Rodeo Rhinos?

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GeneralVikus
Posts: 54
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2018 8:02 am

Rodeo Rhinos?

Post by GeneralVikus »

I've been reading up on Project Strike Rodeo, with a question on my mind: can the same thing be done with other aircraft? I am particularly thinking of the Super Hornet, because LRASM launch capacity seems to be something of a bottleneck which will be coming up in the near future. The best source I have found is this USAF press release:

https://www.53rdwing.af.mil/News/Articl ... ve-jassms/

It implies the following:

1. It was necessary to put the LRASM on CFT stations on the F-15E, rather than on other stations.
2. The problem was that the loading equipment couldn't fit under these stations; the simple expedient of creating new loading equipment solved the problem.

Well, the Super Hornet doesn't have CFT stations and isn't getting them; but, on the other hand, if the problem was the loading equipment, can it also be solved for the Super Hornet?

I would appreciate anyone with knowledge of the actual engineering limitations at play here to provide some explanations for the following questions:

1. Why are all existing strike aircraft limited to two JASSMs?
2. Why is this problem solvable on the F-15E?
3. Is the problem also solvable on other aircraft?
Kushan04
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Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:27 pm
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Re: Rodeo Rhinos?

Post by Kushan04 »

Along with where to mount them, weight would be a big factor against. Would they even be able to take off, even with catapult assist? How about landing? The F-14 wouldn’t have been able to land with the 6 phoenix loadout, and it was a much heftier aircraft than the super hornet. I have my doubts the super hornet could land with 5 LRASMs.

Range would be another thing, the super hornet range is already pathetic, I can’t see it having much with that many LRASMs.
GeneralVikus
Posts: 54
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2018 8:02 am

Re: Rodeo Rhinos?

Post by GeneralVikus »

Yeah, if anyone knows how far the Strike Eagle can actually carry those 5 LRASMs, that would be great to know, too.

Edit: For anyone who wants to know, I just ran a quick test in DCS using the AI model (I don't own the aircraft, so make of that what you will.) Carrying a load of 12x CBU-97, 2 AMRAAMs, 2 Sidewinders, and 2 drop tanks, (106% of takeoff weight) releasing the bombs after 1,100nm, the aircraft flew 1896nm before crashing, for a radius of 948 miles; -10% is 853. This lines up with the CMO DB number for 5x JASSM-ER, which is 920nm. By no means do I mean to suggest that the AI aircraft is accurate, but in the absence of tables or the module, it's the best I can do.
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