Space fighter...

[Georgiotje]

I have a few questions regarding our modern fighters.

What if humanity would be fearing an alien (I don't suggest that aliens exist) attack and they would want to have a fleet defending earth. What if they would send a cargo-space shuttle to the ISS or something and they would have unloaded the f16 fighters and if they would upgrade it's engines, maintain artificial gravity and build refueling stations? Could it be possible that a fleet of f16 fighters would be able to match a squadron of vipers? Or at least be able to hold out? What do you guys think?

[ShadowEnigma]

F16s couldn't fight in space. They'd have to be completely redesigned to be able to maneuver in space. The ISS isn't big enough to accommodate that amount of equipment either, nor is any space shuttle or rocket.

[Jason1975]

By the time you change the F-16 to be able to fly in space, it would be a different craft. First you would need to supply oxygen for the combustion for thrust. So you would need different engine. Then you would need a supply of oxygen either in own tank or mixed with the fuel (which is extremely dangerous). Then the control surfaces would be useless in space since the control surfaces need air pressure to work. So, You would need maneuvering thrusters to turn. It probably would be easier to make a space fighter from scratch than to use a jet fighter to start off with.

[Xenon242]

To say nothing of properly sealing and pressurising the whole thing, notably the cockpit ...

[Dzonatas]

To say nothing of properly sealing and pressurising the whole thing, notably the cockpit ...

I used to have concerns about such designs, until the whole pressurized space suit kinda offset the need to have a perfectly sealed cockpit.

[Sparrow]

It would be easier to adapt a cargo container to be a space fighter than adapt a F-16 .. as said you would have to build an entirely new craft wich at maximun would only retain shape.

As today any hipotetic space fighter would be something like the starfury:

http://www.buscaoposiciones.com/foro/imas/101064.jpeg

http://www.kitsune.addr.com/SF-Conversions/Rifts-B5-Ships/Earth_SA-26_Thunderbolt.jpg

Or the GunStar

http://www.delta-max.com/Last%20Starfighter%20Gunstar%201.jpg

[britboyj]

Gunstar FTW! :D

[Dzonatas]

Still need to overcome the artificial gravity.

[Dzonatas]

You'd think with artificial gravity that high-g turns can be easily done.

I haven't looked at this site lately, but it had a lot of antigrav stuff before:

http://www.americanantigravity.com/categories/Video-Clips

[Jason1975]

Why do you need artificial gravity for the a space fighter? You are strapped down to the fighter and you not leaving your seat. Also, You probably won't be in the cockpit for more than 24 hours so not going to be a health issue. The equipment certainly does not need. Why take up valuable space with something you do not need when you can use it for fuel or other systems. Other ships you might need artificial gravity but I do not see that a fighter would need it.

[Sparrow]

Why do you need artificial gravity for the a space fighter? .

You dont require it but any form of inertial dumping will increase the fighter capability.. because a space fighter would be limited to the Gs a human can take.

Starfurys in B5 if you look have the pilot in the center and in standing-up position to be able to handle Gs (being in the center because as the fighter rotates arround itself Gs charge in any self-turn is minimized) and even so the fighter is limited to the human body limit.. if you damp the G forces inside you can up the limit.. acording to sci-fi site Vipers have some short of G-force dampening.. i supose that when Adama talks to starbuck about taking 6Gs he is talking of the force the pilot is feeling.. not the true G load the fighter is developing..

[jp2542as]

On the premise that we need to fight some space invader, you gotta go UCAV ... unmanned combat aeria (or space)l vehicles... with more smarts. Think Space Tomahawk with submunition that can target an individual threat and take it out. And if no target, neutralize itself and make ready for recovery by a friendly. Or stay on station waiting for an opportunity. You can get look-and-boom in a compact device.

In this arena, you only need to consider the environmentals needs of a rock rather than a human. And thus you get more bang for the buck. You protect your most important asset (brains) and present the most effective power projection.

[barnmaddo]

I don't really know how the numbers work out, but the potential differences in velocity and the sheer volume of space might make mutual battle in outer space impossible, and if not impossible then you will probably want the reaction time of a computer fighting for you.

All in all I think dogfights are a thing of the past.

[Sparrow]

I don't really know how the numbers work out, but the potential differences in velocity and the sheer volume of space might make mutual battle in outer space impossible, and if not impossible then you will probably want the reaction time of a computer fighting for you.

All in all I think dogfights are a thing of the past.

Sadly true.. but lets hope that modern stealth technology and that mysterious russian stealth plasma system works so well that radar missiles became so usless that they have to again go back to IR missiles at close range :thumbsup:

[jp2542as]

Well if you really want to go human then the UFO series might be a template for planetary defense...

You have:

1. SID (space intruder detector) - a big satellite with a big computer that detects and analyses intruders. Provide warning and tracking data.

2. Moonbase with fighters ... fast response types.

3. Skydiver - submarine with fighters for atmospheric action

4. Mobile missile batters on the ground.


Of course, this model does let the enemy get real close and implies bunker mentality - the enemy brings it battle to you and you don't get to mess up their sandbox.

[jp2542as]

Sadly true.. but lets hope that modern stealth technology and that mysterious russian stealth plasma system works so well that radar missiles became so usless that they have to again go back to IR missiles at close range :thumbsup:

Or maybe develope technology to detect the atmospheric wake of the object. Or perhaps the ripples in magnetic or grav fields! Or set up a reactive field that reacts with the gases that are emitted by the enemy..kinda like what happens when the gases from a rocket react with the ionosphere...

So many toys.. So little money :D