Posted on 03/22/2017 6:44:03 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
I saw a program just a few days ago which said the F-15 had the best combat record of any fighter, ever.
Maybe the F-15 longeron issue is rearing its ugly head, again.
Just build 2000 modified F/A-18’s and be done with it. Best fighter aircraft EVER. But not the best aircraft ever, that award goes to the SR-71.
These are the idiotic decisions you can expect until we purge the worthless PC politician/generals that were put into many positions under Obama’s purge of the military.
Only a completely worthless and purely idiotic AF officer would propose such a thing with a micro fleet of F-22s.
Such a decision is not based on need or mission whatsoever. Any officer that would propose or defend such a decision should be summarily asked for their resignation.
F-16 ping.
Best combat record, yes. But the most capable in the world right now is the F-22.
Unfortunately that assembly line was shut down far too early in order to save the F-35 that is a slow-motion train wreck.
Let’s see. An almost 50 year old design with known quality control issues? Sounds like something that a politician would want to bet the country’s future on.
Let me get this straight.
We have five different fighter airframes: f-15, f-16, f-18, f-22, and f-35.
The most advanced and combat capable for air dominance is the f-22, but we stopped making them.
The most expensive is the f-35, which has already had budget overruns greater than the cost of the f-22’s entire program budget.
The other three existing airframes are in various states of repairs and upgrades, but still represent a force capable of fighting and winning in aerial combat against any air force in the world. It may not be a tough fight, but we have top quality pilots who are better trained compared to any other force we would face.
Five airframes. Each one deemed the most essential. The newest two are filling an anticipated gap that may never exist... and with the last decade of developments in electronic warfare, may be rendered obsolete if ever employed. ... and our biggest enemies, the ones we have been fighting for the past decade and a half don’t have an air force, except for some Radio Shack drones? Something is terribly wrong here.
Kadena is on Okinawa not Japan. Giving Okinawa to Japan was one of Reagan’s worst moments.
The F16 is a good airplane. Terrible loss rate though due to one engine design. But it is no F15 and can’t do it’s job.
“Other priorities”? Don’t tell me. More golf courses for Senior and Flag Officers? More payola for Lochmart?
Replacing Eagles with Lawn Darts is a pretty stupid move.
Putting women into Navy combat billets and illegal immigrant amnesty were two more bad Reagan moments. He didn’t have many, but some were beauts. Justice Kennedy could be added to the re-do list.
But the F18 came into service only 2 years after the F15. They are both old aircraft.
As nearly as I can tell (and I’m open to debate)the F22 SHOULD have been the heir apparent but for political reasons got shelved. Also as nearly as I can tell the F35 got the nod for political reasons and is not nearly the aircraft as the F22.
Scrap the F15 and start building F22’s again?
Yep.
IIRC over 100 ATA kills with zero losses.
It’s stupid that they stopped the production of the F-22 at 187 aircraft.
Unfortunately that assembly line was shut down far too early in order to save the F-35 that is a slow-motion train wreck.
According to this 2009 article, Obama and McCain helped canx the F22
I’m sure there is an ideal balance between Technology, capability, cost, total aircraft numbers, per type, in order to cover all contingencies. Technology in my mind can be sacraficed to some degree in order to have numbers and not severely limit capability. What you lose in aircraft capability in order to have a larger force can be made up to some degree with pilot skill. I think total numbers are more important than having an overly capable platform but in limited numbers, and that seems to be what is happening to all aircraft types in general. The force shrinks as capabilities increase. If you run up against a contingency where numbers matter, and you suffer heavy losses, then what?
The f 18 super hornet is a completely different aircraft from the original f 18. It’s bigger, faster, and more maneuverable.
You really got to be kidding. The f18 is not in the same class as an F-16. The F-15 completely out classes it
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