Gates readies big cuts in weapons (Thanks to Obama gutting our military)

Boston Globe ^ | March 17, 2009 | Bryan Bender

[utahson]

Two defense officials who were not authorized to speak publicly said Gates will announce up to a half-dozen major weapons cancellations later this month. Candidates include a new Navy destroyer, the Air Force's F-22 fighter jet, and Army ground-combat vehicles, the offi cials said.

More cuts are planned for later this year after a review that could lead to reductions in programs such as aircraft carriers and nuclear arms, the officials said.

[ohioman]

UAVs (among many other uses) are very useful to draw the fire from ground weapons, which frees up the manned fighter aircraft. I certainly like the UAVs. However, it will still be a long time before we get rid of manned fighter aircraft.

[Getsmart64]

The F-22 is the next (5th Generation) fighter and is the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world.

So...uh...hmmm....anyone know the break rate and ute rates for the F-22?

[Jeff Head]

Obama believes that no good crisis should go to waste...so he is apparently doing all in his power to allow one, a big one, to come to America.

Economic, foriegn policy, military, social issues...they all are the same to him and his ilk, ways to tear down and weaken America.

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[romanesq]

“Prepare to die, New york... How many times have they targeted you?”

Maybe a dozen or two but who’s counting. I think DC will get it first, even if it’s only by minutes.

But I’m tired of having the bullseye on my back. Maybe it will take that extreme to happen again with this Manchurian Candidate at the helm before they wake up and smell the coffee.

The delusion runs that deep.
And no I’m not happy about it.

[Getsmart64]

I have a theory about the shoot down of the F-117 in Yugoslavia in 1999, and I believe it to be pretty close to the truth. In that time, the Chinese were developing passive radar technology and wanted to see how it would do in actual combat. So the “loaned” it to the Serbs who then used it so shoot the F-117 down.

Not to diminish your post....but it reads like you read to much spy fiction. I have my own theory and it's a much simpler explanation but I'll just keep it to myself.

[romanesq]

I thought it was hate before loathing. With every day and the disgraceful attempt turning on the VA for vets though, it’s hard to distinguish.

This is getting worse by the day. And after two weeks I had had enough.
The nightmare isn’t close to over.

[Getsmart64]

than you have a basic misunderstanding of what a DOGFIGHT in the near future entails.

Outmoded air combat...RADAR technology is so advanced there is no need for dogfighting skills....

[cookcounty]

Somebody who knows the Defense industry well needs to calculate the jobs saved lost by this action. I would guess it’s well over 100,000.

Grinning Zero will probably announce he’s going to save these jobs by selling the production to China.Hey it would lower our trade deficit.....for awhile.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Do you REALLY believe that the US dropped a 500 lb bomb on the Chinese embassy in Serbia based of 4 year old maps because they THOUGHT there might be trucks parked there?

[KevinDavis]

Sorry there will always be dogfights... I wish you morons go after the social welfare programs rather than the military...

[cookcounty]

I’m sure Obama would prefer to see the US as one nation among many. Much of his foreign policy advising group buy into the idea that by being the strongest, we become “imperialists.”

Case in point: The ressurrected Samantha Powers.

[CottonBall]

Take human pilots out of the cockpit? So your average 12 year old with a PSII can fight our wars on the internet?

I think if robotics was at that level yet, we'd see it on the ground first. We'd have unmanned busses and trains first. Robotics is making great strides, but I don't think we're anywhere near using it safely yet. Avionics is getting more computer-driven all the time - mission control software, mission planning software, IR technology, etc - but we still need the human element to make a decision when the software isn't set up to do so. And that happens more frequently than someone might think not involved in the industry.

[Drill Thrawl]

Not much different than when we hit the Fwench embassy when we went after Kaddafi Duck.

[CottonBall]

(BTW, I know you were being sarcastic. I was replying to your post, but agreeing with you. I realize it sounded otherwise when I reread it.)

[Drill Thrawl]

I believe that was the thinking with missles in the ‘60s. As a result the F-4 had no guns. How’d that work out for them? Saying that the Air Force no longer has to worry about dogfights is like saying the Army or Marines no longer have to worry about hand to hand combat.

[Stand Watch Listen]

Fact stands that the future of the USAF is in unmanned flight, not in manned flight. We can fill the skies with agile, almost invisible, and deadly UAVs for the price a single F-22.

Amen!...it is happening as we speak. We are lightyears away from that 2000 happening of the Predator successfully launching a Hellfire missle.

[KevinDavis]

Sorry if a satellite gets blocked or shot down then what??? You need the human element.. When you go after social programs then I’ll see your point...

[CottonBall]

"The F-22's engines produce more thrust than any current fighter engine, especially in military (non-afterburner) power. Called "super cruise," this characteristic allows the F-22 to efficiently cruise at supersonic airspeeds without using afterburners. This capability greatly expands the F-22's operating envelope in both speed and range over current fighters that must use afterburner to operate at supersonic speeds."

"The F-22 has been extensively designed, tested and refined aerodynamically during the demonstration/validation (dem/val) phase and the current Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase. The F-22's sophisticated aero-design and high thrust-to-weight ratio provide the capability to outmaneuver all current and projected threat aircraft. To ensure the F-22 provides air dominance for deep-interdiction aircraft, it operates at medium and high altitude at ranges superior to current generation air dominance aircraft. "

"To ensure operational flexibility, the F-22 has better reliability and maintainability than any military fighter in history. Increased F-22 reliability and maintainability pays off in less manpower required to fix the aircraft and consequently less airlift required to support a deployed squadron. Additionally, reduced maintenance support provides the benefit of reduced life-cycle cost and the ability to operate more efficiently from prepared or dispersed operating locations. "

"The above characteristics provide a synergistic effect that ensures F-22 lethality against an advanced air threat. The combination of reduced observability and super cruise drastically shrinks surface-to-air engagement envelopes and minimizes threat capability to engage and shoot the F-22. "

Yes, it certainly sounds like she's been a waste of money. /s

[Seaplaner]

Two defense officials who were not authorized to speak publicly said Gates will announce up to a half-dozen major weapons cancellations later this month. Candidates include a new Navy destroyer, the Air Force's F-22 fighter jet, and Army ground-combat vehicles, the offi cials said.

More cuts are planned for later this year after a review that could lead to reductions in programs such as aircraft carriers and nuclear arms, the officials said.

Say hello to Marxist Obama’s primary defense advisor.

.

[lonevoice]

Oh, goodie. Obama’s keeping his campaign promises; the same ones some of his voters didn’t think he really intended to keep.