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For strike missions, when it needed maximum stealth, A/FX would be operating subsonically, at least on the ingress and predetection phase. Thus, it wouldn't be using afterburners then. The problem from the IRST point of view with supercruise, is that the leading edges of the supercruiser will warm up enough, relative to the surrounding air, that their IR emissions will be detectable. think of it this way: the use of afterburner would be like holding the bright beacon you mentioned; people would easily see where you are. Supercruising would still have you in the dark room, but instead of bright beacon, you'd be holding a flashlight. Not as bright, not as visible from as far away, but still quite detectable at useful distances. Note that when Lockheed's design evolved from the NATF to A/FX, supercruise went away. Navy simply didn't think they needed it for their mission to the point where they'd be willing to pay what it would cost in range and money to get it. It wouldn't object if it got it, but was not willing to compromise to get it. Regarding the Fleet Air Defense mission against bombers and cruise missiles, don't forget that A/FX (or even AX with F-14Ds) would be armed with AAAM (addressed elsewhere on the forum).
For strike missions, when it needed maximum stealth, A/FX would be operating subsonically, at least on the ingress and predetection phase. Thus, it wouldn't be using afterburners then. The problem from the IRST point of view with supercruise, is that the leading edges of the supercruiser will warm up enough, relative to the surrounding air, that their IR emissions will be detectable. think of it this way: the use of afterburner would be like holding the bright beacon you mentioned; people would easily see where you are. Supercruising would still have you in the dark room, but instead of bright beacon, you'd be holding a flashlight. Not as bright, not as visible from as far away, but still quite detectable at useful distances.
Note that when Lockheed's design evolved from the NATF to A/FX, supercruise went away. Navy simply didn't think they needed it for their mission to the point where they'd be willing to pay what it would cost in range and money to get it. It wouldn't object if it got it, but was not willing to compromise to get it.
Regarding the Fleet Air Defense mission against bombers and cruise missiles, don't forget that A/FX (or even AX with F-14Ds) would be armed with AAAM (addressed elsewhere on the forum).
