Can’t afford not too.
Like Windows ME ? LOL
“ To maintain air dominance, the U.S. must…”
Become a serious country again?
It is becoming evident that air superiority is going to be achieved through drones.
“The F-47 is envisioned not just as a faster, stealthier fighter, but as a “quarterback” for the entire battlespace, orchestrating drones, cyber operations, and other assets.”
The coordination should not be done in an airplane that can get shot down.
A manned airplane is simply for delivering bombs and missiles that can’t get intelligently targeted by other means.
Do what it takes to fix the F-35.
The AI industry needs high computing power, comparatively low electrical power equipment. It might be repurposed fairly easily.
Insomuch as national security permits, I’d like to know what is wrong with the F-35?
I want an A-10 drone version. Half the size and cost, but with all the same weapons capability.
US is still going to have boots on the ground all over the world. They need close air support.
whyilovetexas111 wrote: “Maybe we can’t afford it though?”
It’s far cheaper than losing a war.
Let us say we need to know about Enemy Base and probably need to take something out on or near Enemy Base.
A stealth reconnaissance drone can be sent to fly over the area of Enemy Base.
The stealth reconnaissance drone can relay targeting data by say laser to a missile that is flown safely many miles high over Enemy Base at the same time. Remember a human pilot only sees what his eyes can see looking out of the cockpit and at LED screens. The missile (with help) can relay targeting information back to a command center.
A warhead missile that was sent to arrive at the area of Enemy Base shortly thereafter can then be targeted by the command center. The warhead missile might be launched from a fairly cheap stand-by/stand-off aircraft.
The stealth reconnaissance drone, targeting information relay missile(s) and warhead missile would all be fairly cheap by Pentagon standards.
Maybe China but Israel roaming freely over Syrian and Iranian skies suggest Russian AD isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.
They can’t keep the most recent MIG in the air because its tech is 1980’s vintage.
I think the F35 would do just fine.
Another piece of FRussian propaganda.
The F-47 is not a replacement for the F-35 (AKA Fat Amy). F-47 will replace the F-22 as the top air dominance interceptor/fighter. Makes sense since the tool and die for the F-22 was destroyed after the last plane came off the line. They are going to improve the F-35 with possibly a new larger airframe for more fuel range and a second engine. Existing F-22’s are allegedly already testing drone command capabilities that will go in the F-47.
Lol. I started reading and got to the point where the article is propaganda humping a new weapon system and I thought to myself “This must be that MIC mouthpiece the National Security Journal” and looked and yup. It’s the Raytheon/General Dynamics propaganda blog again. Some Defense pimps with a hifalutin name for their gibmedats blog.
The F-22 is a QB, and is about to get autonomous/slaved drones as “loyal wingman” program ramps up.
And, if one really believes that China who really hasn’t developed anything technological since Nixon “opened the East” but have stolen just about every intellectual property (IP) they can lay their hands on from the last 60 years is on par with the F-35 or F-22, then you need to put the reefer down, man.