Posted on 11/15/2010 6:35:40 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
As Lockheed Martins Marietta, Ga., plant prepares to begin building the 187thand lastF-22 super-fighter, the military is already dreaming of its successor. In a query to the aerospace industry earlier this month, the Air Force laid out its wish list, and it wants everything: a plane that can win dogfights, demolish air-defense missile networks, support ground troops, and run surveillance missions; a partial prototype would be ready by 2020, with entry into service by 2030.
This may be wishful thinking, given the saga of the current wondercraft, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. With a development and production price tag of more than $380 billion, the F-35 is the costliest acquisition program in Pentagon history. Different versions are being developed for the Air Force, Navy, and Marines. But the plane is bedeviled by technical problems, ever-rising costs, and slipping schedules, with the Marines incarnation presenting the toughest challenges. Last week the co-chairmen of President Obamas deficit-reduction commission proposed gutting the program. On Nov. 22, a Pentagon review board is scheduled to take a hard look at it.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
A plane that does "everything" will do nothing well.
I agree. I do not think that you can build such a plane. The costs would be very high.
“War Toy”? I see Newsweek is living up to that dollar.
The F35 is no F22 “successor”.
They share some capability, but they are not equal in terms of mission capability or primary mission.
What a bunch of morons...
I Agree
what we need are Dedicated Air Superiority fighters, Ground attack fighters etc. I Present as evidence the A-10 warthog, one of the best Aircraft in the Inventory, but I couldn't' dogfight if its life depended one it, that is NOT what it is designed to do!
When the F-35 was announced, wasn’t there a lot of hoo-haw about how it was the last manned fighter we would ever build?
So this “successor” to the F-22, is it going to have a cockpit or a remote servo?
The A-10 has two air to air kills. With the 30mm gun, no less.
They were both helicopters, but they still count.
The posted excerpt doesn't claim that it is. Try reading it again, slowly.
What a bunch of morons...
If the shoe fits, kick yourself with it.
I think that we will have an answer very soon.
>>> The A-10 has two air to air kills. With the 30mm gun, no less.
Even the lowly A-1 Skyraider got one or two MiGs in Vietnam. With 20mm guns.
You never know what you can do until you have no way to run and your neck is on the line.
“Try reading it again slowly.” Spoken like a condescending asshole, as if I have some type of comprehension problem.
A history lesson for you, you effin’ smartass. They pulled the same stunt with the F117 and F22, claiming the F22 could do the same thing as the F117, they gambled and retired the F117 in hopes that F22 production would continue, they lost.
I’ve seen it before, so you know what?
If the shoe fits, stuff it into your stupid mouth and choke on it.
Get a clue before you start smacking off with people you don’t know.
to tell the truth, that actually seems quite low considering how long they’ve been around. Even helicopters, you’d think they eventually get a couple kills, and more than two in their entire history. :p
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