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Some clarification re: F-22 that's somewhat pertinent to the F-47 discussion.

The baseline F-22 weapons load at the start of EMD was (6) AIM-120A large fin AMRAAMs ... (4) in the main weapons bay plus (2) in the side weapons bays. The alternate weapons load was (4) AIM-120A plus (2) AIM-9L/M.

A few weeks into EMD, as the final configuration-level trade studies were underway, the AF gave Lockheed the green light to consider eliminating the ability to carry AMRAAMs in the side bays. Shortening the side bays to AIM-9 length, which allowed for more efficient wing/fuselage carry-through structure, resulted in appreciable weight savings. Very helpful for the 9-g beast, the replacement of the F-15 with its 7.33-g design limit.

Once the AF had sufficient confidence in the clipped-fin AIM-120C design, the revised baseline weapons load became (6) AIM-120C plus (2) AIM-9L/M.

<blockquote data-quote="joewee" data-source="post: 772868" data-attributes="member: 28433">Some clarification re: F-22 that's somewhat pertinent to the F-47 discussion.The baseline F-22 weapons load at the start of EMD was (6) AIM-120A large fin AMRAAMs ... (4) in the main weapons bay plus (2) in the side weapons bays. The alternate weapons load was (4) AIM-120A plus (2) AIM-9L/M.A few weeks into EMD, as the final configuration-level trade studies were underway, the AF gave Lockheed the green light to consider eliminating the ability to carry AMRAAMs in the side bays. Shortening the side bays to AIM-9 length, which allowed for more efficient wing/fuselage carry-through structure, resulted in appreciable weight savings. Very helpful for the 9-g beast, the replacement of the F-15 with its 7.33-g design limit.Once the AF had sufficient confidence in the clipped-fin AIM-120C design, the revised baseline weapons load became (6) AIM-120C plus (2) AIM-9L/M.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="joewee, post: 772868, member: 28433"] Some clarification re: F-22 that's somewhat pertinent to the F-47 discussion. The baseline F-22 weapons load at the start of EMD was (6) AIM-120A large fin AMRAAMs ... (4) in the main weapons bay plus (2) in the side weapons bays. The alternate weapons load was (4) AIM-120A plus (2) AIM-9L/M. A few weeks into EMD, as the final configuration-level trade studies were underway, the AF gave Lockheed the green light to consider eliminating the ability to carry AMRAAMs in the side bays. Shortening the side bays to AIM-9 length, which allowed for more efficient wing/fuselage carry-through structure, resulted in appreciable weight savings. Very helpful for the 9-g beast, the replacement of the F-15 with its 7.33-g design limit. Once the AF had sufficient confidence in the clipped-fin AIM-120C design, the revised baseline weapons load became (6) AIM-120C plus (2) AIM-9L/M. [/QUOTE]

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