally different radar suite than the A, C, etc. (in fact, the
B had much the same systems as the F-14.)

I'm highly skeptical about AMRAAM carriage on the F-111C; the radars are not
even close to right, unless they gutted it entirely in the AUP, which I
don't believe they did. I certainly can find no indication that this
armament is possible. (If even Carlo Kopp isn't claiming AMRAAM capability
for the existing F-111s, I'm guessing it doesn't exist)

The F111's would be unable to self target apparently but would act as
a "Arsenal Aircraft" for F18's. The F18's pass over the information
through some sort of datalink to the missiles and the F111 drops em.
Apparently quite similar to Malaysias idea to use 2 seat f-18s as
controll birds for 4 ship flights of flankers. The new digital fire
control and data systems theoretically allow it to happen, I do not
personally believe it should be a starter though. Instead the F111's
should be smashing the Airbases not running air superiority patrols.

Note the arsenal plane concept with RPV's is alive and well though.
DARPA is seriously proposing some low performance patrol RPV's (mach
9 semi stealthy) with 4-8 AMRAAMs (or the ER follow on) running the
patrol loops taking targeting information from manned fighters and
possibly directly from AWAC's.


--
Tom Schoene Replace "invalid" with "net" to e-mail
"If brave men and women never died, there would be nothing
special about bravery." -- Andy Rooney (attributed)