What the F is for...

[WARSPITER]

I've never been up on what the different F planes in the modern US military are for.

Could I please have a summary of the main use for the following as it would be useful considering current events ;

F-14
F-15
F-16
F-18
F-22
F-35

Thanks in advance.

 

[GrauGeist]

I've never been up on what the different F planes in the modern US military are for.

Could I please have a summary of the main use for the following as it would be useful considering current events ;

F-14
F-15
F-16
F-18
F-22
F-35

Thanks in advance.

The F-14 (retired from USN service aboit 15 years ago) was a multi-role fighter/interceptor.

The F-15 (depending in variant) is used in the role of air superiority and multi-role strike operations.

The F-16 is an air superiority fighter with multi-role options.

The F-18 is a land or carrier based fighter or attack (depending on mission needs).

The F-22 is a stealth air superiority fighter that can also perform ground attack as well as a range of electronic warfare.

The F-35 is a stealth multi-role combat platform with a long list of capabilities, but to summarize: air superiority, ground attack , electronic warfare, etc.

Not listed: the F-117, which is still in service (in limited numbers), is a stealth ground attack platform.

 

[special ed]

The last Air Force Almanac to list the F-117 was 2008. Perhaps we have some hidden along with the B-58s.

 

[GrauGeist]

The last Air Force Almanac to list the F-117 was 2008. Perhaps we have some hidden along with the B-58s.

They are designated "officially retired", but they are still active.
Various F-117 have been seen at numerous locations over the past six years. Mostly on the west coast with very little, if any, comment by the Air Force.

 

[SaparotRob]

That's 'cause it's an MIB ops to distract us from the reverse engineered Horten hover saucer.

 

[GrauGeist]

That's 'cause it's an MIB ops to distract us from the reverse engineered Horten hover saucer.

Think about it - an ultra stealth ground attack aircraft.
That is something that can prove very useful to have handy...

 

[SaparotRob]

I knew it.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The last Air Force Almanac to list the F-117 was 2008. Perhaps we have some hidden along with the B-58s.

There are some still maintained in airworthy status for training and test purposes. You head out to Nevada or Southern California you can see them flying occasionally.

Here’s a rare look at an Air Force F-117 stealth jet flying over California

The Air Force released a video on Tuesday of an F-117 Nighthawk stealth jet landing at Fresno Yosemite International Airport in California.

taskandpurpose.com

 

[WARSPITER]

Thanks for that. The 15, 16, and 18 are the ones that I get mixed up.

 

[The Basket]

That's 'cause it's an MIB ops to distract us from the reverse engineered Horten hover saucer.

Ok now stop giving secrets away.

God's sake.

Whatever you do don't mention the aliens.

Just please don't talk about them.

 

[WARSPITER]

Ok now stop giving secrets away.

God's sake.

Whatever you do don't mention the aliens.

Just please don't talk about them.

The green ones or the ones with big eyes ?

 

[special ed]

There are some still maintained in airworthy status for training and test purposes. You head out to Nevada or Southern California you can see them flying occasionally.

Here’s a rare look at an Air Force F-117 stealth jet flying over California

The Air Force released a video on Tuesday of an F-117 Nighthawk stealth jet landing at Fresno Yosemite International Airport in California.

taskandpurpose.com

Veeery interesting!
maybe back to TTR where they started.

 

[The Basket]

The green ones or the ones with big eyes ?

Can't say.

 

[Prop Duster]

Say WHAT?

 

[WARSPITER]

Ok. What.

 

[special ed]

Updated F-117 info. Although the USAF officially retired the F-117 from inventory in 2008 many of the remainder have been used as "trainers" flown by contractors in black, dirty white and grey geometric agressor style camo. Apparently a few were used a drone targets, my guesstimate by reading that some were "disposed of" and the rest were kept airworthy. No less than Popular Mechanics.com reports a NASA F-15D with an unusual sensor pod accompanying an F-117. Another guestimate by them (and myself) is the sensor may be able to detect stealth aircraft.

 

[GrauGeist]

It would take more than a pod on the chin of an F-15 to detect stealth aircraft.

It may have been a component of a system (ground and air) that uses a form of 3-D mapping (imaging) to try and detect and identify airborn anomalies in a particular area or zone.

 

[Elvis]

...btw, Warspiter, the "F" is for "Fighter".
It replaced the "P" Pusuit prefix in the late 40's, probably around the time the AAF became the USAF.