USN may add conformal fuel tanks to F/A-18E/F fleet

[delta215]

The US Navy is considering adding conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) onto its fleet of Boeing F/A-18E/FSuper Hornet strike fighters, sources say. The twin dorsally mounted tanks are expected to be tested this summer.
The USN does not deny that it is interested in the conformal tanks, but says that it cannot comment on the project at this time. "As of right now this information is proprietarily owned between Boeing and Northrop [Grumman] and PMA-265 cannot talk to it," the Naval Air Systems Command says. PMA-265 is the US Navy programme office responsible for managing the F/A-18 and EA-18G fleets.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...l-tanks-to-fa-18ef-super-hornet-fleet-383701/

 

[RadicalDude]

I'll believe it when I see it on the EFD during startup the first time.

 

[Brett327]

It's not currently a requirement for the USN, AFAIK. They are an option for export models and they have them for F-15E as well... just not ours. I've seen them in the Boeing plant mounted on what I seem to remember as a ROK mud hen. Looked weird.

 

[scoolbubba]

Add these, clean up those silly pylons and put the beefy export motors in our rhinos.... anddddd buh bye, JSF.

 

[lowflier03]

Add these, clean up those silly pylons and put the beefy export motors in our rhinos.... anddddd buh bye, JSF.

Similar things could be said about many of these new more better idea programs. The only problem with using logic........JSF is too big to fail similar to the v-22. So even if the Rhino's got the upgrades and JSF takes another 20 years to hit the fleet, we'll still stick to it.

 

[Treetop Flyer]

It's not currently a requirement for the USN, AFAIK. They are an option for export models and they have them for F-15E as well... just not ours. I've seen them in the Boeing plant mounted on what I seem to remember as a ROK mud hen. Looked weird.

USAF F-15E's have conformal tanks

 

[Brett327]

USAF F-15E's have conformal tanks

Cool. Never seen one installed on a US jet.

 

[C420sailor]

Add these, clean up those silly pylons and put the beefy export motors in our rhinos.... anddddd buh bye, JSF.

Agreed. All or nothing. Adding the tanks without straightening the pylons and installing big motors would crush her already mediocre performance.

 

[Lawman]

Cool. Never seen one installed on a US jet.

When have you seen one without them?

If you look head on a a light grey eagle and a dark grey, you can see the bulky love handles like appearance along the fuselage.

 

[Brett327]

I've deployed twice with an AEF and done probably a dozen dets to Nellis. Never seen one installed.

 

[phrogdriver]

How is it that some of you praise the Rhino as way better than JSF, while others say it's underpowered and has mediocre performance?

 

[MIDNJAC]

I'd believe what the Rhino pilots say personally....

 

[Flash]

Cool. Never seen one installed on a US jet.

I've deployed twice with an AEF and done probably a dozen dets to Nellis. Never seen one installed.

I have never seen an F-15E without them, I think it is very rare they fly without them.

 

[phrogdriver]

I think people are so used to seeing the conformals without knowing it on the 15Es that they don't realize that the bulge outboard of the intakes is not a permanent part of the aircraft.

 

[RadicalDude]

How is it that some of you praise the Rhino as way better than JSF, while others say it's underpowered and has mediocre performance?

I think most folks are focusing on a WVR dogfight when they bemoan the E/F's performance.

1/0/2/G with 50% fuel, the Rhino can hang. But you start talking about more realistic combat A/A & A/G loadouts, and the whole man in the box matters less.

It seems to me the Rhino does just fine in most other areas. And for the type of missions we flew in AFG and Iraq, 3500# of extra gas would have been worth a small drag/weight penalty.