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So VR helmets, EW antennas embedded in stealth skin, and crazy combat networking are all trivial features that we should expect a gaggle of government contracto

So VR helmets, EW antennas embedded in stealth skin, and crazy combat networking are all trivial features that we should expect a gaggle of government contractors to get right on the first pass? I'm not sure I buy that argument. The plane looks plenty fancy to me, at least in the context of its alternatives ("first lol" tech demonstrators don't count).

wahern 7y ago
Both the B-2 and F-22 have embedded antennas. JshWright's point seems to make sense: the complexity comes from system's integration and software, compounded by the aircraft having to be too many things to too many people. Basically, software, of which there's a ton to say regarding F-35 development. All the features required and component integration required them to adopt an agile methodology, moving away from the Ada-style development processes and, arguably hacking things together until they kinda worked. The predictable result is a long-tail of bugs that may never be fully eradicated.
- supermanfan 7y ago
  What's with the "embedded antennas" references? Microstrips have been used in planes for decades.
  - TeMPOraL 7y ago
    I think the point is "embedded in stealth skin".
darkpuma 7y ago
> "VR helmets," AR, not VR, right? Pretty sure they were doing that in helicopters years ago. Doesn't the Apache have a 30mm autocannon slaved to the pilot's helmet display, such that it shoots where the pilot looks? I'm no helmet geek, but I think that stuff came out in the 80s. I suppose the F-35's implementation is cooler, on account of being newer, but it doesn't seem earth shattering to me.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- whenchamenia 7y ago
  Sure, they are both ar. But one is about as nice as a virtual boy, while the f35 is an occulous. Huge differince in tech.
- TeMPOraL 7y ago
  > AR, not VR, right? Probably depends, but the way I see it, AR is when you pass the world through but draw stuff on top of it, whereas VR means replacing what you see wholesale. So for instance, a HUD is AR, and F-35 helmet is VR.
- baud147258 7y ago
  > Apache have a 30mm autocannon slaved to the pilot's helmet display, such that it shoots where the pilot looks The same system also exists for the Eurocopter Tiger
_Codemonkeyism 7y ago
You've lost me at 'crazy combat networking'. But next time I talk to my CEO I will try this with 'we do some crazy networking'.

wahern 7y ago

Both the B-2 and F-22 have embedded antennas. JshWright's point seems to make sense: the complexity comes from system's integration and software, compounded by the aircraft having to be too many things to too many people. Basically, software, of which there's a ton to say regarding F-35 development. All the features required and component integration required them to adopt an agile methodology, moving away from the Ada-style development processes and, arguably hacking things together until they kinda worked. The predictable result is a long-tail of bugs that may never be fully eradicated.

supermanfan 7y ago
What's with the "embedded antennas" references? Microstrips have been used in planes for decades.
- TeMPOraL 7y ago
  I think the point is "embedded in stealth skin".

darkpuma 7y ago

> "VR helmets," AR, not VR, right? Pretty sure they were doing that in helicopters years ago. Doesn't the Apache have a 30mm autocannon slaved to the pilot's helmet display, such that it shoots where the pilot looks? I'm no helmet geek, but I think that stuff came out in the 80s. I suppose the F-35's implementation is cooler, on account of being newer, but it doesn't seem earth shattering to me.

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
whenchamenia 7y ago
Sure, they are both ar. But one is about as nice as a virtual boy, while the f35 is an occulous. Huge differince in tech.
TeMPOraL 7y ago
> AR, not VR, right? Probably depends, but the way I see it, AR is when you pass the world through but draw stuff on top of it, whereas VR means replacing what you see wholesale. So for instance, a HUD is AR, and F-35 helmet is VR.
baud147258 7y ago
> Apache have a 30mm autocannon slaved to the pilot's helmet display, such that it shoots where the pilot looks The same system also exists for the Eurocopter Tiger

_Codemonkeyism 7y ago

You've lost me at 'crazy combat networking'. But next time I talk to my CEO I will try this with 'we do some crazy networking'.