Posted on 07/09/2025 12:33:51 PM PDT by whyilovetexas111
The Pentagon’s decision to pause the Navy’s F/A-XX 6th-generation fighter program is a grave mistake that will harm the U.S. aerospace industrial base and create a dangerous capability gap. While the Air Force’s F-47 program receives a $3.5 billion boost, the F/A-XX is being starved of funds based on the “flimsy” rationale that the defense industry can’t handle two major stealth fighter programs at once.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalsecurityjournal.org ...
It isn’t about stealth anyway. Just like in telecommunications, it is about the last mile. The missiles and bullets are what matters. Missiles can now be fired 100 miles away. Who cares if the platform is stealth? Stealth can be seen anyway.
“Dr. Rebecca Grant is a national security analyst based in Washington, DC specializing in defense and aerospace research and national security consulting.”
= I Want More Money
My guess is that the pause masks technical issues with the project. The development of modern carrier aircraft tends to be trouble prone due to the demands of the carrier environment.
WTF is this National Security Journal? Suddenly it’s all over the place like chemtrails threads. Why not just call it “The MIC Bot Central. Foreverwar is Our Motto.” Every post is about how badly we need this or that trillion dollar weapon system. It’s as obvious as those Uke Intel Operators who pretend to be Americans and constantly spam us with Zeeper nonsense
Buy a million drones of various sizes and capabilities, then buy several million more.
There are also some fundamental questions about what naval aviation should look like going forward that need to considered
The recent events in the Red Sea have brought to light some serious issues that need to be addressed.
One of the basic issues that need to be resolved is how much stand off distance does an aircraft carrier need operate effectively in emerging high threat environments.
The answers to that question and a plan for the right mix of aircraft to meet the requirements will have a significant impact on naval aviation.
At least they’re not shoving the 6th gen version of the F-111 down everyone’s throats. McNamara was wrong; it can’t do everything.
The Navy has been dragging their feet on the F-35C. They have only accepted about 50 aircraft so far, and only intending to buy about 270. Once they have procured all these F-35Cs, the plan is to only deploy 1 squadron per carrier airwing, with 3 squadrons of F-18E/Fs. Until the F/A-XX, the F-18E/F will continue to be the Navy's primary carrier based fighter.
The Navy got what it deserved with the F-35... That was the Harvey Milk of Naval Aviation.
Blogpimps gotta blogpimp.
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