B-17's in space next, I suppose...

Okay, I need some ideas on how to fit this into my DS2 games...

Actually the B-17 Redux thing was so... strange I just had to share it.

Gracias,
Glenn/Triphibious
This is my Science Fiction Alter Ego E-mail address.

--------- Begin forwarded message ----------
From: <wilsong@nima.mil>
To: <triphibious@juno.com>
Subject: News from www.strategypage.com
Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 22:14:41 -0600
Message-ID: <SWPRODTm0BBh3kKysJn0000019c@swprod.strategyworld.com>

Sent to you by Glenn from www.strategypage.com.
Enjoy!
<p><b>WARPLANES: B-17 Redux</b></p>
<p><br>
August 2, 2001; Vision Force To Include B-17s?- As the Air Force
continues
to study what weapons it wants in its "toolbox" for conflicts in the
future, one old idea is coming back into serious consideration, the Long
Range Strike Platform (LRSP). This would be a cargo plane already in
production modified to carry three dozen or more cruise missiles. Such a
platform would have to have a range of 9,000 miles with one refueling.
It
would need the advanced Joint Tactical Information Distribution System.
It
would not need to be armed or stealthy (if its missiles were long-ranged
enough for it to stay outside the envelope of the Russian-built S300
missile). With advanced missiles and communications, it could abort an
attack after the missiles were launched, or change the target selection
while the missiles were in flight. (This could create interesting
tactics.
If the aircraft fired 30 of its missiles in the first wave and the other
10 half an hour later, there would be time to retarget the second wave
on
targets that escaped destruction in the first wave. This would be more
effective than reattacking the missed targets the next day.) New
hypervelocity missiles (which do not exist today, even as prototypes)
could in theory destroy enemy missiles carrying weapons of mass
destruction before they hit their targets, or rip apart air defenses to
allow manned fighters access to the enemy heartland. If the US dominates
the enemy skies and has destroyed its air defenses, the LRSP could fly
directly over the enemy with vast numbers of Joint Direct Attack
Munitions, Small Diameter Bombs, Joint Standoff Weapons, or Joint Air to
Surface Missiles. The aircraft might even fire its weapons out of the
rear
cargo hatch, allowing it to serve as a regular transport aircraft in
peacetime. Top choice of the generals is a missile armed version of the
C-17 cargo plane, of which not enough are on order to satisfy military
needs. The generals have already taken to calling it "the new
B-17".--Stephen V Cole<br>
<br>
July 30, 2001; China has ordered 100 Russian Zhuk-8-2 multi-mode radars
to
refit its fleet of 100 J-8II fighters. This will allow the J-8IIs to use
the same Russian missiles (AA-10 Alamo and AA-12 Adder) as the Su-27s
and
Su-30s being bought from Russia.--Stephen V Cole<br>
<br>
July 29, 2001; There is great unhappiness with the Bush Administration's
plan to reduce the B-1B bomber fleet from 93 aircraft to 60. The cut
would
eliminate the 18 aircraft in the hands of the Georgia and Kansas
National
Guards, and this would mean less defense spending in those states (and
is
seen as a first move toward closing some Air National Guard bases).
While
the Air Force says the move will save $163 million a year (which will be
plowed into upgrades for the remaining B-1Bs), critics of the move say
it
will actually cost rather than save money due to more operations by the
smaller force and promises to keep the Guard bases open even without
their
bomber squadrons.--Stephen V Cole<br>
<br>
<br>
July 28, 2001; India has been offered Russian-built Myasishchev-55
(Mystic-B) high altitude recon planes under its recent defense deal with
Russia. Development of this aircraft has been stalled by the post-Cold
War
collapse of the Russian military budget, and the Russians feel that if
they can sell a few to India, they will be able to field the aircraft
for
their own forces.--Stephen V Cole<br>
<br>
July 27, 2001; The Anglo-French JOANNA project, to develop an advanced
electro-optical targeting pod that could be used by Typhoon and Rafale,
will probably expand to include Italian and Spanish Typhoons.--Stephen V
Cole<br>
<br>
July 26, 2001; Russia's highest-priority aircraft program, the Su-27IB
long-range tactical bomber, will be delayed to 2004 because the
electronic
equipment and software don't work and there is not enough money to fix
them quickly.--Stephen V Cole<br>
<br>
July 25, 2001; Sagem is developing a new high-speed recon drone known as
HV. The drone is 4.2 meters long with a wingspan of 2.4 meters. The
wings
are swept forward to improve agility and fuel efficiency. The aircraft
can
fly for 12 hours at 400 knots at 33,000 feet. Its data links have a
range
of 400km but it could operate 600km from base in "silent mode". It would
have two missile approach sensors to warn the aircraft to take evasive
action. Payload is 50kg (110 pounds) and could be an&nbsp;
electro-optical/infrared sensor, synthetic aperture radar, or laser
targeting designator.--Stephen V Cole&nbsp;<br>
<br>
July 24, 2001; South Africa's Kentron is developing Seraph, a stealthy
recon drone that would be 18 feet long, have a 9-foot wingspan, and fly
at
Mach-0.86. The aircraft would be designed for the low-cost market (for
countries that cannot afford superior but more expensive US-built
drones).
The company (now part of British Aerospace) says it is now trying to
develop inexpensive stealth materials that could bring Seraph to
market.--Stephen V Cole<br>
<br>
July 23, 2001; The F-22 program is in cost trouble again. Congress has
demanded that the Air Force buy 339 aircraft for $37.6 billion (not
counting development costs, which are also under a Congressional limit).
The Air Force has been saying for a year that it will be $2 billion over
this limit, and now says that the actual cost overrun will be closer to
$9
billion. The Air Force says that with more money NOW it can reduce
future
costs, saving $7 for every $1 extra it gets next year.--Stephen V
Cole<br>

--------- End forwarded message ----------

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