Posted on 12/23/2016 5:32:33 AM PST by RoosterRedux
While we have a lot of sunk research costs in the F-35 that are unrecoverable, the question is how to allocate our money today, and the F-35 would be a waste at current prices.
If Trump cannot negotiate a more reasonable price per plane, we should take that money and use it for what the military really needs. First and foremost, we need more soldiers in all branches of the military. Obama has shrunk the armed forces down to unconscionable levels.
Secondly, we need more drones – a lot of them. Just think: if one F-35 crashes, we have lost nearly $200 million. If a Reaper drone crashes, we lose only $15 million. Drones are much better suited for the kind of wait-hunt-chase warfare we are in now than fighter jets.
We need naval drones as well. The image of our giant aircraft carriers threatened by tiny Iranian speedboats with missiles is ridiculous. Our Navy needs a smaller footprint with bigger payloads. We need more drones and more submarines armed with cruise missiles.
Finally, bring back the A-10s. They were very low-tech, but they were great planes, low-flying, full of destructive power, and armored so they were hard to bring down. Sometimes older, proven technology doesn't necessarily make for a bad choice. Low tech paired with low prices means you can buy in higher volume.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Ping.
Why not bring the F-22 back into production, drop the F-35, and build some more A-10’s?
I believe Lockheed could reopen the F-22A production line fairly quickly. However, you can forget about building new A-10’s—the production jigs are long, long gone.
I assume you missed the news the A-10’s are back to something like 2040. All will be outfitted with new wings, avionics and weapons control. Gone will be looking through the lens of a Maverick for IR targeting at night. Actually, those in the fleet were already enhanced to better than the Maverick which was something the pilots adapted to when called into service for the first Gulf War.
I think I will leave the question of what the military needs to those who develop long and short term military strategy for a living. While I am not a huge fan of the the F-35, taking military procurement and readiness advice from a political pundit is laughable.
Certain designs are so good, they just keep going and going. The A-10 is one. The B-52 is another enduring design. I’m sure there are others.
The Navy doesn’t fly A-10s or F-22s. They need a carrier capable aircraft. The Marines need a VTOL to replace the Harrier.
Trump is asking Boeing to price out new F-18s. This addresses the carrier aircraft but not the VTOL. Unless the Marines get the VTOL variant of the F-35.
Whatever they decide, the days of manned air combat aircraft are limited. Drones will be the next generation. Why waste trillions on obsolete technology?
The jigs were built once; they can be built again.
The F-35 just like the USS USELESS ZIMWALT are PORK PROJECTS. Military didn’t ask for them had no need of them. Some congress critter brought home the Bacon to his/her district to a favored contractor. Who then donated to them.
Old article but you can see where the waste in the Military is, even during a government SHUT DOWN. Military Waste and Fraud Continue In the Middle of the Government Shutdown
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/201
It’s thought they just finished putting new wings on the fleet a couple years ago. I know they were in the process, but not sure if the program cancelled before they completed the fleet.
Just read an article posted here that the V-22 is now in development of weapons systems to include a chin gun and also possibly the 30mm cannon. How is that for your sea-based variant? The one thing the V will never have is the stealthy noise attitude of the A-10 along with its maneuverability and the ability to loiter without refueling. IN GW1, the Iraqi soldiers gave it the name of Silent Death because they just could not hear it coming until it was way too late. In joint operations, both will be employed to devastating effects if the up armed V comes to pass which I think it will.
>>Certain designs are so good, they just keep going and going. The A-10 is one. The B-52 is another enduring design. I’m sure there are others.<<
F-16.
And the SR-71 will NEVER be bested. It was the edge of physics. Just no mission for it to justify the expense.
They talked about it for a long time while the AF Brass and certain members of Congress were trying to kill it. It was not until the 35 got into some serious quals, I think was at Red Flag, that they just had to admit the 35 is not a close air support platform anywhere close to the Warthog, especially if it were upgraded.
I’ve heard stories that they have had discrepancies in looking at what is in the crates.
Almost as bad as not having the tooling and dies is not having a clue what the stuff in the thousands of crates actually is.
The Marines here qualify for jump training yearly with the V-22. In “helo” mode it is as noisy as Huey, but in “airplane” mode it is surprising quite. Especially if it is coming at you head on.
Corruption breeds corruption...they should cancel this contract and launce an immediate investigation by a non partisan prosecutor....maybe even a special prosecutor. Nothing will change until some people are prosecuted and jailed!!
Sometimes older, proven technology doesn't necessarily make for a bad choice. Low tech paired with low prices means you can buy in higher volume.
The B-52 which was developed in the early 1950's has gone through upgrades that will extend it's service life until about 2044.
Other weapons such as the M-2 Browning 50 cal machine gun has been around since 1919, and there is no indication that it will be taken out of service any time soon.
Another example is the M-1911-A2 which has obviously been in use since 1911 in one form or another. The pistol, which was replaced by the m-9 9mm Beretta (which was like replacing a new Lincoln with a 1974 Ford Pinto), and is being brought back into service.
New doesn't necessarily mean better or even adequate. If Trump and/or his SEC DEF want to take a look at weapons systems, all i've got to say is "It's about time!"
launce=launch
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