“1. If the AF is “politically jousting”, do they not run the risk of the Pentagon, driven by the bean counters, pushing up and expanding, the various UCAV programs?”
IMO this is a response to those bean counters who are already challenging the need for manned fighters.
What is the Pentagon composed of? Its compoed of officers from each of the branches. While it is political it is no more so than the various branches of the armed forces when it comes to these kinds of acquisitions.
So, maybe we haven't yet reached the "better replace 'em now or we're screwed" point with the early F15s.
Maybe.
I wouldn't know for sure.
But when one disintegrates during routine operations, because a major structural part catastrophically failed due to being worn out, and the entire fleet gets grounded for weeks, you gotta start asking questions.
And yes, a real solution will cost a lot more than the next band-aid. It's always that way.
Sometimes, you can't afford NOT to go for the real solution.