Posted on 05/05/2022 9:13:35 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
I’m wondering if the military has determined that in the new integrated battle systems, air superiority can be achieved by less expensive means.
I was thinking about a defense system with 5000 cheap autonomous wireless self recharging drones whose only job is to carry a small rod of titanium and put up a wall in front of a high value target. One gets sucked into an engine, there goes a hundred million dollar plane and a five million dollar pilot.
And the F-35 will magically deliver as:
* Pizza delivery platform
—
Perhaps the function it will perform the best ...
The F-117 did a hell of a job on Rio Hato starting off Operation Just Cause as well.
The F35 is not stealthy from behind, so it gets one punch.
To summerize the headline.
They want to replace it because it works.
If anything works, the government wants it eliminates.
Yup
We urgently need advanced stealth capability for pizza delivery in urban areas. This is probably what drives planning in this administration.
That's why they didn't give F-4 Phantoms guns. Well, until a few months of actual combat over Vietnam changed the minds of the geniuses.
.....the term “planned obsolescence” comes to mind...maybe I am totally off base, but I cannot believe this aircraft, which was touted to be such a great addition to the Air Force’s inventory, is now eventually headed to the boneyard....
The F-20 cost per plane radically ballooned such that it was canceled at low numbers making the unit cost even greater by reducing the number of planes to spread outrageous development and manufacturing start up costs over. The maintenance costs of both the F-20 and B-2 are both sky high to maintain their stealth characteristics.
As an aside…. In the Afghanistan War, the wings were flown off the B-1 fleet. It needs to be retired quite a bit earlier than would otherwise be required. I have read that some or all of the fleet is no longer low level, supersonic rated as designed for its role as a contested space penetration bomber.
Anyone please correct me if I’m off on any of this.
...you are spot on re: the gun-less models of the famed F-4 Phantom II ....they tried hanging gun pods on them at first, but no one liked them and the armament guys did not like them at all, if I recall....then came the F-4E with the M61A1 Vulcan gun in the nose, and that was a game-changer....
This whole defense industry crap is such bullshit
Nomatter the plane, Tommy Cruise will save us.
“The Air Force top brass are a bunch of bean counters that believe they can build and operate one aircraft that can meet the mission requirements of multiple roles.”
And provide ground support from 35000 feet.
It may have been a technological marvel. I certainly don't have the ability to judge that.
But a "cost per plane radically ballooned" should be a major concern - and perhaps the reason to consider it a failure.
In WWII, we had the most advanced fighter (the P51 Mustang). Something like 15,000 were produced, at a cost, if you believe government inflation statistics, at about $800K in today's dollars.
THAT is a successful program!
Jack of all trades, master of none.
A-10’s don’t fly at 35,000ft.
USAF was under pressure to get rid of A 10’s too a couple of years ago.
So we can update F-15’s but not F-22’s? F-35’s are to direct F-15 firepower as F-22’s provide cover. What will take over the F-22 role?
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