eclam@maytag.waterloo.edu (Edmund C. Lam) (05/13/89)
From: "Edmund C. Lam" <eclam@maytag.waterloo.edu> I recently came across a reference concerning a replacement for the Navy Grummun A-6E called the ATA. This reference suggested that A-6F has been cancelled in favour the the ATA (A-12) which will be used by Navy, Marines (replacement for F-4 and A-4) and Air Force (replacement for A-10). Can anyone shead any light on this "rumour". Who makes this "A-12" and what are its capabilities? Does anyone have information about the ATB(B-1B replacment) and ATF(F-14/F-15/F-16 replacement)?
fiddler@Sun.COM (Steve Hix) (05/16/89)
From: fiddler@Sun.COM (Steve Hix) In article <6543@cbnews.ATT.COM>, eclam@maytag.waterloo.edu (Edmund C. Lam) writes: > > From: "Edmund C. Lam" <eclam@maytag.waterloo.edu> > I recently came across a reference concerning a replacement for the > Navy Grummun A-6E called the ATA. This reference suggested that A-6F has > been cancelled in favour the the ATA (A-12) which will be used by Navy, > Marines (replacement for F-4 and A-4) and Air Force (replacement for A-10). > > Can anyone shead any light on this "rumour". Who makes this "A-12" and > what are its capabilities? Does anyone have information about the > ATB(B-1B replacment) and ATF(F-14/F-15/F-16 replacement)? Lockheed made the A-12 "Blackbird" during the early sixties. (Images of pilot having *very* little time to acquire targets on the ground during an attack run.... :} ) What do you bet they change the designation? (Maybe not, though, the "A-12" designation was originally a CIA label.)
mayse@p.cs.uiuc.edu (05/20/89)
From: mayse@p.cs.uiuc.edu I think it's more complicated than that. What is now known as the "Blackbird" was first called the A-11. An evolutionary version, intended as a long-range interceptor, was called the YF-12A. Finally, the recon version (SR-71) emerged; it differs from the interceptor primarily in having recon gear and pods instead of the interceptor's missile bays, and a forward wing "chine" which is smooth all the way to the nose (the interceptor had a pair of forward- looking sensors which caused the forward part of the delta to be truncated somewhat). I would guess that the A-12 is the designation tentatively in use for a new attack plane, and is not related to the Blackbird.
tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (ATW)) (05/23/89)
From: tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (ATW)) I think the A-12 being referred to here is the so called "Advanced Tactical Aircraft". According to official USN statements, it is the A-6 replacement and hence a heavy carrier attack plane. It will be built by McDonnell Douglas and General Dynamics. It will use a derivative of the General Electric F404 engine. According to USNI Proceedings, unofficial sources claim the the following: The engine designation is F404-F5D2. Development aircraft are under construction. Production will commence in 1990. Its avionics package may not be ready in time. So the first few planes might use the avionics package from the cancelled A-6F. The plane might use the Advanced Interdiction Weapon System now under development. Ted Kim ARPAnet: tek@penzance.cs.ucla.edu UCLA Computer Science Department UUCP: ...!ucbvax!cs.ucla.edu!tek 3804C Boelter Hall PHONE: (213) 206-8696 Los Angeles, CA 90024 ESPnet: tek@ouija.board