Posted on 05/10/2019 8:11:52 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
IIRC the F-22 was canceled by Obama who then ordered the tooling destroyed.
“The USAF will take decades to overcome cancelling the F-22 for air superiority. “
Air Superiority aint what it used to be.
It used to be about radars, speed, g forces and weapons.
Now it’s about IR, stealth, airspace awareness and weapons.
The new axiom is to never be within visual range, undetected by targeting radars and have the longest range missiles.
No, cancelled under Bush II.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/longeron-upgrade-would-keep-f-15cs-flying-437587/
An earlier USAF analysis examined updating the F-15C’s fuselage, wings and landing gear, which could stretch the aircraft’s life into the 2040s – but would cost $30 million per airframe, Parker says.
Let's not spend $30 million per airframe by spending $80-$100 million on a new airframe.
I expect it will initially end up being more like $60M, won’t work out that well, will still find more problems with the remaining airframe and in the end will be about the same $80-100M only we’ll still have old used aircraft with new airframes.
At some point it starts making more sense to sell the old Camaro in favor of a new one. IF it is decided we need improved capability F-15s, then we should probably just buy new ones and offset that by selling the old ones off.
At least they’re not talking about cancelling the Warhog for the F-35. My vote is for the EX but the 35 can land on a small patch of land.
Ping
The F15c s airframes are reaching the end of their lives and by the way it keeps the Boeing assembly line open that is a good thing too! As in two combat planes being constructed at two separate locations by two different management teams. I keep thinking of the Brewster buffalo on the eve of ww2. Pennywise and pound foolish.
Yeah the f15ex will last until 2050 twenty years longer and have the cheapest operating cost, and did I mention has a 20% increase in it’s flight envelope due to new engines. It’s kind of a choice between new tires and a rebuilt engine for a new Ferrari or a completely brand new fFerrai.
The Boeing exec recused himself from this decision so that is a red herring. The rebuild of the F15c would also require structural rebuild including a new wing arsa but I don’t know if it will get the new engine maintenance costs will be high as parts reach the end of their lives. The F15ex is a completely new aircraft with the lowest maintenance costs at least a 30 year life.
If I had to fly one, I would choose the F15!
“Under the plan, the Air Force would receive two F-15EX airplanes in 2022, six more in 2023, and a total of 80 airplanes in the next five years. Separately, the 2020 budget request also includes $949 million to upgrade existing F-15s.”
I’m glad the need for additional new aircraft is not urgent. /s Did I need to add that notation?
If we built airplanes and filled seats in them like we are now we’d be eating a hell of a lot of jap food or kimche now.
For crying out loud. What a joke. Nobody in the gubment is really serious about arming back up.
Interesting comparison starting with the top line. Price is almost the same.
Further down, combat radius. 670 miles for the 35? What can you do with that? Seems paltry to me.
“Beast mode”? Trying to make the 35 sound better than it is? “Quarterback”? I thought it was supposed to be a FA and not an AWACS. The thing is a loser. We’re screwed.
Must be some higher order of intelligence in the pentagon that allows them to overlook / reason away the obvious better solutions.
Upgrade three existing air frames to near the new standard or build one new airplane with planned obsolescence in the same time frame as the old upgraded ones?
Oh, and both options equally fill a stop gap role etc.
Which do you choose?
Apples and oranges, the f15ex is a different aircraft than either the F15c or the f35. The F15ex out performs both of the other aircraft in terms of speed range payload and flight envelope. It is not stealth but its missions aren’t stealth oriented. As far as the F15c is concerned the airframes are 30 years old.
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